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JULY , 2023 | THE HEALTH
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Malaysia ’ s Dr Vinod gets global award
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THE UNITEHEALTH 2023 Covid-19 Influencers Social Media award was recently given to Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam , a 41-year-old molecular virologist from Monash University Malaysia .
Unite Health , a communityfocused organisation , is committed to improving global health through the thoughtful application of social media . In the “ Understanding the Virus ” category , Dr Vinod was chosen from 300 candidates and was the only Malaysian .
This honour is given to people who informed the public about crucial Covid-19 information using social media . Dr Vinod ’ s contributions were helpful in a time of great
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uncertainty because there was a lot of misinformation during the pandemic .
“ As a molecular virologist , I ’ m interested in viruses , specifically RNA viruses . I study how they cause pandemics and how they infect their hosts ,” said the Melaka-born Dr Vinod to FMT Lifestyle .
According to Dr Vinod , the honour he received was in recognition of his efforts to close the knowledge gap between the general public and scientists . He worked to reduce public anxiety during the pandemic in Australia and Malaysia and to promote vaccination uptake in those two nations .
He said that to be considered for the “ Understanding the Virus ” category , he
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had to inform the public of the virus ’ functions , type , hosts it infects , and how they can better understand it .
He also shared that he was pretty nervous when he received word of his nomination . “ The award ’ s huge ! You have to be perfect in terms of relaying information . There ’ s no room for error !” he said , adding that viruses have intrigued him .
According to Dr Vinod , the wave of false information that spread across social media during the pandemic was one of the most alarming developments . Even the academic community , he continued , is not immune to false information .
He admitted that some people were hell-bent on portraying scientists
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as being in the pockets of certain industries . He received death threats and hate mail .
Even as a scientist , Dr Vinod had to fight tooth and nail to persuade his sceptical parents to get vaccinated . “ Imagine those who don ’ t have a scientific background . It ’ s even more challenging for them .
“ The only way we can fight this misinformation is through data . And the job of scientists is to simplify all of this ,” he said .
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Dr Wan Azizah conferred honorary fellowship
DATUK SERI Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was recently conferred the honorary fellowship of the Academy of Medicine Malaysia ( AMM ) by the Sultan of Perak , Sultan Nazrin Shah .
The ceremony was held at the 56th Malaysia-Singapore Congress of Medicine in conjunction with MyWoman International Congress 2023 , which was declared opened by Sultan Nazrin recently .
During the event , Sultan Nazrin handed over the conferment certificate to the former Deputy Prime Minister , who is also the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim .
KPJ HEALTHCARE Bhd has appointed Chin Keat Chyuan as president and managing director , effective Sept 1 , 2023 .
In a statement , chairman Datuk Md Arif Mahmood said Chin ’ s appointment represents a significant step in the company ’ s journey towards redefining the healthcare ecosystem .
“ His deep industry knowledge , proven leadership , and commitment to innovation make him the ideal leader to steer KPJ Healthcare to the next level ,” he said .
Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh was previously the managing director . He was appointed on April 1 , 2022 but resigned on Sept 7 , 2022 .
Dr Wan Azizah , in her 24th Tun Ismail Oration titled Post Covid-19 : Mental Health Among Women in Malaysia , said the Malaysian Mental Health Association report released in Oct 2020 stated that incidents of mental illness among Malaysians increased by two folds during the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak .
“ It is estimated that only 20 per cent of Malaysians with mental disorders have access to professional care due to social stigma ,” said the 71-year-old ophthalmologist by training .
According to Dr Wan Azizah , who is also Bandar Tun Razak MP , prejudice and discrimination against people
Changes at the top for KPJ Healthcare
Chin was with the diversified healthcare products company Johnson & Johnson for more than two decades . He brought a wealth of experience and had an exemplary track record , rising swiftly from product specialist to MD at Johnson & Johnson ( Malaysia and Brunei ).
He was also the former president of the Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia ( PhAMA ) and a member of the board of governors at the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce .
Meanwhile , Datuk Mohamad Farid Salim was appointed KPJ Healthcare ’ s chief operating officer ( COO ), effective June 3 .
The company said in a statement that he joins
with mental illness caused these people to be marginalised in society . Such a scenario can lead to harm .
She also expressed her surprise at seeing reports about famous people taking their own lives . “ We think they are so successful , and yet there is something wrong that was kept under the carpet , and we don ’ t want to come to that state ,” she said .
Dr Wan Azizah also strongly urged everybody to help promote all available services that provide emotional , psychological support and counselling , such as Talian Kasih 15999 and Talian Heal 15555 .
Chin Keat Chyuan
Datuk Mohamad Farid Salim
the Group with a stellar resume that spans 30 years , demonstrates exceptional leadership in various capacities , and joins KPJ Healthcare at a critical juncture in its mission to redefine the healthcare sector through product expansion , innovation , and sustainable growth .
Loss of a prominent gastroenterologist
PROF DATUK Dr Goh Khean Lee , a specialist with several lifetime achievements , died at 67 after battling cancer .
He had countless publications , research and studies in gastroenterology and hepatology , which garnered him an exceptional local and international reputation . For his lifetime achievements , he had received numerous awards including the Outstanding Leadership Award by the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in 2019 .
Dr Goh was accepted into University of Malaya and received his medical degree in 1980 . He began his career at the University of Malaya ’ s Faculty of Medicine in 1984 and rose through the ranks .
He undertook training stints at the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow in 1987 and the University of Amsterdam in 1991 . He delved into the complexities of advanced therapeutic endoscopic biliary and pancreatic work while working as a senior fellow in gastroenterology and advanced therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopy in Amsterdam , gaining invaluable experience in the field .
The bacterium that causes ulcers , helicobacter pylori , was the subject of his doctoral research . He completed his studies for the Doctor of Medicine ( Mal ) degree in 1997 .
On returning to Malaysia , Dr Goh worked on raising the calibre of the gastrointestinal endoscopy unit . As the Head of the Division of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology and the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit at the University of Malaya Medical Centre ( UMMC ), he nurtured the division and unit into one of the nation ’ s finest , garnering an exceptional international reputation .
The World Digestive Endoscopy Organisation presented the UMMC GI Endoscopy unit with the prestigious “ Centre of Excellence ” award in June 2008 . The UMMC Endoscopy Unit , one of only four in Asia and the only unit in Malaysia to receive this prestigious honour , has become a highly sought-after training facility , drawing gastroenterologists from domestic and foreign locations .
Dr Goh also held several significant leadership positions at the national and international levels . His sheer volume of publications and citations , making him the most productive biomedical researcher in Malaysia , with papers appearing in high-impact journals , showed his research prowess .
He has received numerous honours throughout his career , including the Outstanding Leadership Award “ Tokoh ” from the University of Malaya Medical Centre in April 2019 . – The Health