The Alumni Network is designed to continuously develop participants’ knowledge, skills and attitudes by cyclical updating of information throughout members’ professional careers, in addition to any other courses, diplomas and degrees alumni may participate in.

 Participants are encouraged to view membership as a lifelong commitment to CPD, as the Foundation for Professional Development will retain members’ registration details and the outcomes  of their participation in alumni CPD interventions (continuing education units - CEUs) in order to facilitate short, middle and long-term personal professional objectives.

 Download the Alumni Brochure  

A newly researched innovation from the FPD

A doctoral thesis* conducted by FPD’s Academic Executive, Dr Elmie Castleman, led to the development of a new CPD Model structured to assist southern African health care professionals to cope with the rapidly changing health care environment and have greater confidence in their ability to work, train, mentor, network, motivate and manage within it.

As part of the research, a survey of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs of >1 000 FPD Course alumni was conducted.  Respondents indicated a need for ongoing, cyclical (quarterly) updates in a variety of business areas, health policy, management, ethics and counselling skills, and the following clinical areas:

•  HIV/AIDS/TB (tuberculosis)
•  diabetes
•  hypertension

Clinical topics are in line with the Department of Health’s current priority areas. Research results led to the launch of the new Alumni Network CPD service in accordance with the new CPD Model to facilitate lifelong learning through lifelong relationships.

Alumni Network Services include:

The Network: a database of members’ names, qualifications and contact details to facilitate: regional networking for the transmission of skills and knowledge; mentor/mentee relationships; small group case study meetings, and the distribution of Alumni Network services. 

Publications: In the survey mentioned above, conducted as part of Dr Elmie Castleman’s doctoral thesis*, respondents identified the need for a ‘general’ Newsletter and CPD Updates on selected clinical conditions.  Based on the findings the following quarterly publications have been launched:

•  Alumni Network Newsletter containing general health care and local environment information and business topics
•  Clinical CPD Updates:

o       HIV/AIDS/TB CPD Update (editor: Prof D Martin)

o       Diabetes CPD Update (author: Dr A Kok)

o       Hypertension CPD Update (author: Prof JA Ker)

o        Clarification of concepts and terms

o        Current challenges and problems

o        Best evidence medicine to manage the challenge

o        Outcomes of the latest research

o        Case study

o        CPD questionnaire

o        Recommended reading

Clinical CPD Updates will appear on this website four to six weeks following publication.

All CPD Updates are sequential, beginning with basic issues leading up to more complex clinical challenges and designed to facilitate filing for repeated reference and in-practice training.

Regional one-day workshops, seminars and small group case study meetings: Events will focus on specific topics based on assessed needs. Interactive (not didactic) learning will be facilitated by experts and require high levels of member participation. Expert and self assessment will be offered. Case study discussions will be problem-based and practical, and material will include recently published full clinical papers.

Mentorship Programme: Names and contact details of volunteer mentors/mentees will be published in Updates to facilitate networking.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Continuing Education Units (CEU) Opportunities:

• questionnaires in quarterly publications
• workshops, courses, seminars, and small group case study meetings to be arranged when a sufficient number of members have enrolled in a specific geographical area
• voluntary self or expert assessment of practice against minimum performance standards.

FPD’s Alumni Network services provide sufficient CPD activities to meet the Health Professions Council of South Africa’s (HPCSA) present requirements (amended 13 July 2007) of thirty CEUs per annum of which at least five should relate to human rights, ethics and medical law.  HPCSA requests practitioners not to submit portfolios but to retain proof of CEUs for two-years.

The Network database will record members’ Alumni Network-acquired CPD interventions and CEUs for possible HPCSA audits and personal decision making regarding future educational needs. In addition, the Network accredits members according to a Star Rating Scale (see below) based on the number and type of CPD activities successfully completed.

It is hoped that this will assist the FPD to leverage certain benefits for members and for members to use as evidence of proficiency and professionalism e.g. in Curriculum Vitae. The FPD is registered with the Department of Education as a Private Higher Education Institution (PHEI) under the Higher Education Act 1997.  

Paid-up Alumni Network members receive a 10% discount on existing FPD CPD initiatives including courses and workshops as listed on the FPD website: www.foundation.co.za  

Alumni Network services will uphold:·

•  internationally accepted standards of care·
• best evidence medicine·
• local Department of Health guidelines

Exciting additions to the initial range of services, listed above, are planned for the future including a selection of high-tech methods of communication for members with access to the latest technology.

We look forward to receiving your completed application form (attached) and supplying you with the initial Alumni Network services which we hope will begin to meet your clinical needs and enrich your professional life.

  Download the Alumni Course Brochure