FOR most medical students, personal passions are the first casualties of a demanding five-year degree. In a field where sacrifice is seen as a prerequisite for success, hobbies and sleep are frequently surrendered to the rigours of the journey.
But Ng Wen May, 24, refused to accept this. The Year 4 medical student at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s (UTAR) M Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MK FMHS) successfully navigates medical school while representing Malaysia as a national triathlete.
A two-time SEA Games competitor (2023 and 2025), having placed fourth in both, her life is defined by what she calls the “intentional pivot”.
“Switching between the hospital and the race course is never easy, but over time, I’ve learned to be intentional about it. In the wards, I carry the responsibility of learning knowledge, which requires focus, empathy and attention to detail.
“When I train or compete, I consciously shift my mindset, letting go of that weight and stepping fully into my role as an athlete,” Ng says.
While Ng provides the grit, she credits her faculty’s culture for providing the space. Unlike the traditional sink-or-swim medical school environment, MK FMHS actively encouraged her to chase both dreams without sacrificing one for the other.
“One of the most meaningful aspects of my journey has been the support I’ve received from my faculty teachers and mentors. There is a culture of understanding where my commitment to sport is seen as something to be proud of, rather than something that takes away from my studies.
“That support made a huge difference. It allowed me to continue representing Malaysia while staying on track in my studies,” she says.
For Ng, medicine is a blend of intellectual challenge and human connection, a conviction reinforced by the privilege of every patient interaction. Despite the hurdles and overwhelming demands of her dual life, she remains steadfast.
“Those challenges have shaped my discipline and mental strength. I hope my journey shows that it is possible to pursue multiple passions, even when the path is demanding. Sometimes, the most meaningful journeys are the ones that challenge you the most,” she says.
A legacy of public service
The institutional support Ng describes is steered by Prof Dr Thong Meow Keong, who assumed the deanship of MK FMHS in 2024.
A veteran with over 30 years in medical academia, 20 years as a Professor of Paediatrics and a consultant clinical geneticist at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Prof Dr Thong took over the mantle from founding Dean, Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Cheong Soon Keng.
“I am proud of the dedication of UTAR staff in training competent and caring healthcare professionals and their keen involvement with medical education and research,” Prof Dr Thong says.
Established in 2009 at UTAR’s Sungai Long campus, the faculty was renamed in 2022 in honour of M. Kandiah Murugasu, a pioneer in Malaysian social welfare.
This heritage aligns with the vision of the late UTAR Chancellor, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik: “A doctor saves one life at a time, but public service can lift millions.”
Under this mandate, Prof Dr Thong highlights that MK FMHS focuses on providing quality, affordable medical education. He adds that the success of this approach is evidenced by its alumni.
“A number of doctors from the initial cohorts are now specialists in Health Ministry hospitals, UTAR Hospital in Kampar and medical centres overseas.
A similar trajectory is seen in the faculty’s nursing, physiotherapy, and Chinese medicine graduates serving both public and private sectors nationwide.”
Highlighting the faculty’s robust research output, Prof Dr Thong says MK FMHS currently conducts postgraduate programmes in novel areas such as stem cell research, tissue organoids, and traditional Chinese medicine.
“We focus on collaborations with prominent institutions and renowned researchers from around the world. Our focus is on local conditions that are hitherto seldom known in the scientific world,” he explains.
This institutional excellence is anchored by a faculty of distinguished specialists who bridge the gap between traditional clinical foundations and the digital future of medicine. For students like Ng, these are the mentors who transform a rigid curriculum into a dynamic ecosystem of discovery.
The foundational pillars
At the heart of the faculty’s clinical rigour is Professor Emeritus Datin Dr Boo Nem Yun, Malaysia's first Professor of Neonatology. A pioneer with a 46-year career, she transformed neonatal care in the 1980s through research born from the necessity of overcrowded wards, implementing systematic changes that saved countless lives.
Today, she translates this high-level research into "bedside" wisdom for UTAR students. “Not all old are bad, and not all new are good,” Prof Dr Boo cautions, emphasising the importance of a strong foundation.
“We design the curriculum to equip our students with clinical competence. We should not change those foundations without careful deliberation, because they ensure the highest standards,” says Dr Boo.
Bridging ancient wisdom with modern science is Institute of Biosciences and Health Sciences director Prof Dr Lim Yang Mooi. A fourth-generation traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner, Prof Dr Lim has spent two decades validating the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants through modern scientific approaches.
Beyond her research in cancer chemoprevention, she is focused on evolving UTAR’s research culture through a concept called "Coffee Talks”, informal spaces where spontaneous ideas turn into multidisciplinary breakthroughs.
“Research has always been more than a career; it is a journey of discovery driven by curiosity and purpose. Nature holds valuable solutions to complex health challenges, and it is through collaboration and resilience that we achieve milestones,” she shares.
The faculty’s future-facing research is exemplified by Centre for Cancer Research chairperson Assoc Prof Dr Teoh Hoon Koon. Her work in stem cell therapy and organoid-based models represents the cutting edge of regenerative medicine.
Under her leadership, the centre received the UTAR Research Centre Excellence Award 2024. Prof Dr Teoh represents a new generation of academic leadership, thriving under the mentorship of the faculty's seniors.
“It comes down to the working culture we’ve built. We are open to collaboration and supporting each other when challenges arise. This culture of mentorship has been instrumental in the growth of both the centre and its researchers,” she says.
Clinical assistant Prof Dr Kirandeep Kaur Sidhu ensures that UTAR students are not just users of technology, but its creators.
An expert in AI and digital health, her OtoVisionXR project uses extended reality (XR) to allow students to step inside 3D environments of human anatomy.
“I want my students to see AI not as a complex black box, but as a practical ally. We show them they are not just consumers of digital health – they are the architects of the next generation of medical solutions,” Prof Dr Kirandeep explains.
UTAR is opening its doors to welcome prospective students and their families at its upcoming Open Days on May 16 and 17, 2026, as well as May 23 and 24, 2026 from 9AM to 4.30PM at both the Kampar and Sungai Long campuses.
For more information, go to www.utar.edu.my or call 05-468 8888 (Kampar campus), 03- 9086 0288 (Sungai Long campus).
