Excellence in Deceased Donation
We sponsor healthcare workers to attend UCT's world-class course on organ donation and end-of-life care.
Training changes everything.
South Africa has one of the lowest deceased organ donation rates in the world. A major reason is that healthcare workers often lack the confidence to identify donors or approach families. This two-day programme at UCT is designed to close that gap.
Excellence in Deceased Donation and End-of-Life Care
Lectures, case studies, and high-fidelity simulations. You'll practise breaking bad news, brain death testing, donor optimisation, and donation after circulatory death.
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Deceased donation
Types of donation, possibilities, and benefits for recipients.
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Law and ethics
South African legal frameworks and ethical decision-making.
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Communication
Breaking bad news and supporting families through difficult decisions.
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Donor care
Optimising care for potential donors and their families.
Built for the people on the front line.
Anyone working in or studying towards a healthcare profession. Especially relevant if you work in ICU, emergency medicine, palliative care, or transplantation.
- ICU physicians & nurses
- Emergency medicine
- Palliative care
- Transplant coordinators
- Paramedics
- Social workers
- Medical students
- Clinical educators
Two intensive days.
Day 1
- Overview of donation in South Africa
- Ethical and legal frameworks
- Brain death testing
- Simulation: breaking bad news
Day 2
- DCD and circulatory death
- Palliation and extubation
- Ethical case discussions
- Debriefing and course quiz
- courses delivered
- 3
- professionals trained
- 58
- expert faculty
- 16
- course fee covered
- R5k
Sponsorship grows the system.
By removing the cost barrier for nurses, allied health professionals, and students, we help expand South Africa's pool of trained practitioners, especially in underserved areas. This directly strengthens institutional capacity, advances national critical care goals, and improves family support in ICU and emergency settings.
- Enhanced healthcare worker readiness and confidence
- Stronger capacity for quality deceased donation programmes
- Support for National Department of Health strategic goals
- Improved interdisciplinary collaboration and family support
Three deliveries. Consistently strong feedback.
22–23 Oct 2024
Pilot
18 participants. Tested and refined the course structure and simulation-based components.
11–12 Mar 2025
Expanded
21 participants. Diverse disciplines reflecting increasing demand and national reach.
13–14 May 2025
Consolidated
19 participants. Further embedding interdisciplinary collaboration and best practice.
13–14 Oct 2026
October intake
Final 2026 delivery. Sponsorship applications welcome.
- Venue: UCT / Groote Schuur Hospital
- Cost: R5 000
- CPD: 14 General + 2 Ethics points
"The course would not have been a success without grants supporting interdisciplinary attendance from multiple disciplines from across the country."
“Training healthcare professionals in this area is essential to building sustainable donation programs and aligning local practice with international quality standards.”
“The simulations honestly closed the gaps of understanding for me. Not all courses allow it.”
“The breaking bad news station offered me more confidence to approach this topic.”
Apply for sponsorship
We cover the course fee (R5 000) for a limited number of healthcare professionals and students each year. Our goal is simple: get more trained people into the system, especially in underserved areas.
Express interestLimited spots available. We review applications on a rolling basis.
Who we're looking for
- Work or study in a healthcare field
- Are based in South Africa
- Will apply what they learn in their practice
Register directly with UCT
If you don't need sponsorship, you can register directly with UCT. The course runs several times per year.