SEPTEMBER , 2022 | THE HEALTH

Gastroenterologist Datuk Dr Ryan Ponnudurai is one such person . He thought about working abroad after graduating from medical school rather than coming back to serve in Malaysia when he left Alor Setar in the 1980s to study in Ireland .

A top-tier , lucrative position at a San Diego hospital in the US was on the table for him . And yet Dr Ryan opted against accepting the offer because he wanted to experience a year or two serving in his own country before returning to the US . “ However , that did not happen . I loved Selayang Hospital so much that I never went back . I gave up San Diego for Selayang , and I have never regretted it .” The gastroenterologist is now based at the Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur .

Despite his credentials and being trained in Germany at one of the greatest centres in the world for endoscopic ultrasound operations , he was offered just a Medical Officer ’ s position .

“ The Ministry of Health ( MoH ) then delayed confirming my position as they were unsure how to recognise my qualifications .

“ I showed them the letter of offer from San Diego , which was a US $ 350,000 a year salary and the Nobel Visa ( given to individuals who possess extraordinary ability in the sciences ) given to me by the Americans .”

Despite that , they made him a Medical Officer which is perplexing given that officials at the MoH should be very familiar with such qualifications .

Instead of being disheartened , Dr Ryan set up the gastroenterology unit at the hospital and continued to train others .

“ I said okay , I will continue training other doctors for one year . I literally worked for free , but I did not complain because I thought I was going back to the US anyway .”

His luck changed when a cardiologist treating former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad learned about how the MoH was treating him .

The cardiologist went to Dr Mahathir with Dr Ryan ’ s CV and informed him

of what was happening and that Malaysian talents who had returned were not being duly recognised .

“ Dr Mahathir immediately called up the Health Minister and asked why this was happening . Within two days everything , including my pay was backdated , and I was given a consultancy position .”

Since then , Dr Ryan established endoscopy ultrasound services at the hospital and began conducting live endoscopy workshops for international audiences , performing all sorts of endoscopy procedures .

“ We became world-renowned and even did live transmissions to Harvard University . People were flying in to watch us conduct the procedures . At the same time , the Americans started calling me , asking when I planned to go back .

“ However , I had come to love working at Selayang Hospital , and in the middle of my second year , I told them that I was giving up my San Diego position .”

The 56-year-old said he was also offered various positions at world renowned hospitals such as Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic . However , he turned down all the offers to serve in Malaysia .

FIONA Ho Jing Min , Clarice Siow Jing Rou , and Ngu Hui Ling are three UCSI University Doctor of Medicine ( MD ) programme students chosen to participate in a year-long , highimpact research project at Harvard Medical School Brigham and the Women ’ s Hospital in the US .

“ I feel honoured to be selected and given a chance to engage with the research community at Harvard ,” Ho told Star .

The three have been given the opportunity as a part of the university ’ s Star Trek programme , which selects UCSI students for high-impact research at the top universities in the world .

They are among 13 participants

FORMER Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin launched the biography of Tan Sri Dr Ampikaipakan Kandiah , titled The Doctor Will See You Now , on Sept 7 . Authored by his wife Puan Sri Thamayanthi Devi Ampikaipakan , it details Dr Ampikaipakan ’ s life and career as a medical professional and philanthropist , including his work for the Vivekananda Ashrama Kuala Lumpur and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan ( SMK ) Vivekananda . He was also once Chairman of Maika Holdings Bhd , the MIC ’ s investment arm .

“ I always knew that I would lose to his two mistresses — his medical career and his social work ,” said Thamayanthi during the launch held at SMK Vivekananda ’ s Kandiah Hall in Brickfields , Kuala Lumpur . from the varsity who have been offered the Harvard opportunity since 2014 .

The three will concentrate their research on aldosterone signalling , where they will look at what causes aldosterone alterations and how those changes affect the body . Adrenal glands release the steroid hormone aldosterone . Its main function is to control the body ’ s water and salt balance , which impacts blood pressure .

Because cardiovascular diseases are the most significant cause of death worldwide , their research aims to understand better the hormonal process that influences them .

Muhyiddin has been a long-time patient of Dr Ampikaipakan , a internal and respiratory medicine specialist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur . He issued a letter in June 2020 which certified Muhyiddin as cancer-free and well enough to serve as Prime Minister .

Calling Dr Ampikaipakan “ the sort of Malaysian that we all want to see ”, Muhyiddin said that “ we can find true friends in every Malaysian regardless if he is a Muslim , a Hindu , a Christian , a Buddhist , or a person of any religion ”.

“ What we need is a clean heart , with honesty and with compassion that always treats others with dignity , respect and kindness , and this is what Ampi is all about ,” he added .

Also present at the launch was the

From left Ho , Ngu and Siow .

According to Siow , who cited data from the World Health Organisation , 17.9 million people worldwide died from cardiovascular illnesses in 2019 , accounting for 32 per cent of all fatalities that year .

She said aldosterone plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of heart failure . The health of one ’ s cardiovascular system is indirectly impacted by hypertension , which is controlled by this hormone , according to Ho .

From left Puan Sri Thamayanthi Devi Ampikaipakan , Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Tan Sri Dr Ampikaipakan Kandiah .

Raja Muda of Selangor , Tengku Amir Shah Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj . At the same time , Indian politician Shashi Tharoor provided a video message for the event .

KPJ HEALTHCARE BHD President and Managing Director Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh stepped down only after five months on the job to pursue other opportunities .

His sudden departure effective Sept 7 saw Chief Financial Officer Norhaizam Mohammad assume the role of officer in charge .

“ On behalf of the board , we would like to take this opportunity to thank Mohd Shukrie for his contributions to the company during his tenure . We wish him the best in his future undertakings ,” Chairman Datuk Md Arif Mahmood said in a statement .

“ In the interim and to ensure a seamless transition , we are confident that with her vast experience in the healthcare industry , Norhaizam Mohammad is fully capable of taking the helm as officer in charge , with the support of the board and the company ’ s experienced senior management team .”

“ Moving forward , the company will remain focused on spearheading our strategic growth plans . Prospects continue to improve in the healthcare sector and KPJ Healthcare is well-positioned to capture the opportunities ,” Md Arif said . – The Health