Prof. Volmink receives Honorary Doctorate at KU Leuven

02/02/21

Professor Jimmy Volmink, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Stellenbosch University, was set to receive a Honorary Doctorate from KU Leuven on February 2 2021, the Patron Saint’s Day of the university. Unfortunately, the live conferral ceremony had to be delayed due to the Corona pandemic, but we do want to extend our congratulations to prof. Volmink on this Honorary Doctorate.

Prof. Volmink has devoted his life to achieving better healthcare for all South Africans, is one of the foremost proponents of evidence-based medicine and was the founding Director of Cochrane South-Africa. He has argued passionately that people at all levels of society must make medical decisions based on good-quality evidence, not on any preconceived notions. 

The Belgian Red Cross (BRC) and more specifically the Centre for Evidence-Based Practice (CEBaP) worked together with prof. Volmink multiple times over the years. He played and still plays an important role in the development of the evidence-based African First Aid Materials (AFAM) (currently undergoing their second 5-yearly update) as the chair of the expert panel, and he continues to serve as the chair of BRC’s Scientific Advisory Board. 

Prof. Philippe Vandekerckhove, director of Belgian Red Cross-Flanders (BRC-F) and professor at the Faculty of Medicine at KU Leuven, was one of the nominators of Prof. Volmink, together with Prof. Bert Aertgeerts and Prof. Karin Hannes. Watch the Laudatio by the three nominators here on KU Leuven’s website.

Congratulations, Doctor Honoris Causa Volmink!