Momentous celebration: USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan (second from left) taking a closer look at the scroll of Dr Ang Song Yee (far left), while Prof Dr Jafri Malin (centre) shares a light moment with Dr Diana Noma Fitzrol and Oon Yen Min (second and first from right, respectively).
UNIVERSITI Sains Malaysia (USM) has produced 110 out of 152 local neurosurgery specialists in the country.
This, said neurosurgeon and the varsity’s lecturer Prof Datuk Dr Jafri Malin Abdullah, is based on the latest data acquired from the National Specialist Register (NSR).
Despite the number of specialists produced, there is still a shortage of neurosurgeons in the country, he said.
The Health Ministry, he added, had tasked USM as a pioneer of the programme, together with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Malaya (UM), with producing more neurosurgeons to meet the population’s needs.“The ministry had requested for us to train some 25 specialists yearly,” he said, adding that the varsities will be working together to achieve the target starting December this year.
Prof Dr Jafri Malin, who also chairs the USM School of Medical Sciences Brain and Behavioural Cluster, was speaking at the USM 59th convocation ceremony in George Town, Penang, on May 21.
At the third session of the ceremony, 574 graduates received their degrees in their respective fields of study, which included Master in Neuroscience, Master in Cognitive Neuroscience and Master in Clinical Psychology.
Master in Cognitive Neuroscience Programme deputy coordinator Dr Aini Ismafairus Abd Hamid said the degree is among the critical courses that are highly demanded in the field of science, technology and national health.
The programme, offered by coursework at USM since 2018, has to date produced 21 graduates from various backgrounds in the arts and sciences.
“We are very proud of the achievements of our graduates.
“We hope the knowledge and expertise they had acquired will prove beneficial in the various fields they will venture into, be it in neuroeducation, neuromarketing, neuropsychology, Islam and neuroscience, or the many other fields related to cognitive neuroscience.
“We encourage our students to embrace the lifelong learning culture and to always have a desire for knowledge that benefits oneself and society,” she said.
