The AJHPE is published by the Health and 
Medical Publishing Group.

AJHPE
African Journal of Health Professions Education

August 2010, Vol. 2  No. 1

Editor

VanEssa burch

Editorial board

adri bEylEfEld, university of 

the free state

Juanita bEzuidEnhout,  

stellenbosch University

VanEssa burch,  University of 

cape town

Enoch n KwizEra,  

walter sisUlU University

Patricia McinErnEy, University 

of the witwatersrand

JacquElinE Van wyK,  

University of KwaZUlU-natal

hMPG

Editor 

Daniel J ncayiyana

Managing Editor 

J p De v van niekerk

assistant Editor 

emma Buchanan

technical Editors 

mariJke maree 

rOBerT maTZDOrFF

paula van Der BiJl

head of Publishing 

rOBerT arenDse

Production co-ordinator 

emma cOuZens

art director

siOBhan Tillemans

dtP & design

Travis arenDse

clinTOn GriFFin

online Manager

GerTruDe Fani

hMPG board of directors 

m raFF (chair) 

r aBBas 

m lukhele 

D J ncayiyana

T TerBlanche

m veller

issn 1999-7639

The aJhpe is published by the health and medical publishing Group (pty) ltd,  
co registration 2004/0220 32/07, a subsidiary of sama. 

28 main road (cnr Devonshire hill road), rondebosch, 7700 
all letters and articles for publication must be submitted online at www.ajhpe.org.za 

Tel. (021) 681-7200. Fax (021) 681-1395. e-mail: publishing@hmpg.co.za 

Contents
EDITORIAL

Educating health professionals to meet Africa’s needs
Vanessa Burch

2

ARTICLES
Moving beyond description: Research that helps improve teaching 

and learning
Wendy McMillan

3
MB ChB curriculum modernisation in South Africa –  

growing doctors for Africa 
Janet L Seggie

8
Using portfolios to assess professional competence and developement 

in medical laboratory science
Christian C Ezeala, Mercy O Ezeala, Ephraim O Dafiewhare

15
Is temperament a key to the success of teaching innovation?

J J Blitz, M R van Rooyen, D A Cameron, G P Pickworth, 
P H du Toit

17

SHORT REPORT
The need for a Master of Science degree programme in 

microbiology in Uganda
Agwu Ezera

22

ABSTRACTS
South African FAIMER Regional Institute Poster Day,  

held in Cape town
23

CPD
25