Sep 5 2020
RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC) celebrated Class of 2020 as 92 medical students graduated as doctors in a virtual conferring ceremony earlier today. The ceremony was held on a virtual platform in response to the current situation due to COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) outlined by the Malaysian government.
The online ceremony began with a welcoming address from Professor David Whitford, President, CEO & Registrar of RUMC.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and has necessitated large adjustments in our lives. This delay in graduation and the online conferring ceremony are just two examples of the alterations that have affected your lives,” said Professor Whitford.
The ceremony was witnessed by Dr Maurice Manning, Chancellor of the National University of Ireland (NUI) and Dean of RUMC, Professor Premnath Nagalingam.
As the foreign branch campus of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and University College Dublin (UCD), the ceremony was also graced by the online presence of Professor Ronan O’Connell, President of RCSI, Professor Cathal Kelly, Chief Executive & Registrar of RCSI, Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI and Professor Michael Keane, Dean and Head of School of Medicine, UCD.
Aside from virtual conferment of medical degrees, the ceremony honoured the prize winners for first places in final examination.
Bagging the first places in Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynaecology is Yeung Chun Yu who is also the Student Valedictorian for Class of 2020. Hailing from Hong Kong, it was Chun Yu’s childhood dream to become a physician. He did not let go of his dream even after starting a career in nursing. He held up a strong commitment and desire to finally graduate as a doctor today. Chun Yu firmly believes in a quote by George Eliot that says ‘It’s never too late to be who you might have been’. “The arrival of this day has proven that perseverance is the key to success, and I am glad that I had not given up as I am now able to better serve the society,” said Chun Yu in his valedictory speech during the conferring.
Halima Haruna Mshelia received the award for first place in Medicine. An international student from Nigeria, Halima’s passion was fueled by parents who are doctors themselves. She was deeply drawn towards the humanitarian aspect of the being a doctor and eventually got inspired to be one. “Getting this award was really unexpected but I am grateful and hope to keep doing my best in everything I pursue in the future,” said Halima.
As for Melvinder Singh, the recipient of Penang Medical Practitioner’s Society’s Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Book Prize for Best All-Round Student, the inspiration to pursue a career in Medicine came from his parents who were doctors as well. It was through his parents’ journey, he realised that being a doctor is a noble profession entrusted with the greatest responsibility which is the human life. “I hope to be able to constantly find ways to improve myself – to not just be a fine doctor but, a responsible member of the community as well,” said the freshly-conferred doctor.
Joining these prize winners are:
- Sya Mun Kit Julian for 1st Place in Opthalmology and Otolaryngology,
- Chan Suet Yi for 1st Place in Family Medicine,
- Olivia Wong Yan Qi for 1st Place in Public Health,
- Pang Zhi Chiing for 1st Place in Paediatrics,
- Manisha Veanora Coran for 1st Place in Psychiatry,
- Sabrina Koay Mei Ann for 1st Place in Forensic & Legal Medicine.
The ceremony also shined the spotlight on 2020 Dean’s List award recipients- Yeung Chun Yu, Soong Shin Loong, Pang Zhi Chiing, Alyssandra Danielle Teh, and Halima Haruna Mshelia.
The ceremony highlighted on a collection of congratulatory messages from academic leaders of RCSI and UCD to the Class of 2020.
“Medical school provides you with the basics. You now have the opportunity to further develop yourself, listen to your patients and learn what will really make a difference in their lives. I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing from you and about your achievements as you progress,” said Professor Whitford.
He also welcomed the graduating class to maintain a close and continuing association with RUMC as Alumni in the near future. “Remember – never stop learning and never forget that Medicine is not just science but is also an art practiced by doctors,” added Professor David as he concluded the conferring ceremony.
With successful conferring of the Class of 2020, the number of RUMC graduates has now grown to almost 1,900. Equipped with extensive clinical training experience and knowledge of the Malaysian healthcare system, these freshly-conferred doctors are now ready to embark on their housemanship journey.
