Heart and Soul: Doctors leaving a legacy of experiences


Caricatures of the authors. Photo: Taken from the book Beyond The White Coat

The year 2023 marked a significant milestone for many of us from the Medical Class of 1973/78 at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. As we reached the age of 70, nearly half a century had passed since we first entered Malaysia’s first medical school – founded by the legendary Professor TJ Danaraj, who expected nothing less than excellence.

The five years that followed were intense, filled with rigorous coursework, sleepless nights, and numerous exams, interrupted only by brief pauses for basic needs. Most of us survived this demanding period and graduated as doctors in 1978. We then began our medical careers across the country, with many pursuing subspecialty training that required another four to 10 years of study, exams, and personal sacrifices.

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