Chancellor, pro-chancellor installed
INTERNATIONAL Medical University (IMU) has held a ceremony for the installation of its new chancellor and pro-chancellor.
Datuk Dr Gan Eee Kiang was officially installed in his new role as chancellor.
Dr Gan who obtained his PhD in Pharmacology in 1972 from the University of Western Australia, played an instrumental role in bringing international recognition for Malaysian clinical pharmacy education.
He was also the first Malaysian member of the International Health Advisory Panel of the United States Pharmacopoeia Convention.
Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang was also officially installed as IMU’s new pro-chancellor. He qualified as a doctor in 1974, and has played a significant role in the development of cardiac surgery in the country. He successfully performed the first heart transplant in Malaysia in December 1997.
The event also saw the conferment of the Emeritus Professor title to Prof Mak Joon Wah.
He joined IMU as professor of Medical Parasitology in 2001 before becoming pro vice-chancellor, research in 2016.
Under his stewardship, the university has made significant progress in research. Prof Mak will continue to contribute and support the university in his new role.
Four hundred and forty two students graduated from various programmes during the IMU convocation ceremony held last weekend.
These included the seven from the country’s first Postgraduate Diploma in Implant Dentistry (PGDID) and
the first cohort of two students from the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Professions Education (PGCHPE). In his speech at the convocation ceremony, vice-chancellor Prof Abdul Aziz Baba reminded students why they chose to be in the healthcare profession.
“Your education at IMU has prepared you for this future. But there are things that cannot be taught — compassion, sympathy, care, kindness, humanity and benevolence.
“While it is part of our strategic goals at the institution to inculcate values and principles in our students, encouraging them to perform their role as healthcare providers with 100% heart, I urge you to uphold the very reasons why you chose this profession as your calling, to serve and deliver,” he says.
Dr Tan Chew Fang, says the PGDID provided her with a great start in learning implant dentistry.
“This serves as a motivation for my passion and clinical work in the field,” she says.
A prize presentation ceremony was also held to celebrate students’ academic excellence.
Muhammad Anwar Azrin, a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) graduate obtained the Dr John Joseph Bosco Memorial Gold Medal.
This is awarded to a student graduating with the IMU MBBS with the highest academic excellence.
He is also a winner of the Professor Guan Chong Book Prize in Surgery and on the Dean’s List.