UKZN top medical school graduate
"I have always aimed for excellence in the hope that success would follow"
FOR the first time in its history, UKZN’s Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in Umbilo, graduated five students with summa cum laude passes and 18 with cum laude. Achieving the top position in the class was Dr Preyanka Pillay who also took the YK Seedat prize for a summa cum laude pass and prizes for Dermatology and Paediatrics at the annual College of Health Science’s awards function.
Pillay, who hails from Pietermaritzburg was elated at the news. “The reality is the harder you work for something the greater the sense of achievement. I have always aimed for excellence in the hope that success would follow. My family is extremely proud and happy that I accomplished my goals. These results have given me a sense of accomplishment knowing that my hard work and sacrifice have paid off. I am very grateful to my family for their love and support,”she said.
Pillay is currently serving her two year internship at the Pietermaritzburg Hospital Complex. Although she has not decided what to specialize in, she wants to be involved in research and the integration of medicine with technology in order to contribute to innovation in medicine. She had some advice for students, ‘Never give up, work hard, stay grounded and run your own race. Imagine, believe, achieve.”
Professor Rob Slotow, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Health Sciences applauded Pillay, ‘Excellence in the health sciences is a remarkable achievement as your field of study impacts on human lives. Those that excel in this field pioneer new breakthroughs and advance human experience in a remarkable way. I congratulate you and look forward to welcoming you back to UKZN to specialize.’
