Well deserved: RCSEd president Prof Rowan Parks presenting the fellowship scroll to Prof Dr Sivakumar (right).
THE country’s first recipient of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (RCSEd) Fellowship in the Faculty of Surgical Trainers, Prof Dr Sivakumar Krishnasamy, will be spearheading a major academic initiative – the development of the Master’s in Cardiothoracic Surgery programme at Universiti Malaya (UM).
The cardiothoracic surgeon and professor at the varsity’s Faculty of Medicine is working to benchmark the programme against international standards.
“Our goal is to establish UM as a centre of excellence for cardiothoracic surgical training, not only for Malaysia but also for the Asean region,” he said in a press release announcing the conferment at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 22.
The prestigious award, conferred on the university-based surgeon who has made significant contributions to patient care and training, is reserved for surgeons who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to surgical education and leadership.
“This is a significant recognition for me, especially as a surgeon in an academic setting, where our primary role is to train young surgeons to become assets to the nation.
“Professionally, this fellowship is a recognition of my commitment to surgical education and my continued efforts in advancing excellence in cardiothoracic surgery for UM and Malaysia.
“As a surgeon, I can save one life at a time. But as a trainer, I can empower others to save many more. I always say, if I do one, I treat 10; but if I train 10, I get 100 done.
“This simple idea is what drives my passion as a university professor in cardiothoracic surgery,” said Prof Dr Sivakumar, who, despite having performed countless life-saving procedures, believes his role as a trainer carries an even broader impact.
“Irrespective of the stage in your career, always strive to be the best. International recognition will follow naturally when we stay true to our purpose.
“As medical educators, every student we train is a step towards treating the nation.
“Cardiothoracic surgery in Malaysia is still underrepresented. By increasing the number of trained surgeons, we can better serve patients with heart and lung conditions across the country,” he added.
Expressing pride in Prof Dr Sivakumar’s achievements, UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman said the “distinguished academic and renowned surgeon” has contributed greatly to the nation.
“His success reflects the excellence of UM and inspires our community to continue striving for global recognition.
“The varsity remains steadfast in its mission to produce world-class talent and graduates who are not only academically outstanding but also capable of making significant contributions to national development,” Prof Noor Azuan added.
