DECADES may have passed, but medicine and dentistry remain hot career choices for young Malaysians leaving high school. While career choice can often be easy to make, driven by the student’s inner passion and drive, often, the same cannot be said in choosing the higher education institution where they can pursue their studies.
To start off strong, a firm foundation is of utmost importance, because this puts students in the right position for growth and development, as well as building a sound future - not only in their studies, but also in their future careers.
Proven track record
With over three dozen medical schools in Malaysia to choose from, Melaka-Manipal Medical College is miles ahead as a top medical school.
Prof Dr Somsubhra demonstrates how to deliver a baby to aspiring doctors.
Since its inception, over 4000 medical and over 200 dental surgeons have been delivered to both the Malaysian and overseas international health systems, with many alumni progressing successfully into specialist careers of their choosing.
International and global exposure
Melaka-Manipal’s programme is structured in such a way that its students complete all their written examinations at the end of Semester 9, leaving them the final semester to fully immerse themselves in the honing of their clinical skills.
The Health Ministry’s hospitals in Melaka, Muar, Jasin, Segamat and government polyclinics provide the settings for clinical skills training.
Dentistry students will perfect their clinical skills in Melaka-Manipal’s very own on-campus Dental Clinic, offering training in all disciplines of dentistry. With a student-dental chair ratio of almost 1:1, coupled with a patient pool of over 30,000 per year, students will not be short of opportunities to develop and finetune their dental skills under the watchful eyes of highly experienced lecturers and professors from the industry.
Clear pathway
For fresh SPM-leavers, a pathway programme is provided via the Foundation in Science programme.
A uniquely designed 12-month programme, students will be prepared to excel in a MBBS or BDS as subjects are specifically chosen to deepen a student’s existing science knowledge, so that they have a strong headstart in their later years of undergraduate studies.
Students in the foundation programme who meet entry requirements are given assured progression into either the MBBS or BDS programmes.
Lifelong learning support
It is impressed upon students upon graduation that they have just stepped on the first rung of the medical profession. As the oft-wrought cliché goes, learning is lifelong, and no less true is this in the medical arena.
In a future where technology dictates, those skills that are distinctly human will be among the most valuable and it is these skills that are enriched through postgraduate study.
Considering how vital this is, Melaka-Manipal organises workshops for USMLE, PLAB and various Royal College fellowship exams at its campus in Melaka, so that students are able to prepare for them prior to graduation with minimal travel involved from their ongoing routine.
Balanced lifestyle
Since its inception, MMMC has successfully integrated the Manipal ethos into its Malaysian curriculum, faculty and students.
Prof Dr Nishikanta demonstrating on how to intubate a patient through the mouth and into the airway.
The facilities in both the Manipal and Melaka campuses are second to none in that they fully provide for holistic education - academic as well as social. In Manipal, students can join clubs for music and fine arts, enjoy literary pursuits, meditation, yoga, debating, photography and language classes.
In addition, the campus has playgrounds and courts for cricket, hockey, football, tennis, basketball, badminton and volleyball, as well as swimming pools, gyms and an athletics track.
The pursuit of medicine or dentistry is a marathon, not a sprint. As such, parents and students are invited to visit Melaka-Manipal Medical College and experience life as a future Manipalite for themselves.
*For more details on Open Days, call 1700 811 662 or log on to www.manipal.edu.my
