Departments

Anatomy

Biology

Chemical Pathology & Haematological Pathology

Forensic Pathology

Microbilogical Pathology

Physiology

Radiolography

Virological Pathology

The School of Pathology and Pre-Clinical Sciences is one of the five Schools in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Limpopo.  The School consist of seven departments and fourteen units.

The departments from the Faculty of Science and Agriculture which now form part of this School are accommodated in the Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and Statistics and Operations Research, while the Department of Biological Sciences consist of Biology, Biochemistry and Language Proficiency (English).  All the above departments offer Bachelor of Science as well as post graduate training in the Sciences as was previously the case and also contribute to the training in the School of Medicine, Health Care Sciences and Oral Health Care Sciences on the Medunsa Campus.

Two additional departments Human Physiology and Human Anatomy and Histology also continue to train under and postgraduate students in the Schools of Medicine, Oral Health Sciences and Health Care Sciences. The other departments in the School consist of Department of Anatomical and Forensic Pathology, Department of Microbiological and Virological Pathology and the Department of Chemical and Haematological Pathology.  The Unit Chemical Pathology contains the Human Genetics unit.

The Pathology departments make major contributions to the degree program in the schools of Oral Health Care Sciences, Health Care Sciences and Medicine. The Pathologists are trained in the disciplines Chemical, Haematological, Anatomical, Forensic, Microbiological and Virological Pathology.

All of the pathology training (except in Forensic Pathology) are done in conjunction with the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) in accordance with the Umbrella Agreement between the University of Limpopo and the NHLS which makes available to the School an extensive training platform not only in Gauteng (Dr George Mukhari Tertiary Laboratory) but also the NHLS Laboratories at Polokwane and Mankweng hospitals.  In fact the Pathologists at this School indirectly oversee all the NHLS laboratories in the Northern Branch of the NHLS. The exception in this regard is the discipline of Forensic Pathology where the professional pathologists are appointed by the Gauteng Department of Health (Division of Forensic Services).

Research Units in the school are:  MeCru, SAVIC and MRC Diarrhoeal Pathogens Unit. The MRC Diarrhoeal Pathogens Unit is also part of the School of Pathology and Pre-Clinical Sciences and is jointly funded by grants from the Medical Research Council and the University of Limpopo.

The Mission and Vision of the University is upheld by the Sciences through a social accountability program. Participating disciplines include Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Biochemistry. This program includes visits to and from schools in the immediate vicinity. The School also hosts the Annual Science Week for learners from Grades 9-11. The main aim of the week is to promote science awareness, to disseminate information on possible careers in science and to market the university and the programs that are being offered on our campus.

Prof FC Clarke
Acting Director: School of Pathology and Pre-Clinical Sciences
PhD (MEDUNSA) HED (UP)