Addressing the shortage of health professionals in South Africa through the development of a new cadre of health worker: the creation of Clinical Associates

Prof Ian Couper

qualifications: MFamMed

contribution: original concept, literature review, designed the project, wrote the first draft

position: Professor/Director

South Africa

Professor Ian Couper is Director of the Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health and Professor of Rural Health at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. A trained family physician, he spent nine years practising in a remote rural hospital in northern KwaZuluNatal province, and then 16 years working in primary care and health service development in rural North West province. He held the first chair of rural health at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). He has chaired both the Rural Doctors Association of Southern Africa (RuDASA) and the Wonca Working Party on Rural Practice (WONCA Rural).

Prof Jannie Hugo

qualifications: MFamMed

contribution: designed the project, original concept, contributed to drafts

position: Professor/Head of department

Family physician, educator interested in service learning, rural health, equity, consultation, management of health services, district health care