‘We as a Department are so privileged to celebrate this achievement with you: our graduates of 2020, 2021 and 2022 and I just want to say on behalf of the Department that we are so proud of you.’

– Prof Jeannie van der Linde, Dept of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology

The Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology celebrated their PhD graduates in a small celebration that they hope will become a yearly tradition. This year’s celebration not only honoured the 2022 graduates, but also the 2021 and 2020 graduates who could not have graduation ceremonies due to Covid-19. The graduates who were honoured at this event were: Dr Ilze Oosthuizen, Dr Silva Kuschke, Dr Katerina Ehlert, Dr Karina De Sousa, Dr Shabnam Abdoola, Dr Sattiavany Veerabudren, Dr Carlien Vorster, Dr Maria du Toit, Dr Renata Eccles, Dr Husmita Ratanjee-Vanmali, Dr Susan Eksteen, and Dr Karabo Maleka, who is also the First black UP student to obtain a PhD in Speech-Language Pathology.

In her welcoming speech, the Head of the Department, Prof Jeannie van der Linde, commented on the journey of a PhD student: ‘We often compare the undertaking of a PhD to a difficult journey, a lonely marathon, a mountain that you have to climb, or last but definitely not least, eating an elephant! It does not really matter what your analogy is, we can all agree that a PhD is hard, but at the same time, very rewarding.’

The Department was founded in 1960 and today audiologists and speech-language therapists are trained in the Department of Communication Pathology and the affiliated Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. In South Africa, Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology is a field of considerable importance. The study of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology plays an important role in aiding people who are marginalised due to communication challenges. ‘The global burden of disease and poor social living conditions impact negatively on the development of healthy communication, therefore requiring the services of Audiologists and Speech therapists.’

The Department also now boasts an A-rated NRF researcher, Professor De Wet Swanepoel, a clinical research audiologist. Speaking at the event, he stated, ‘There is something special about celebrating big moments and celebrating them with the people that we appreciate.

Prof Pikirayi, Deputy Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Ethics, who attended the event stated, ‘I am particularly humbled to see the number of Doctoral students who have graduated from this department.’ He also congratulated the graduates of the past three years on their resilience: ‘You are the code of scholars that made it possible to say, “we should not use Covid as an excuse, we can fight it.” So, on that score, I want to say well done.’

Prof van der Linde concluded her speech with these words, ‘We can all agree that a PhD really shapes character; builds resilience. It fosters attention to detail, and in the end, a PhD makes you a well-rounded researcher. We as a Department are so privileged to celebrate this achievement with you: our graduates of 2020, 2021 and 2022!

(left to right) Dr Silva Kuschke, Dr Sattiavany Veerabudren, Dr Karina De Sousa, Dr Katerina Ehlert, Dr Shabnam Abdoola, Dr Maria du Toit, Dr Renata Eccles, Dr Ilze Oosthuizen, Dr Carlien Vorster