A Cut Above the Rest: MSSS x NUMed Surgical Symposium

Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) played host to the MSSS x NUMed Surgical Symposium on 25 May 2024. This marked the first ever collaborative effort between the Malaysian Students’ Surgical Society (MSSS) and NUMed Surgical Society, together with the Malaysian Medical Association Johor.

13 June 2024

Themed “House Officer’s Clinical Procedures and Scalpels & Sutures Workshop”, the symposium was conceived to hone medical students’ clinical skills via hands-on workshops covering clinical procedures for house officers, such as the thoracostomy, episiotomy, and suprapubic catheterisation as well as fundamental skills in basic suturing, knotting, and laparoscopic surgical techniques.

The event was attended by 120 medical students hailing from various universities in Malaysia and Singapore.

Esteemed guest facilitators in attendance included:

Madam (Dr) Tuan. Nur' Azmah Binti Tuan Mat, Head of General Surgery, Johor; Senior Consultant, General Surgeon (Hospital Sultanah Aminah)
Mr (Dr) Tharveen Nair, General Surgeon (Hospital Sultan Ismail); Malaysian Medical Association Johor Representative
Ms (Dr) Koh Pei Fern, General Surgeon (Hospital Sultan Ismail)
Dr Quek Yek Song, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (Columbia Asia Hospital)
Dr Hezrin Nazlin Mohamed, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (Columbia Asia Hospital)
Dr Cheah Zi Fang, Surgical Medical Officer (Hospital Sultanah Aminah)
Dr Chan Eunice, Surgical Medical Officer (Hospital Sultan Ismail)
Dr Loh Qiang Lin, Surgical Medical Officer (Hospital Sultan Ismail)
Dr Muhammad Izudin bin Ismail, Surgical Medical Officer (Hospital Sultan Ismail)
Dr Ghayathiri Partheeban, Surgical Medical Officer (Hospital Sultan Ismail)
Dr Wong Jing Wen, House Officer (Hospital Sultanah Aminah)
Dr Lau Siew Ping, House Officer (Hospital Sultanah Aminah)

Upon officiating the event, Madam Tuan Nur’ Azmah shared, ”I believe most participants are final-year students, ready to transition from student life to professional practice. Mastering surgical skills is essential for your career progression, and today is an excellent opportunity to learn from experts.”

MSSS Advisor Professor Dato’ Dr Kandasami Palayan concurred, adding that “Learning from peers, colleagues, and seniors is often more effective than from professors. The society aims not just to teach practical skills but also to expose you to surgery, helping you decide by your third year if it's the right career path for you.”

“Becoming a capable house officer ready for the expected level of supervision is challenging. You need extensive clinical exposure and to see more patients, who are your best textbooks. This symposium is part of that essential training. Keep practising and aim to be the best you can be!” advised NUMed’s Dean of Clinical Affairs, Professor Harinarayan Radhakrishna.

Lau Jin Ren, co-organising chairperson of the event and President of NUMed Surgical Society, expressed his gratitude to his team who contributed to the success of the event. “I must extend my deepest appreciation to our outstanding team of facilitators. Your passion, expertise, and contributions have been truly invaluable. A special thanks also goes out to the organising committee and our collaborators from MSSS. Your commitment has been instrumental in making this symposium a memorable experience for all,” he said.

Organising chairman from MSSS, V N Nuvaira Tasneem, said that organising the symposium was no small feat. "The preparation for MSSS's first large-scale event of the term within such a short period of time seemed nearly impossible," she shared. "Nonetheless, the near-flawless execution of the symposium is a long-standing testament to the power of collaboration and it reinforced the importance of effective communication and teamwork."

Kavin Raj Purushottaman, organising chairman from NUMed also added, "I am proud of the success of this symposium, as it required four months of planning with the aim of ensuring good quality surgical education delivered in concordance with the aims of our society. From this major event, I learnt that teamwork is key to success and no matter how big an idea is, if we have a competent, professional, and dedicated team, nothing is impossible. We have clearly proved that achieving our goal was never impossible, as long as we put our mind to it and work smartly through the process."

According to Ho Jun Le from MSSS, who was also co-organising chairperson of the event, “Witnessing participants engaging in hands-on workshops like suturing, knotting, and laparoscopy was truly gratifying. Additionally, we introduced them to essential housemen procedures, providing early exposure to Year 1-5 medical students.”

The MSSS x NUMed Surgical Symposium not only provided practical learning experiences but also showcased the critical importance of teamwork and effective communication in the medical profession. The success of the symposium has set a high standard for future events and highlighted the potential for further collaborative efforts among student societies not just in NUMed but in Malaysia.