Prof Tabana is the Deputy Director of the Health Services to Systems Extramural Unit alongside the Unit’s Director, Prof Asha George.

Prof Tabana’s rousing address, entitled “The role of the SAMRC Extramural Units- From funding to capacity: SAMRC Extramural Units as drivers of African Scientific talent,” demonstrated the importance of extramural units in her own academic growth and professional success, as well as the transformative power of mentorship and capacity building funded by these units.

“Without the [extramural unit], who knows where my career would have taken me? Without that mentorship, those writing retreats, and that seed funding? That young academic could have easily become discouraged.”

Prof Tabana also spoke about the need to have the success of EMUs look beyond publications, instead focusing on “competence…and how that competence compounds over time.” She highlighted that over the past decade, the unit she now helps lead has not only nurtured her career, but the careers of senior lecturers and researchers at other institutions of higher education, the SAMRC itself, government officials in South Africa and even the ministries of health in other African countries. She noted that the Health Services to Systems EMU also sparked the creation of the South African Learning Alliance for the District Health System (SALAD) which connects district health system decision-makers, managers, researchers, academics and NGOs to learn from one another as a means of strengthening the DHS, as well as other networks and collaboratives that are strengthening health systems and governance far beyond SOPH.

At the close of her speech, Prof Tabana again highlighted that by focusing on capacity building, EMUs can build capabilities, consistency, collaboration and future leadership; EMUs are building an engine for African scientific talent.