About SAAHE
The Southern African Association of Health Educationalists (SAAHE) is an association of health sciences educators from South African universities, NGOs and government and private sectors. The focus of SAAHE is on improving the quality of teaching and learning in health sciences education so as to enhance the delivery of high quality, affordable and sustainable health care to South Africans in both the public and private sector. The SAAHE community is made up of predominantly physicians but there are an increasing number of professionals in the Allied Health Sciences, including physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses and range of other professional disciplines. All members are committed to improving teaching and learning in medical and health professional education.
SAAHE was conceptualized in 2004 and currently has more than 350 active members across the southern African region. There are six regional chapters in South Africa, each with two representatives who sit on the SAAHE Council. Three Council members constitute the SAAHE Executive which is located in one of the six chapters. The Executive rotates between chapters every three years and is currently located in the Central region.
SAAHE has a number of agendas – to showcase ‘best practice’ in health sciences education, to stimulate debate and discussion regarding the education of health practitioners, and to develop teaching and educational research capacity in health sciences educators. To this end, regional conferences were held in the Western Cape in 2004 – 2007; a National Conference has been held annually since 2008.
Upcoming events
Save the date!
Join us in the Western Cape for the 2026 conference.
Date: 29 June – 3 July 2026
More details will follow
Doctoral Dilemma Space 2026
From Stuck to Inspired!
Calling all doctoral candidates and supervisors
Are you feeling somewhat stuck in your PhD journey? Struggling to make sense of a theoretical
concept, data analysis, or how to present your findings? You’re not alone—and we’re here to help!
Join us for the SAAHE Doctoral Dilemma Space, an energizing and supportive pre-conference event designed to help doctoral candidates navigate challenges and gain fresh perspectives.
Sponsored by the SAAHE Council, this interactive, no-cost seminar is your opportunity to workshop your doctoral dilemma in a dynamic environment with fellow candidates and experienced supervisors.
Why attend?
• Break through obstacles – Get tailored insights to move forward in your research.
• Engage in rich discussions – Gain multiple perspectives from a diverse group of scholars.
• Connect with peers and mentors – Build valuable networks in the health professions education research community.
This is not about presenting polished findings – it’s about embracing the messy, complex reality of doctoral research. Whether you’re grappling with conceptualizing a key theoretical idea, analysing data, or framing your findings, this space is designed to support, inspire, and guide you toward solutions.
While not required, attending with your supervisor is encouraged to maximize the depth of discussion and support.
Event Details
When: Tuesday, 30 June 2026 (Lunch provided)
Where: The same place as the conference – Protea Marriot Hotel, TechnoPark, Stellenbosch (exact venue TBC)
How to Apply
Your doctorate must be on a topic related to health professions education.
You’ll need to submit a 300-word description of your doctoral dilemma. Your submission should:
• Provide context for your study.
• Describe the dilemma and why it is challenging.
• Explain when and how you identified this issue.
• Outline any insights from literature or research that could help.
• Specify what kind of feedback you hope to receive.
Apply here: SAAHE Doctoral Dilemma Space 2026
Application Deadline: Friday, 17 April 2026
Please note that this is after the Conference Abstract Deadline
Conference Early Bird Registration Deadline: Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Note:
Registration for this event does not include conference registration. While there is no event fee, attendees are responsible for their travel and accommodation costs.
You do not have to be a SAAHE member to take advantage of this opportunity. If you attend the conference, your membership fee for 1 year is included in the registration fee. If you are not going to attend the conference and would like to join SAAHE, please follow this link.
Questions? Contact: francois.cilliers@uct.ac.za
Take this opportunity to move past your research roadblocks in a space designed for constructive dialogue and shared learning.
SAAHE EC Webinar 1 / 2026: Work, Serve, Learn – or is it?
SAAHE Faculty Development SIG Webinar
The SAAHE Faculty Development SIG is excited to host our first webinar of the year, focused on the theme “Mentorship and the Mentorship Journey.”
In this interactive session, we will:
• Explore the meaning and purpose of mentorship within HPE
• Examine what effective mentorship looks like in practice
• Engage with different mentorship models and frameworks, considering their relevance to our diverse contexts
• Reflect on our own mentorship journeys and identify areas for growth
• Discuss how each of us can contribute to strengthening mentorship cultures within our institutions
• Address practical challenges and strategies for creating meaningful, development-focused mentorship experiences for future healthcare professionals and educators.
This webinar is designed for health professions educators who wish to deepen their
understanding of mentorship as both a professional practice and a shared responsibility.
We invite you to bring your questions, experiences, and curiosity as we learn
collaboratively and inspire one another.
Date: 17 March 2026
Time: 12:30-13:30
Platform: MS Teams
To register by 10 March 2026,
please click here
For more information, please
contact: Rhoda Meyer at
rhodameyer@sun.ac.za
The SAAHE Recurriculation & Curriculum Transformation SIG would like to invite you to join our webinar: Using curriculum maps to make curriculum decisions
Date: 3 February 2026
Time: 16h30-18h00
Speakers: Scott Smalley, Olaf Ahlers, Tuija Waldvogel, Gerda Botha
Please read the following article before attending:
Medical teacher, 23(2), pp.123-137.
