RECORDING ALERT: Wits Health Sciences Alumni Lecture Series

The Faculty of Health is honoured to have hosted alumnus, Professor Avroy Fanaroff (MBBCh 1960, MD Honoris causa Wits 2004) for its maiden Wits Health Sciences Alumni Lecture Series. His talk titled "Glory Days and Disasters in Neonatology" kicked off an engaging initiative that aims to foster intellectual growth, facilitate knowledge exchange, and provide valuable insights to our alumni community.

The Alumni Lecture Series will feature distinguished alumni, accomplished professionals, and renowned experts who will share their expertise, experiences and unique perspectives on various topics of interest This series will provide a platform for our alumni to reconnect with the university, engage in lifelong learning, and expand their professional networks

As an internationally recognised master neonatal physician and a pioneer and leader in the field of neonatology, Professor Fanaroff’s shared reflections on is career spanning the triumphs and disastrous interventions in neonatology When asked abouth the supposedly effective incubator that they used at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital where he was trained as a Paediatrician (1965-1968) and later became a Padiatric Consultant (1968-1969); he said that “The incubator was a disaster When the put they sickest baby in the incubator, the baby wasn’t going to survive” Said Professor Fanaroff

Instead, he said they created an environment that mimicked an incubator describing that the babies where all wrapped in cotton wool and they were swaddled The room temperature was such that the staff were uncomfortable [because the room was very warm” He closed-off his talk by stressing that “it’s the little things that make a big difference