Celebrating Excellence at NUMed

Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) held the annual NUMed Awards on 28 May this year. This highly anticipated event celebrates the multifaceted successes thriving within the university. From the dedication displayed in extracurricular pursuits to the selfless commitment to volunteerism, the event lauded the hard work and effort of individuals and groups who have made significant contributions in enriching the university experience for all.

This year’s awards notched a new milestone with an impressive 146 nominations across a diverse array of categories that were broadly categorised into Club & Society Awards, Individual & Extra Awards, and Special Awards.

The full list of winners are as follows:

Club & Society Awards
- Most Improved Society of the Year: EmpowerHer Society
- Society of the Year: AMSA Newcastle
- Society Contribution to the Community: AMSA Newcastle
- Best Event of the Year: The Art of Suturing Surgical Workshop

Individual & Extra Awards
- Staff Facilitator of the Year: Dr Rosita Louis
- Student Representative of the Year: Arvin Thurairaj, MBBS Year 5

Special Awards
- Best Sports Club of the Year: NUMed Athletics and Cross Country (NUAXC)
- Society Contribution to Academic: NUMed Medical Education (MedEd)
- Most Favourite Society: NUMed Islamic Society (ISOC)

AMSA Newcastle, which is short for Asian Medical Students’ Association of Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, has also been shortlisted for two categories in the upcoming PRIDE of Newcastle University Awards. These are “Outstanding Contribution to Lifelong Health & Wellbeing” and “Outstanding Contribution to the Community”. The association won in the latter category in 2023.

According to Rania Ezellya, President of AMSA Newcastle, “Winning the ‘Society of the Year’ title is a testament to our collective dedication and passion. We are proud to be recognised for our efforts and will continue to organise more events. We sincerely thank the NUMed community and students for their unwavering support and active participation in our events. A huge shoutout also to the staff members for their countless guidance!”

The NUMed Surgical Society garnered a string of titles this year, including “Best Event of the Year” for its Art of Suturing surgical workshop, and runner-up for “Most Improved Society of the Year” and “Best Society of the Year”.

The society’s President, Lau Jin Ren, shared, “As my term comes to a close, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for this incredible journey. It has been an honour to lead such a passionate and talented team. Together, we have achieved remarkable success, and I am confident that the NUMed Surgical Society will continue to thrive and make significant contributions to the community.”

Dr Rosita Louis, who received the Staff Facilitator of the Year award, is also a winner of the prestigious The Education Awards (TEAs) in 2021 in the category “Outstanding Contribution to Teaching – Global Campuses Faculty”.

She, too, expressed her gratitude for this recognition. “Thank you for recognising my work. To all the contenders – my colleagues – for this award, I look up to you. You have set the benchmark of excellence for me, and to be on the same list as you was already a great achievement for me. I would also like to thank my students for voting for me. I promise to live up to this expectation and deliver the highest standard of teaching that I am capable of.”

Our Provost and Chief Executive Officer, Prof Dr Vishna Devi Nadarajah, congratulated the winners and shared her happiness at witnessing the teachers and students at NUMed being recognised for their contributions.

“When you graduate, you will be in your work environment, whether it's in healthcare, in a hospital setting, or in a laboratory setting or industry. You must continue to celebrate the work of your peers. None of us can do something alone. We must be one united team. This way, you will progress; your teammates will progress; and the institution will progress,” she advised.

Also on hand to offer his congratulations was Cedric Woon Sek Law, President of the NUMed Students Association.

“Each one of you has worked tirelessly to keep your respective clubs and societies thriving, providing a platform for growth, creativity, and connection within our community. Your dedication, passion, and hard work have not gone unnoticed. The events you have organised, the initiatives you have undertaken, and the bonds you have forged have truly enriched the fabric of our community,” he added.

The NUMed Awards was established in 2019 by the 2018/2019 Student Association, in collaboration with the Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU), to celebrate the contributions of the NUMed community. The awards are open to all students at NUMed, and anybody within the NUMed community is able to nominate the students, student groups or staff of their choice to recognise, reward, and applaud the amazing work that they do.