Latest news with #NewcastleUniversityMedicineMalaysia
The Star
3 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Bridging global excellence with local relevance to shape future healthcare leaders
A prominent medical school in Malaysia and the international campus of Newcastle University in the UK, NUMed connects global expertise with local needs. As healthcare becomes increasingly globalised, there is a growing need for medical professionals who are both internationally competent and locally grounded. As a leading medical school in Malaysia and the international branch campus of the renowned Newcastle University, UK, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) is in a unique position. Rooted in the academic excellence of its parent campus, NUMed brings a globally acclaimed medical curriculum to the Asean region. The university is also currently the only one in Malaysia that integrates the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) in its MBBS curriculum, providing a seamless pathway for aspiring doctors to establish their careers in the UK and other countries where the UK's medical standards are highly favoured. 'Our Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme is aligned with both the UK's General Medical Council (GMC) and Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) standards. 'Importantly, students have plenty of opportunities to gain knowledge and hands-on experiences within local and international epidemiological landscapes, healthcare infrastructure and cultural realities, allowing them to develop clinical skills that are globally benchmarked yet locally applicable,' said clinical affairs dean Prof Dr Harinarayan Radhakrishna, From the outset, NUMed's medical students engage in immersive cross-cultural clinical experiences, working in local healthcare settings and community initiatives. These include annual health camps held in rural areas, volunteer initiatives in aid of various local issues, and workshops and talks to raise awareness of selected health issues. 'These events place our students in real-world settings where they get to interact with the public in different settings. 'By being on the ground, they develop a deeper understanding of health challenges faced by local communities, learn to ask more insightful questions and listen with greater empathy, and adapt their medical knowledge to serve diverse patient populations effectively,' added Prof Harinarayan. NUMed's medical students have many opportunities to interact with the public in diverse settings. In addition to that, students also have the option to pursue student exchange programmes, intercalations, electives and research opportunities abroad, enabling them to expand their perspectives and reinforce their adaptability across healthcare systems. As part of Newcastle University, UK, NUMed benefits from a robust network of academic and clinical partners worldwide. Collaborative research, faculty exchanges, joint symposia and other professional development opportunities further enrich students' educational experience. At the same time, NUMed works closely with local healthcare providers, ministries and non-governmental organisations to ensure its students are aligned to community needs. These partnerships translate knowledge into application and ensure students graduate with a sound understanding of various healthcare systems. 'We are committed to ensuring that our students are not only internationally prepared but also regionally impactful,' Prof Harinarayan shared. Graduates emerge well-prepared to thrive in a variety of healthcare settings. To date, nearly a thousand have taken their expertise to diverse locations around the world. In bridging international education standards with local healthcare delivery, NUMed is shaping a new kind of medical professional who is agile, globally minded and committed to service. Find out more about its programme offerings at email admissions@ call 07-555 3800, or WhatsApp 011-1231 5411/012-784 9456.
The Star
08-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Inspiring the surgeons of tomorrow
Dr Noor Hisham spoke passionately about leadership in healthcare, highlighting empathy, body language awareness, compassion, focused attentiveness and active listening as crucial traits in a doctor. Former Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah took to the stage as the keynote speaker at the recent Surgical Symposium 2025: Sculpting the Surgeons of the Future, which was organised by the Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) Surgical Society. He received a warm welcome from NUMed provost and chief executive officer Prof Vishna Devi V Nadarajah, who highlighted that while he is renowned for playing a critical role in guiding Malaysia through an unprecedented crisis, he was also instrumental in the establishment of NUMed. 'In healthcare, it's not just about delivering services, but also about establishing training institutions so we have a continuous pipeline of healthcare professionals, not only for Malaysia but for the region. So, welcome back, Tan Sri, and thank you very much for being one of the pioneers of NUMed. We deeply appreciate it,' she said. In his speech, Dr Noor Hisham shared some of the essential leadership skills for navigating today's healthcare ecosystem. 'The first and most important skill that each and every one of you must learn is listening — to your patient, to data, to science, to facts and even to social media. 'As surgeons, we have to make decisions and if you have all the information you need at hand, you can make the right decision,' he said. The other four skills are creativity, communication, perseverance, and finally, doing one's best. 'Being able to sustain yourself and stay strong, especially when you face complications, is important. What's most crucial is that you do your best with communication, decision-making, knowing when to do and when not to do,' he added. This was followed by two plenary sessions. The first featured Dr Ahmad Shuib Yahaya, obstetrician and gynaecologist of Gleneagles Hospital Johor, who shared how technology is revolutionising outcomes in gynaecology oncology in his talk about Robotics in Surgery: Transforming Precision and Care. Meanwhile, Dr Nazrul Nashi, orthopaedic consultant at National University Hospital, Singapore, gave insights into The Future of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery, Today, showcasing the role of 3D modelling in surgical planning. Thereafter, the symposium progressed to a highly anticipated series of hands-on workshops. According to Ong Paul Sherng, the event's organising chairperson and a Year 3 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) student at NUMed, the symposium's primary goal was to introduce medical students to the world of surgery, preparing them not only in surgical fundamentals but also to be adaptable to innovation. NUMed is an international branch campus of Newcastle University, UK. Find out about its MBBS and other programme offerings at For further details, email admissions@ call 07-555 3800, or WhatsApp 011-1231 5411/012-784 9456.
