19 – 21 February 2020 – Dr Palanisamy Sivanandy from Pharmacy Practice Department, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University won Second Prize for his Oral Presentation at the UMMC International Nursing and Healthcare Conference 2020 held at The Everly Putrajaya. The title of his presentation was “Retail Pharmacist’s Knowledge, Attitude and Perception Towards Patient Safety – A Nationwide Study in Malaysia”

The presentation is based on a project headed by Dr Palanisamy Sivanandy and his team members: Dr Marikannan Maharajan, Tan Tyng Wei, Tan Wee Loon, Lim Chong Yee, Aruna Ranjan, Dayalini Rajasekar, Kalaivani Mathialagan, Saranya Kumaran, Ho Xin, Ling Chi Wei, Ainaa Diyana Shapheri, and Lim Ching Rou.

Dr Palani’s research interests are in patient safety, medication errors, pharmacovigilance, falls risk medications, geriatric pharmacology, clinical research, cancer chemotherapy, metabolic disorders and so on. Dr Palani has been recently recognised by Bentham Science Publisher as “Bentham Ambassador” for his noteworthy contribution in the field of research especially in the field of pharmacy practice. He has received many awards from various bodies for his research and innovations in teaching.

Congratulations to Dr Palanisamy and his team for this achievement.

“We know that equality of individual ability has never existed and never will, but we do insist that equality of opportunity still must be sought.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

17 January 2020 – In the effort to reach out to the needs of the wheelchair user community, IMU Cares together with Beautiful Gates Foundation was involved in a three-day Wheelchair Training Workshop in Tasputra Perkim. This is a workshop conducted by Wendy and Craig, the wheelchair specialists from the Latter Day Saints (LDS) Charities, an IMU Community partner, working together to provide wheelchairs for those in need in Klang Valley.

The all-day workshop saw IMU staff and alumni embarking on a learning experience with the goal of getting themselves equipped with skills necessary to provide the most appropriate wheelchair to the recipients. This workshop comprising 17 modules includes topics such as pressure relief techniques for wheelchair users, wheelchair assessments and fitting, as well as wheelchair building, assembling and maintenance. Contrary to popular belief, there is no one-size-fit-all wheelchair; wheelchair fitting is vital in preventing pressure injuries.

Under the guidance of Wendy and Craig, participants learned the criteria of selecting the best-suited wheelchair for the users. Wendy, a retired physiotherapist shared her vast experience working with wheelchair users as well as her previous experiences in running wheelchair clinics all-over South-East Asia. Craig shared how LDS Charities worked with local organisations to provide wheelchairs, “In 2018 alone, LDS Charities reached out to 53,800 wheelchair users from 40 countries – and each are individually sized and fitted.”

After an introduction to the training, participants were split into two groups, the Assessors and the Technicians. The Assessors were equipped with skills to prescribe the appropriate wheelchair for users whereas the Technicians were equipped with skills to assemble the prescribed wheelchairs. In both groups, the learning atmosphere was lively and filled with many queries, discussions and ideas.

One of the highlights of the training occurred on Day 2 where participants had to spend an afternoon moving around and weaving through obstacles on a wheelchair independently. Most, if not all, have had a new-found appreciation for their legs and their ability to walk. “It was an experience given to participants for them to empathize with our many wheelchair users – to understand the upper body strength needed to travel even the shortest distance and what’s more going up slopes or traveling on grassy terrains. It also helped participants to understand why most wheelchair users never want to leave their home, even if there are wheelchair-friendly places to visit, which are lacking as well.”

To the delight of many, the training ended with a wheelchair clinic on Day 3, where the enthusiastic participants put their new skills to use, through fitting wheelchair recipients to a new wheelchair. During the clinic, it became clear that there is a dire need for wheelchairs in the community. Broken wheels, rusty frames, missing foot plates and damaged backrest which was hanging by a thread were some of the conditions of the replaced wheelchairs. Not to mention, some recipients were using loaned wheelchair which fitted them poorly.

The journey to a new wheelchair begins with user assessment, followed by prescription to be written by the assessor. Then, a selected type of wheelchair will be assembled by the technicians based on the prescription. Recipients will proceed to try out the assembled wheelchair and a few adjustments may be made. Once the fitting is complete, users will return home with their new and shiny wheelchair. What a joy it was to witness them leaving with a wheelchair they could call their own. Users are also provided with information pertaining to mobility skills, pressure sore prevention and maintenance advice.

Indeed, it was a productive and an eye-opening three-day course. It was a wonderful opportunity for the participants to be able to learn a new skill and do good for the community.

IMU is definitely committed to see this project sustained and thriving. Wheelchair education, maintenance and even running a wheelchair clinic may be in the pipelines in time to come. As much as we yearn to make a difference to the society, our friends with disabilities also deserve to navigate freely as they contribute to the society and we must do our part to allow this to happen. This training was a great stepping stone to reaching that goal.

Author: Dr Jasmin Ng, IMU student alumni and research assistant
Edited by: Dr Goh Ni Kol
Reviewed by: Prof Khoo Suan Phaik

IMU recognises that the cost of an education in healthcare today can place large pressures on households. In this respect the University is proud to support those who show outstanding academic results through the provision of scholarships and bursaries at Foundation in Science, Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. These scholarships and bursaries are a vital means of helping outstanding young Malaysians to achieve their dreams and eventually to contribute back to society as conscientious and dedicated members of the Malaysian healthcare profession.

Foundation in Science scholarships of up to RM12,450 deducted over three semesters are available to top-scorers entering the Foundation in Science programme; and for those who successfully complete the programme and progress to any IMU undergraduate programme, a further bursary of 50 percent of the Foundation in Science fee may be deducted from the undergraduate tuition fee.

Since 2017 to date (2020), a total of RM18.8 mil bursaries have helped 1,365 students.

At the undergraduate level, full (100 percent of fees) and partial (50 percent of fees) scholarships are available to Malaysian students applying for local degrees who demonstrate outstanding academic excellence, extra-curricular participation and leadership qualities; and a bursary of RM16,000 is available to eligible students in the Nursing programme.

Besides these, there is also the Pantai-Gleneagles Scholarship for undergraduates enrolling into the Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery or Bachelor of Nursing programmes. Launched in 2019, the Scholarship is open to Malaysian students from B40 and M40 households (i.e. households with incomes of up to RM3,000 and RM6,275 per month respectively). The Pantai-Gleneagles sponsors tuition fees for successful candidates while IMU provides accommodation support.

IMU has disbursed almost RM32 million in scholarships to 187 recipients since 2002.

Meanwhile, for Malaysian postgraduate students, alumni bursaries are available for eligible self-funding students (who are graduates of IMU) covering up to 25 percent and 15 percent of fees respectively for two different groups of postgraduate degrees, while international students may seek bursaries of up to RM12,000 for taught postgraduate programmes.

SCHOLARS SPEAK

Nadia Rashid (Medicine)
“I remember the day I received the news that I had been awarded an IMU Scholarship in Medicine. It was on my mother’s birthday. When I showed her the email, I vividly remember her saying that it was the best birthday present that she ever had. As a daughter, I want nothing more than to see my parents’ happiness and smiles, so I’m forever grateful to IMU for giving me the chance to do that.” “I chose IMU because I always wanted to study in a diverse community. As a future doctor, I would have to care for patients who come from all walks of life, so being able to interact with those of different cultures and backgrounds was important to me. I also wanted a lot of clinical exposure, and I was drawn to the IMU curriculum (especially the Senior Clerkship) and its vision. Getting the scholarship not only relieved the financial burden on my family but studying at IMU also had helped build my personal growth. I made friends from all over the world, and had the chance to learn from the best. “My clinical mentor, Prof Dato’ Dr P. Kandasami, always emphasised the importance of having a good portfolio and a clear goal. My dream is to be a surgeon one day and I’m well aware that it is a long, arduous and competitive journey. So, currently, while waiting for my housemanship, I am conducting my own research with two batchmates under Prof Dato’ Dr Kandasami’s guidance at Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar, Seremban. I am also working as a Research Assistant in the National Institute of Health at Hospital Selayang.”
Foong Keng Wah (Pharmacy)
“I thought I knew everything about what a pharmacist does but I was so wrong. I realised this when I joined IMU and was exposed to the various roles of a pharmacist and what it takes to be a great one early in the pharmacy programme, ensuring that we had the proper mindset and expectations. Pharmacists are also versatile and have plenty of career paths to pick from, apart from the more traditional ones.” “My parents have always believed that education is of upmost importance and they strive to provide the best for my siblings and I. Since IMU is known to be one of the leading private healthcare universities, IMU had always been one of my choices to pursue a degree in. I finally made the decision to enrol in IMU due to their excellent track record in producing top quality pharmacists and the chance for a full scholarship. Thankfully, I was awarded the scholarship by IMU and was offered a place in February 2015 intake.” “Several months after completing my finals, I joined the Ministry of Health to undergo my training as a provisionally registered pharmacist (PRP). I have been attached to several departments. It has been an eye-opening experience as the expectations are now different and I am able to truly see the impact of the roles that pharmacists play in a hospital setting. Although there is still plenty of new knowledge to acquire from the training, I am confident that IMU had prepared me with the relevant skills needed.” Read more about Keng Wah’s journey at IMU: An IMU Scholar’s Journey to Become a Qualified Pharmacist in Malaysia
PG Lingeshan (Medicine)
“The fact that IMU provides me with a scholarship is a form of my support system [besides my mother Gnana Jothi, who raised me and my sister alone]. Consequently, knowing Prof Dato’ Dr Kandasami and Prof Datuk Dr N Sivalingam during my clinical years helped me to face my daily clinical-related battles and they have provided me so much mental strength to do better in medicine. This goes to the many other lecturers who played a huge role in my development as a doctor. Last but not least, good friends are tough to come by but I am grateful to have some who were willing to share their journey with me.” “Everything happens for a reason. Start appreciating moments in our lives with your heart. Honour the souls who have sailed and will be sailing alongside with you through your life journey. You are meant to be doing what you are doing now. Seek beyond what your eyes show you. You are the captain of your ship—steer soulfully to your desired direction.” Read more about Lingeshan’s journey at IMU: An IMU Scholar’s Inspirations Towards Gaining his Medical Degree
Hossein Jahedi (Biomedical Science)
“Receiving the IMU Scholarship, which I am extremely grateful for, allowed me to continue my studies without having to worry about the financial burden my family had to go through. And that’s how my journey in IMU began! “Without doubt, IMU and its personnel, lecturers, mentors, and supportive university staff (special shout-out to the Student Services Department) played a huge part. I am thankful to you all! I can’t count the number of times I approached them to bring up a problem, clarify an issue whether academic or personal, or even just rant about how stressed I was feeling. In the end, graduating from IMU was bitter-sweet; having to leave my IMU family was sad, but I feel excited moving forwards. “Graduating with first class honours from IMU’s three year honours programme, with a bunch of other achievements to my resume, has gotten me a full tuition fee and living allowance scholarship from University of Auckland in New Zealand to pursue my PhD in Biomedical Science.” Read more about Hossein’s journey at IMU: IMU Scholar: It’s Always About The Bigger Picture!
Pichien Mongkolthanit (Medical Biotechnology)
“I am extremely grateful to have been awarded the IMU scholarship, which covered my full tuition fees. This allowed me to pursue my studies with a peace of mind, knowing that I was not financially burdening my family during my time in IMU. As part of the IMU scholars, I had the chance to meet brilliant minds from different programmes across the university! Everyone had their own experiences and aspirations to share, and it is amazing that we all share a common goal: to use our burning passion and sense of innovation in hopes of contributing to the betterment of healthcare.” “I’m grateful to IMU for providing the means for its students to not only pursue academic excellence, but to pick up or enhance their interests in co-curriculars as well.For me, it has been a wonderful experience to practise my craft in photography as part of the IMU Photography Club, and to serve as its president later on. This, along with other leadership roles I’ve committed to in my journey as a Student Ambassador has allowed me to grow to be a better leader. It has been a joy to have worked with many inspiring people here in IMU, and a privilege to have had the chance of learning from them. “My hope is to one day contribute to the growth in the Malaysian biotechnological sector. My immediate plans are to further my postgraduate studies in one of the few other countries that are more biotechnologically advanced and, who knows where my path may lead me. Malaysia is my home, and hopefully, I can help make it a better one. Wish me luck!” Read more about Pichien’s journey at IMU: IMU Scholar Strives to Achieve Greater Heights
Wong Pui Mun (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
“After completing my high school education, I decided to join International Medical University (IMU) as a Chinese Medicine student and entered into another milestone in my life. The reason for me to choose Chinese Medicine as my degree is that I wish to help more people who are in need. Just as simple as that! “The moment I realised all my hard work paid off is when patients recovered after my treatment and the smile and thanks that appeared on their faces. I have never felt such happiness and sense of achievement before. It inspires and ignites my passion in doing better and working harder to help more people. In addition, I would never be this successful and competent without the guidance of all the lecturers from Chinese Medicine. They are always helpful, responsible and patient in guiding us, encouraging us and nurturing us in becoming a competent physician of the future. “My dream will never have been realised without the financial support from IMU. I am honoured to be awarded a partial IMU scholarship since the first year of my degree. I come from a single parent family and thus financial problems are the biggest obstacle to enter university. However, IMU has given me a chance to pursue my dream by providing me a partial scholarship throughout the whole journey of my degree course. It helped to reduce my family’s financial burden and I was able to enjoy my university life with no worries.” Read more about Pui Mun’s journey at IMU: My Unforgettable Journey Studying Chinese Medicine at International Medical University

It was truly an honour for the Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI) and Centre for Transformative Nutrition and Health (CTNH) of the International Medical University (IMU) to host Dr Connie Weaver, a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Nutrition Science at Purdue University, Indiana to deliver two research talks on 18 February 2020 at the IMU Bukit Jalil campus.

The first talk was on Calcium, Gut Microbiota, and Bone Health. Calcium intakes around the world fall below recommendations, especially during puberty, a critical period for development of peak bone mass. One solution in addition to increasing calcium intakes is to increase calcium absorption efficiency or increase bone formation rates which can occur through dietary prebiotic supplementation. Prebiotics, such as galactosaccharides, inulin, and soluble corn fiber increase microbial fiber fermentation and production of soluble corn fiber, but the exact mechanisms are yet to be determined. During the first talk, Dr Weaver shared a few of her studies elucidating these mechanisms. The findings from her studies indicated that prebiotic supplements could improve our gut health and increase bone formation.

This was followed by the second talk on Personalized Nutrition in Prevention of Chronic Disease. Subgroup differences including age, sex, and race in mineral metabolism in response to diet underlie some differences in risks to chronic diseases. Interestingly, Dr Weaver’s studies showed that increased calcium utilisation can explain the greater resistance to osteoporosis in males compared to females and blacks compared to other races. Also, greater sodium and calcium retention in blacks compared to whites on high salt diets leads to greater risk of hypertension and lower risk of osteoporosis. Besides, intakes of mineral ratios and dietary patterns may be more important than single nutrients. On top of that, females are better protected than males from sex steroid hormone deficiency induced bone loss by consuming fruits rich in polyphenols.

Both the insightful and eye-opening talks were well-attended by not only students and faculties from IMU, but also the Ministry of Health Malaysia personnel as well as students from other public and private institutions.

The pharmacists have many opportunities in the growing healthcare industry. Apart from the Clinical Pharmacy Practice and dispensing medications, the various pharmacist-led Medication Therapy Adherence Clinics (MTACs), have given a wide-range of opportunity for pharmacists to involve in patient-focused education and counselling. Therapeutic drug monitoring service allows the pharmacists to individualise treatment for patients. The opportunity in smoking cessation clinics, is an example of how a pharmacist can extend his/her services in behavioural intervention for smoking cessation and perform the motivational interview to assist patients in quitting the smoking habit. The opportunity to contribute to peoples’ well-being is what motivates a health care professional doing a committed service in their healthcare practice.

Knowing the fact that skillful pharmacy practice will help to save many lives and improve health outcomes of patients, IMU Alumnus, Kow Chia Siang choose pharmacy as his career option. He strongly believes that an effective pharmacist has a great impact on patients’ health outcomes and pharmacy practice research has the potential to inform the best clinical practices.

Shivadeva Selvamani, is a young, enthusiastic high achiever from Ipoh. He had an eye on the Foundation in Science programme ever since high school. Considering the fact that he was firm with his stance of pursuing a career in the medical field since childhood and following the footsteps of his dad who is a medical doctor and brother who is also in IMU, joining the Foundation in Science (FiS) programme in IMU was an easy decision to make.

According to Shivadeva, being a university solely focusing on healthcare degrees, IMU’s campus provided a ‘medical’ atmosphere even to the foundation students. Furthermore, the biggest plus point was the Look, See, Feel sessions which gives students like him the opportunity to experience the IMU degree programmes for themselves.

Shivadeva elaborated on this. “The journey in FiS have made my student life more fulfilling, revolving around knowledgeable lecturers, friendly administrative staffs and of course, the amazing and wonderful friends that he made. The very detailed and medical-integrated syllabus is another added advantage for those who love to immerse themselves in extra facts. I can confidently say that my Semester 1-3 has been smooth sailing due to the extra guidance each and every lecturer have offered.”

Besides that, IMU has established the IMU Cares Project which open doors for student volunteers who have a common purpose of making meaningful contributions to the community. Shiva himself joined 5 different projects throughout his Foundation in Science. These experiences have helped him a lot as a student and as an individual in gaining invaluable life lessons which would be helpful in the future.

“Back in FiS, I wanted to turn the focus of my extracurricular activities more towards volunteering as most of my high school activities revolved around event management and sports. As a result, I contributed to 5 different community service projects, which involves teaching English to orphans, teaching chemistry to refugees, accompanying the blind in their day-to-day tasks, carrying out medical check-ups for homeless patients and dressing wounds of those who are injured. I firmly believe that my volunteering experience was the tipping point which reaffirmed my stance in pursuing Medicine. Currently in Semester 2 of my medical programme at the University’s campus in Bukit Jalil, I am a committee member of the “World Health Fest” event that will take place in March 2020. Moreover, I am looking forward to leading the “Educator Appreciation Week” in IMU later this year (2020),” said Shivadeva.

Through much dedication and perseverance, Shivadeva bagged the full scholarship for both his FiS studies and MBBS degree in IMU. These financial aids have definitely paved him the pathway to take his first step in achieving his dreams and in the same time to reduce his father’s financial worries.

He said, “Among all the memories here in IMU, the most memorable one for me would be when I was informed that I had successfully received the IMU MBBS Scholarship. This was one of the news that made my father ‘sweat through his eyes’ he proclaimed. He is one  not to show much emotions but to see him tear in joy was one of the happiest moment for me and the proudest moment for him. I thank IMU for trusting me with this opportunity to not only improve myself as an individual but also place faith in me to maintain and uplift their image, as a scholar.”

“Without a doubt, I can confidently say that IMU’s FiS programme helped shape me into an all-rounder, the most prominent trait in achieving any scholarship. I say this because apart from the medical-suited syllabus that the programme offer, FiS also provide their student with tonnes of opportunity to dive into community services, to allow students to understand the incredible value of being in service to others in need. Therefore, these activities allow you to not only be active in the classroom, but also outside there, leaving a mark in society. Besides that, I strongly believe that the careful and top-notch guidance and teaching of the FiS lecturers had built up a strong foundation for me, being a medical student now. If you have any questions at all, they’ll be there on standby to clear each and every one of your doubt. To summarise it, FiS in IMU had carefully prepared me to slowly grow into a potential candidate for a scholarship”, added Shivadeva.

He continued to share on this experience at IMU. “It is only during the latter part of my first semester in FiS, when I start adjusting myself with the schedules. I started creating to-do lists on a weekly routine to ensure that I do not miss out on anything and at the same time assuring a study-life balance. Setting studies as my priority, I too give extra time to volunteer and spend time with my group of friends. Once this type of lifestyle settled in, I started being more productive in the middle of my semester 2 and changed the way I study. I started doing notes for my upcoming lectures close to a week early and making extra notes during the time of lectures. The key is to start early and not leave things for the very last minute. Up until now, in my degree life, I am practising the same technique and can therefore say that due to this, I am actually having the time of my life. A lot of your peers will tell you that you will one day drain out, but this is where your determination and willpower kick in to fire you up even more.”

Shivadeva concluded by saying “If the future allows me to, I aspire to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. Therefore, one of the most memorable moments that resonates to that dream would be attending the surgical workshop organised by the Intravarsity Club of IMU. The workshop gave me a glimpse on the different types of stitching which could be used during surgeries and what more was that I was able to practise it myself with the suturing tools provided, not on a human body but on a chicken skin”

An International Medical University (IMU) Nutrition alumna, Raanita Krishnamoorthy is currently working as a Nutritionist at Sunway Pharmacy. In this capacity, she assists customers to maintain a healthy lifestyle by giving them advice based on the assessment of their body composition, blood parameters and blood pressure.   In addition, she is given the responsibility of addressing nutritional issues and educating customers on healthy eating habits based on their health status. Besides this, she also attends to customers’ enquiries and serves them as an ethical and professional healthcare practitioner.

Apart from her core duties as a nutritionist, she also undertakes administrative responsibilities along with managing vendors, and taking a stock check of the products in the Pharmacy. She also educates on the importance of nutrition to all the staff in the Pharmacy, based on evidence-based practice as she was trained at IMU.

Raanita shared her experiences working in Sunway Pharmacy. “Working in a pharmacy gives me the exposure of dealing with various types of enquiries related to foods, health and disease prevention on a daily basis. The most rewarding days are when customers come back with a smile and share positive stories of their health and nutrition practices and how, we at Sunway Pharmacy made a positive impact on them. The community-first approach is practised in Sunway Pharmacy as I’m given the oppurtunity to provide free nutrition consultations to our walk-in customers. Besides, working here has also granted me a chance to continuously learn beyond my job scope by dealing with questions raised about prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs by some customers. I believe Sunway Pharmacy stands out from other pharmacies as we focus on giving a personalised approach to make our customers feel special when they step into our pharmacy. Although I am expected to be on my toes most of my working hours, my personality of always being “on the move” fits this job perfectly”.

Reflecting on her student days at IMU, Raanita, who graduated with her degree in 2018, said “My training in the Nutrition programme has given me the privilege to have a well-grounded and in-depth knowledge on Nutrition and health. This was possible through various health awareness campaigns, group projects, field visits, on site practicum exposures and many more. I can proudly look back and say, IMU has facilitated me in building my confidence to be ready for the working world and continue my growing passion in the field of Nutrition and Health Science. In future, I see myself diversifying my area of work internationally too.”

Raanita’s immediate manager, Francis Lau commended on Raanita’s performance at the outlet. He said “I find Raanita to be a positive and passionate person. She is able to provide good service to our customers and she is a fast learner. She is a great team player and I am happy to have her as our Nutritionist in our Pharmacy.”

Kuala Lumpur, 13 February 2020 – As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues, numerous information and messages has been seen flooding the digital space. A public forum on COVID-19 was organised by the International Medical University’s IMU Cares office to provide the IMU Community and surrounding communities an update of COVID-19, best practices and preventive measures to take.

The forum opened with an address by IMU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdul Aziz Baba who welcomed everyone and reminded them in situations such as these, to stay calm and always refer to credible resources such as the Ministry of Health or governing authorities, be vigilant in maintaining good personal hygiene and cleanliness such as washing hands with soap and water or using sanitisers regularly.

The panel discussion was moderated by Prof Khoo Suan Phaik, Associate Dean, Community Engagement, IMU.

The forum started with Prof James Koh who animatedly shared his clinical perspective on COVID-19 infection, putting the audience at ease. He also shared anecdotes on previous case experiences and how such situations were well-managed by good governance and practices. This was followed by Dr Khebir Verasahib, who spoke from the Ministry of Health’s perspective on “What’s Happening on the Ground”. Reinforcing Prof Koh’s perspective, Dr Verasahib provided in-depth insights on all the steps and procedures put in place by the Malaysian Ministry of Health since the outbreak. To date, the Malaysian government has contained the situation and continues to take proactive measures where required. Prof Datuk Dr Lokman who also serves on the WHO Framework Advisory Group for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, expanded on the sharing from the perspective of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Malaysia.

The lively exchange of knowledge, experience and burning questions were addressed accordingly by the panel of speakers. Participants were grateful for the opportunity to understand better the COVID-19 situation and left the auditorium more informed.

Video of the forum: https://youtu.be/N4EXf0w1GmE.

Have you ever thought of giving the all-time-favourite- nasi lemak, a healthier makeover? Have you ever dreamt of producing healthy and delicious innovative foods using sustainable home-grown produce?

IMU Dietetics with Nutrition programme produce graduates who are able to combine the science and art of dietetics through incorporating components of culinary skills in the revised curriculum for new students from 2019 onwards.

“Rates of obesity and overweight are rising in Malaysia leading to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases. One of the main risk factors causing this situation is poor diets and Malaysians’ love for our tasty variety of foods. The nation needs qualified dietitians who are skilled in providing diet consultation as well as teaching patients and the general public on how to modify their favourite local cuisines into healthier options without compromising on taste or aesthetic features of a dish. Healthy diets are only as good if people actually enjoy eating the foods” says Prof Winnie Chee who is a professor from the Division of Nutrition & Dietetics and Dean, School of Health Sciences.

Nutrition education and culinary skills combined are needed to be successful at creating and maintaining healthy eating practices. In other words, making vital nutrition information easily accessible is useless without also making it practical.

“Dietitians with culinary skills have added value for employment. Saying eat more vegetables and fruits isn’t as powerful as demonstrating a delicious tantalizingly salad. The business, financial and food service management components in the programme are beneficial for the employers” adds Mary Easaw, a Senior Lecturer teaching into the programme and former Senior Manager & Chief Dietitian at a cardiac hospital.

The BSc (Hons) Dietetics with Nutrition programme features culinary skills across several courses throughout the new curriculum. In the early semesters, students are provided with the foundation knowledge of the science of foods and what happens to food composition and nutrients when subjected to various cooking methods such as steaming, frying, baking and other modern food preparation methods such as sous vide. Students learn how to perform basic culinary skills to prepare healthy diets from their senior and IMU alumnus, Leonard Yap, who is a dietitian with chef training. He provides demonstration on various food preparation skills and introduces students to new methods of cooking that preserve nutrients. In Year 2, students put their culinary skills to create business opportunity by designing menus and sales of healthy lunch boxes to the IMU students and staff.

As students progress to Year 3, they elevate their menu planning and culinary skills to modify recipes and prepare diets for various diseases. Students will learn how to prepare diets suitable for diabetes, heart diseases, kidney failure and also for sick children during the Medical Nutrition Therapy course. The integration of culinary nutrition into the Nutrition & Dietetics curriculum is aimed at producing graduates who are work ready, who can use scientific evidence to help individuals choose and eat high quality meals to manage their disease conditions and restore well-being effectively.

IMU also has a Food Laboratory which is equipped with a demo kitchen, work stations and industry standard cooking facilities for the students to put into action their culinary skills in developing recipes and sales of healthy foods to the IMU community.

“Learning culinary skills in IMU has been very interesting to me. Especially when you relate it to science, it has been giving me a lot of surprises on how some actions that you may tend to skip because you think that they are unnecessary but actually it serves some purpose and does contribute to the taste of the food. As a future dietitian, learning culinary skills is very helpful in my field of studies as it is important to know how to prepare the food before recommending it to the clients. However, the most important thing for me is that I really enjoy what I am doing”, says Puan Rohana, a Year 2 BSc (Hons) Dietetics with Nutrition student from Indonesia.

Captain Manvikram Singh Gill a military pharmacist, is serving in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), Ministry of Defence, Malaysia. He was among the first batch of pharmacists to be provisionally trained in an Armed Forces institution before being commissioned into the Royal Medical and Dental Corps. He has combined his passion in pharmacy and his desire to serve for his country by being a military pharmacist.

In February 2020, he was presented with the top professional pharmacist award in Southeast Asia by SwipeRx, the largest social network of pharmacists in Southeast Asia recently as a recognition of his contribution to the practice in the country. He is currently pursuing his Clinical Pharmacy specialisation in Master in Pharmacy Practice degree programme at the International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

Capt Manvikram, has always said that Pharmacy was his first choice to select, when it comes to his higher education studies. He was inspired by his late paternal grandfather, who was a radiographer in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC); his mother and all other siblings who are nurses and still practicing, He spent most of his time while growing up at his mother’s working place and the environment at the dispensary made him curious on how medicines are dispensed and from where and how it comes from. The passion for military was the other side of him. Perhaps as he mentioned this is his ‘wild side’. He believes in serving the country with his passion in pharmacy and healthcare. He wanted to lead by an example, where loyalty, dependability and courage is practiced in every circumstances. Apart from his regular duties, Capt Manvikram is also actively involved with the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, the Malaysia-Australia Defence Alumni Association, the Armed Forces Sikh Association and the United Nations Association of Malaysia’s youth chapter.

At one point of his military pharmacist career, he thought that further education is a necessity in propelling his advancement and with the aim to serve the country as a leader and apply ethical principles to make a significant difference in pharmacy practice at Malaysia, he decided to join a Master in Pharmacy Practice programme at IMU. This is a programme which continues to support working pharmacists to address students’ educational and training needs as well as provide them with a great opportunity to expand skill sets in clinical pharmacy practice.

Capt Manvikram is currently planning his research project, a component in the Master of Pharmacy Practice (MPP) programme which is focused on military pharmacy practice, especially in the management of non-communicable diseases. The research project will be supported by the MPP programme and funded by Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), IMU.

“An institution which focuses on quality is definitely my first choice. I have chosen to specialise in clinical pharmacy as I currently serve at a military hospital. I believe the basis of being a good pharmacist is depending on his clinical skills. Clinical knowledge is needed to make judgments at every level of medical related operations. The advanced clinical pharmacy practice skills I learned from this programme, has helped me to perform better in terms of assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing and evaluating pharmacy practice related issues which I come across in my practice”.

The IMU Master in Pharmacy Practice programme is a great opportunity for working pharmacists to undertake formal continuing professional development, expand and develop their skill sets in clinical pharmacy practice and research. Capt Manvikram is utilising this opportunity from the MPP programme to gain an advantage that enables him to be a more effective practitioner, particularly in promoting the rational usage of medications.

One Friday night in December, excited student servers stood nervously to attention as the voices of their first dinner guests drifted into the Nutrition & Dietetics (N&D) Laboratory at the International Medical University (IMU). After months of hard work, the inaugural pilot supper club event called Project Aliquot was about to start! The normally functional food laboratory had been transformed into a beautifully decorated dining room. One long communal dinner table was set formally and dressed with table runners and small plants sourced by the students as a nod to nature which had been that evening’s inspiration.

Upon entering, smartly dressed ushers led the guests to their seats which had been personalised with name cards. Once everyone had arrived, the Head Usher, Sharon welcomed everyone with a short introduction on the concept and mission of the supper club.

The 5 course meal began with an elegant 1st Course presentation of Oysters Kaeng Som. The locally farmed Penang oysters were accompanied by Petai Duri Omelette, Green Papaya, Sabahan Sea Grapes

It wasn’t just all about delicious dining, Head Chef Leonard Yap and Head Usher, Sharon, educated their guests with details as to how each dish was prepared, as well as the nutritional benefits behind the locally sourced ingredients. Even the drinks served throughout that evening (a Pandan, lemongrass and lime infused tea colored by blue pea flowers) paid homage to Malaysian flavors and heritage. At the end of the meal, guests were surprised to discover that the entire 5 course meal contained just 700 calories and was low in sodium and high in fiber.

The supper club truly embodied its name Project Aliquot. The word “Aliquot” meaning a portion of a larger whole, was an experiment in incorporating innovation, decadent flavours and healthy eating. It was the brainchild of Dietitian cum Chef Leonard Yap, Nutrition and Dietetics Alumnus and Prof Winnie Chee, Dean of School of Health Sciences , who devised an innovative concept to shake things up by way of an invitation only supper club, where students would prepare and serve a formal meal. They envisioned an elevated dining event where they could showcase how healthy food could be tasty, low in calories and sodium while promoting local Malaysian ingredients and purveyors. This is also part of the activities under the Center for Transformative Nutrition (CTNH) which IMU is setting up.

Prof Winnie says “A challenge that every programme faces is how lessons learned at school translate into real life practices in the marketplace post-graduation. We focus on how we can help our dietetics and nutrition students overcome prevailing stereotypes in order to promote that a healthy diet and nutritious food can be delicious to eat and fun to cook.”

It is no secret that healthy diets have been linked to improved emotional, physical and cognitive well-being. Awareness of healthier eating options along with the availability and access to nutritional education are leading more Malaysians to become increasingly savvy about the importance of adhering to a well-balanced diet as well as concern over the provenance of their food. In turn, restaurants and eateries are recognising the need to promote local ingredients and the social movement of “farm-to-table” in order to know how their product is grown and where it comes from.

“Terroir”, which comes from the French word meaning “of the earth, soil” became the redefining point of food and nutrition for the team. Chef Leonard and his team of students spent an enormous amount of time foraging and sourcing local producers for sustainable ingredients that were native and unique to Malaysia. Together, they painstakingly planned and researched how various cooking techniques and execution could enhance the overall dining experience. After all, health conscious and delicious are not typically adjectives that are used together when describing most meals at restaurants.

For Chef Leonard, Project Aliquot was a dream come true. He always wanted to create a “supper club to push boundaries of where healthy food can go, where dietetics could merge with the culinary sector.”

He felt it was “important to provide the next generation of dietitians with more knowledge and practical skills in order to redefine food and showcase how healthy eating can be a part of daily life, making the point that “as the rate of NCD (non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart attacks and high blood pressure) increases, it becomes very apparent that how we decide to eat and live plays a huge role in our health, not to mention where we get them from  can also impact economies and the environment.”

Preparing for the pilot supper club was an arduous lesson for the students in business as well as hospitality. The 16 Dietetics with Nutrition students were led by Chef Leonard in all aspects of the dining process, from ingredient sourcing, costing, business planning, to service and hospitality. They were given a crash course about the execution of a fine dining meal; from the seating arrangements and formal table setting known to industry insiders as “front of house” to course serving and timing in the kitchen, “back of house”.

After the evening, Rohana, who worked the “back of house” described the experience as transformative, “Along with prep work, supplier contact and menu designing, we had classes. Along with classes, we had tests and exams. We were working non-stop for 2-3 months, ending in two nights of prep work and a third night for the actual pilot supper club. The worst thing was that the actual event night coincided with the toughest test of our semester. We managed to pull through. I learned to study way ahead and plan other responsibilities well. One needs to be really organised and disciplined. Also motivating myself was difficult, in a way that I am not a person who typically studies way ahead. But I just had to do it.”

Another student, Yip Song Qing, who took on a “front of house” role in the project had her eyes opened to the importance of communication and commitment. She comments that, “Communication was important, we had a tight budget and we had to decorate the whole place. We had to look for suppliers to sponsor our décor and I had to know how to talk to them, how to make them feel good and supply their product. I am quite timid so I had to overcome that, to meet them face to face and negotiate effectively. I also had to commit to what we planned to do as a team. Everyone has their own task but it is up to you whether you want to finish your task and that’s it or if you want to do more and learn more like helping other team members.”

Clearly this was an event that resonated deeply with diners as well as the students. Project Aliquot 2.0 is currently underway with Song Qing and Rohana taking on leadership roles over a new team of students. Plans are in the works for regular weekend supper club events which just might change the way that people eat and think about food.

For more information on IMU’s future supperclub events, please check: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectAliquot or https://www.instagram.com/project_aliquot.

IMU School of Dentistry and the IMU Centre for Lifelong Learning (ICL) has been organising a two-day course entitled “Dentist Patient Interaction and Communication Skills Workshop” at IMU’s campus in Bukit Jalil twice a year for the past six years. This course includes lectures, discussions on history taking, explaining special tests, diagnosis and prognosis, discussing treatment options and treatment planning, consent taking, breaking bad news and handling complaints.

Very importantly, the workshop also included practice OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) stations as well as a Mock OSCE depicting a wide array of clinical scenarios along with detailed discussions about each station with individual feedback to all candidates on their performance. Its focuses on helping participants develop patient centred interactions and communication skills that will aid them in their practice and in preparing for the MFDS Part II Examination.

Over the years, this course has attracted participants working in government clinics, private clinics and practitioners from overseas like India and Myanmar and saw the involvement of lecturers from the School of Dentistry (Dr Shekhar Bhatia, Dr Naveen Jnanendrappa, Dr Swarna Yerebairapura Math) and other facilitators from different specialties in this workshop.

This year, the course was held on 22-23 February 2020 and participants were extremely satisfied with the conduct of the course and felt more confident and clearer on how to prepare for the MFDS Part II Examination.

Read more testimonials at:

Unhealthy living has brought Malaysia the undesired reputation as a country with one of the highest population of people living with diabetes in the Asia-Pacific region. In the effort to manage this disease, diabetes education provided by qualified diabetes educators continue to be one of the best ways to both educate and empower the public with the necessary tools to manage the disease and its related conditions.

Juggling between studies, work and family

The high incidence of diabetes in the country has driven many who are currently working in the health care sectors to arm themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills to improve their understanding and enhance their ability to manage the disease burden. A testimonial by Nadhirah Khir, a registered dietitian also cited the importance of good time management when juggling between her job and being a full-time student in IMU’s PGDME, “I decided to enhance my career with a diabetes educator qualification for better patient outcomes and a sense of self satisfaction. Managing my time wisely has helped me balance between hospital work and my postgraduate studies.”

One of the graduates of IMU’s Diabetes Management and Education programme, Ms Wong Soh San, a full time nurse, represents a growing segment of working adults who feel empowered to continue their scholarly pursuit of life-long learning while balancing a home-life. In recounting her experience Ms Wong said that, “My journey as an IMU PGDME student has been a memorable short one-year period. This programme constantly challenged me to develop myself academically, professionally and personally. Throughout my studies, the focus was not only on my academic experience, but also on my real life experience as a fully capable individual. I have discovered my strengths and weaknesses. This programme has also been made more meaningful by the forward thinking lecturers who empowered and provided tremendous support to me and my course-mates. The programme structure is holistic and has enhanced my knowledge and skill sets for my career growth. I have improved my diabetes care and delivery at my workplace and developed evidence-based educational resources for other healthcare providers.”

Kuala Lumpur, 26 March 2020 – The International Medical University (IMU) today donated two units of ICU ventilation and monitoring systems to two of its long-term partner teaching hospitals namely Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar (HTJ) in Seremban and Hospital Enche Besar Hajjah Khalsom (HEBHK) in Kluang.

“COVID-19 has strained the healthcare system in many ways and ventilators are critical resources at this time. Hospitals would need more ventilators as, unfortunately, positive cases have been on the rise. It only makes sense for the International Medical University to step in to help the healthcare community in any way we can. Therefore, the University has reprioritised its resources for this particular reason, putting the healthcare needs of the public in the forefront,” said Vice-Chancellor Prof Abdul Aziz Baba.

A ventilator is a medical machine that assist patients in breathing when they are unable to do so themselves by pumping air into their lungs through a tube that has been inserted into their windpipes. Because of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, affects the respiratory system, the number of hospitalised patients in need of breathing assistance has since increased.

The IMU has reallocated its resources by deferring some upgrading projects to purchase these two units of ventilators that cost close to RM200,000. The donation is made through the University’s community engagement programme – IMU Cares.

“We are very grateful and thankful for such a wonderful contribution. The generosity and support from IMU to HTJ is much appreciated during this time of need,” said Dr Muhammad Zamri b Harun, Deputy Hospital Director, Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital.

Dr Hjh Azura binti Abu Bakar, Director of Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom, Kluang, Johor echoed the same sentiments and appreciation to the University for coming forward to assist in the most crucial time of need.

In collaboration with IMU Community Engagement, a group of Semester 4 students from the IMU Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry programmes conducted two community service visits to Rumah Charis – Home for the Aged as part of our MPU (U4) project. The main aim of the visits was to provide healthcare service to the elderly residents and their caregivers in the home. The activities conducted during the visits included performing healthcare screenings and giving talks on tuberculosis and proper posture.

For these talks, we are grateful to Dr Liew Yun Khoon, our project advisor for guiding us in planning the activities and checking the content of our talks. We would also like to thank Mr Muhamad Faizzuddin Bin Mohd Razali, who checked the content of the talk relating to good posture.

Prior to the visits by our group, the BP117 Semester 6 Pharmacy students had conducted some activities to educate the home residents and caregiver about the importance of not sharing their medication with others, compliance to medication, good personal hygiene, where to read expiry dates of medicine and the proper ways for medicine disposal. At least 80% of the elderly who participated these activities showed improved knowledge in good medicine practice after the visit by BP117 Pharmacy students.

Through the visits, we hope to make a positive impact to the community, no matter how big or small. For example, on the first visit, we noticed that some of the elderly with tuberculosis did not put on their face mask properly to prevent the spread of the bacteria. Two of the notable improper mask utilisations was not covering their nose and wearing the part without the metal strip on the nose. However, after creating awareness and counselling them in the first visit, we noticed on the second visit that the affected elderly was wearing their face masks correctly. Additionally, both the caregivers and the elders did their part to maintain the cleanliness of their area and to take better care on their health based on the health screenings results.

Overall, the impact of the activity we planned for the elderly also lead to the community around them to be more responsible not only with their health but also with the health of the surrounding neighbourhood. As students, we have gained invaluable experience and knowledge during the visits, and appreciate the time spent with the home residents. We would like to thank the management of Rumah Charis for allowing us to conduct the visits.

Written by: Doughlas Harold
Edited by: Dr Wong Lai Chun

As the number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia has yet to plateau, the Ministry of Health (MoH) had joined forces with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MoSTI) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) to rope in more diagnostic laboratories in its efforts to ramp up its measures and conduct 16,000 tests for the coronavirus (Covid-19) daily^1. Working closely with the MoH, the International Medical University (IMU) is one of the private higher institutions who was invited to help conduct these diagnostics tests. In fact, we were the first among this group and IMU started the service for MoH on 27 March 2020.

Here’s a look at what goes behind the scenes with Prof Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research (IMU) who is also the former Deputy Director General of Health (Public Health), MoH. He is also a member of the WHO Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework Advisory Group:

We would like to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to our faculty members who have volunteered their service for the nation. #StayStrong #StaySafe #StayHealthy

       References:

1. Mosti Provides Helping Hand to MoH in Its Fight Against Covid-19

As a final year IMU Biomedical Science student, I had the opportunity to work with Prof Dave Grattan and his team for 13 weeks at Grattan Lab as part of my internship. The Grattan Lab is one of the 10 laboratories in the Center of Neuroendocrinology (CNE) in University of Otago, New Zealand. The main direction of the Grattan Lab is to investigate the role of prolactin in the neuroendocrine and neurobiological adaptations of the brain.

During my time at the lab, I contributed to my direct supervisor, Dr Kristina Smiley’s ongoing projects. Dr Smiley’s focus is on the neuroendocrinal mechanisms of paternal care and she designed a programme to maximise my short time in Otago to learn as much practical skills related to neuroendocrinology.

My main tasks were cryosectioning, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and behavioural analyses. Cryosectioning was one of my favourite things to do in the lab. It was very oddly therapeutic. There’s a rhythm to turning the wheel (which slices the sections), and you just keep going at it. Once in a while, you get some concerned lab mates to remind you to be careful of the very sharp blade. The major key to cryosectioning is temperature control: too warm (as in 1-2°C warmer), your sections will ‘melt’, too chilly, your sections curl up.

I was exposed to the mechanism of IHC in IMU modules and practicals. However, the mounting of the sections on slides post-IHC was one of the biggest challenges I encountered in my projects. In the beginning, I struggled to arrange the brain sections according to the atlas. Therefore, I studied the anatomical features of mice brain and learnt to familiarise myself with the landmarks through practices. Mounting is back-breaking work, literally. I have to sit in the same position for hours to separate, arrange, and place the very delicate, thinly sliced sections onto a slide, all done using two small paintbrushes. Then, I proceeded to microscopy to visualise the cells which added to another layer of difficulty, as I need to identify very specific areas throughout the brain. Hence, I was very attached to the lab’s atlas until I was seeing mice brains in my sleep.

I have also observed blood collection, brain extraction, perfusion and stereotaxic surgery to insert virus vector. These procedures were new to me. I was fascinated by the accuracy and skills required to obtain a tiny brain while ensuring its integrity. Dr Smiley was concerned that undergraduates usually have difficulties in handling live mice, but the concern was nullified as the animal management module in IMU had given me adequate exposure in this.

The CNE lab does not have fixed working hours that the staffs should adhere to; there are no punch-card systems to record your attendance. The main authority that you should report to is your principal investigator during meetings. It was a true work-culture shock to me. Truth to be told, there are some days I would consider coming in late or take a rest day. Hence, it really amazed me that the members of CNE can get their job done in their own time, even without an enforced system. It all comes to discipline and passion to procure and publish their findings.

Furthermore, the lab prioritises the inter-relationship of the researchers and their exchange of knowledge. Therefore, every Friday, there are some activities that facilitate that bonding. The activities which differ every week, include seminars, tea breaks, paper sharing, and journal club meetings. I was fortunate to be included in this enjoyable working environment. Every member of the CNE is kept in the loop of the latest happenings within the department.

On my final lab meeting, I was given the chance to present my results in which Prof Grattan and my fellow lab members actively discussed the prospects of the results. During my internship, we are encouraged to discuss our experiments and troubles, and hence, from the exchange of experience, we can discover new ways to improve our projects and ourselves.

As a conclusion to the attachment to the Grattan Lab, I believe the practical and life skills learnt are invaluable to my development as an aspiring biomedical scientist. I feel grateful to be involved in an ongoing research overseas; as New Zealand has shown me its protectiveness over the environment, I have grown to appreciate the proper laboratory waste management. Moreover, the friendly working culture has made me realise the importance of a good professional relationship with my co-workers and encouraged me to improve my social skills. Through the interaction with CNE members, I feel encouraged to further my studies and acquire knowledge continuously. I truly hope that I can maintain the positive attributes acquired from this attachment and instil them in my future practice.

Although neuroendocrinology is a relatively advanced field, I, as an undergraduate, was able to keep up in theory (with extra effort) with the postgraduates. My fellow lab members were quite impressed with the syllabus covered in IMU. Nevertheless, theory is nought without actual lab skills and true immersion into a research environment. Hence, I am grateful for the research internship opportunity given by IMU and University of Otago for accepting me.

Written by Genieve Yeo Ee Chia