Pass ‘go’ and onto the next phase

> PMC’s top Class of 2020 students honoured at White Coat Ceremony

EARLIER this month, six Penang Medical College (PMC) scholarship recipients from Penang and Kuala Lumpur returned, on completing their course of study in Ireland, to begin their clinical training back on homeground.

Joining their classmates of various nationalities, the six were welcomed back at an esteemed function known as PMC’s White Coat Ceremony – a “rite of passage event”. This year’s do, celebrating the class of 2020, was held at the Penang Hospital.

The six who enrolled with PMC are Eunice Lim Yuying, Julian Sya Mun Kit, Ruebeneshkaran Kirubakaran, Tan Hoong Yunn, Sabrina Koay Mei Ann and Olivia Wong Yan Qi, from KDU Penang University College, Disted Penang, Methodist College Kuala Lumpur and Taylor’s College.

Each exemplary student on their own, have won awards and medals, even published journals and excelled at sport, and are ready to move from their pre-clinical studies at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) or the University College Dublin (UCD) to their clinical medicine training with PMC and its teaching hospitals.

“As you begin your clinical training, you are following in the footsteps of nearly 1,600 PMC doctors, your seniors have gone on to senior positions and PMC graduates are well sought after. You are carrying the name and reputation that they have built up. Carry it well and uphold the good name of PMC. That is your responsibility as you enter these hospital corridors, wards, clinics and theatres,” said PMC’s president and CEO Prof Stephen Doughty, addressing the bright and promising six.

All were, as in tradition, “coated” by distinguished guest – Penang Hospital director Datuk Dr Norsidah Ismail. Also present were PMC senior management and faculty members.

Together with their classmates from Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Nigeria, Thailand and the UK, the six were honoured, shining examples to their peers.

PMC is Malaysia’s first accredited private medical school. It is whollyowned by RCSI and UCD, two world-renowned medical universities in Ireland. All PMC enrolled students begin their course in Dublin for 2.5 years (pre-clinical training) and complete the remaining of their programme in Penang for another 2.5 years (clinical training).

Graduates are presented an internationally-recognised medical degree, namely the MB BCh BAO (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Obstetrics) from the National University Ireland (NUI).

Earlier this year, PMC launched its Foundation in Science programme to provide SPM and equivalent school leavers the