On 6 June 1979, the Medical Faculty of the University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, will be 10 years old. The completed Faculty buildings, situated between the Universitas teaching hospital and the University campus, were officially opened on 20 March 1978 by the Minister of National Education, Dr P. Koornhof. The first 46 medical students graduated in Novemer 1976, and with a present annual intake of 120 students the final-year class will grow to approximately 100 students. In addition to medicine, undergraduate training is offered in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography, hospital dietetics and basic medical sciences. More than 50 M.Med. candidates have completed their specialist training, 10 doctorates were conferred and 32 students obtained Honours or Master's degree in the basic medical sciences. The undergraduate course with electives in non-medical fields, fully integrated clinical medicine teaching and interdisciplinary co-ordination of final clinical examinations, were novel endeavours for South Africa.
