First Malaysian surgeon awarded prestigious scholarship from US College of Surgeons
The international recognition has raised Malaysia’s ranking of scientific research and testing
Malaysia celebrates a proud achievement when Dr Christopher Ho Chee Kong, a professor of urology and sexual medicine at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), became the first Malaysian to receive the International Guest Scholarship Award from the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
The distinguished award was presented by Giuseppe Nigri, chair of the International Relations Committee (IRC) Scholar Selection Subcommittee of the ACS, during its recent ACS annual congress in Washington.
“Dr Kong (Ho) is one of 12 recipients selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, all of whom had demonstrated a commitment to teaching and/or research in accordance with the standards of the applicant’s country.”
Dr Ho, 41, who has been in the forefront of research on urologic surgery, prostatic diseases and men’s health and ageing, did not expect to get the scholarship of USD10,000 (RM41,820). “I am very happy and proud as a Malaysian … to be accepted in America, traditionally all doctors in Malaysia look up to the United Kingdom or Australia.”
The surgeon whose parents taught deaf students in his hometown, Malacca also thanked the College of Surgeons of Malaysia president, professor Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid, who had supported him in his application.
He had the opportunity to observe robotic surgery on prostate cancer and kidney cancer performed by Dr Claus Roehrborn, the renowned professor of urology in the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre.
Besides, he took a tour of the facilities and the set-up of the new state-of-the-art-university hospital, and was privileged to be mentored by another prominent American urologist, Professor Dr Arthur Sagalowsky.
Dr Hanafiah, who also attended the congress, commented that both the College of Surgeons of Malaysia and the nation are very proud to see the young surgeon receiving the award from the largest surgical institution in the world.
“I hope this will be an inspiration to our young trainees in Malaysia and Dr Christopher (Ho) will use this opportunity to learn some of the finer aspects of modern surgery from the institution that has produced many Nobel laureates, and transfer the knowledge for the benefit of our patients,” she added.
In recent years, Malaysian clinical scientists have made significant strides. Dr Hanafah is the first Malaysian to have won the International Medal for Distinguished Award from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Another Malaysian clinical scientist, Dr Muzlifah Haniffa, a professor of dermatology and immunology at Newcastle University in UK, is the first clinical scientist to be awarded a Lister Institute Research prize in recognition of her outstanding efforts in pioneering research to improve the human immune system. MIMS
The distinguished award was presented by Giuseppe Nigri, chair of the International Relations Committee (IRC) Scholar Selection Subcommittee of the ACS, during its recent ACS annual congress in Washington.
No easy feat amidst competitive application process
At the meeting which was attended by 30,000 surgeons from all over the world, professor Hilary Sanfey, the ACS Vice President, said, “We are particularly, pleased that one of the 2016 recipients is Dr Christopher Ho Chee Kong, the first surgeon from Malaysia to receive this honour.”“Dr Kong (Ho) is one of 12 recipients selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, all of whom had demonstrated a commitment to teaching and/or research in accordance with the standards of the applicant’s country.”
Dr Ho, 41, who has been in the forefront of research on urologic surgery, prostatic diseases and men’s health and ageing, did not expect to get the scholarship of USD10,000 (RM41,820). “I am very happy and proud as a Malaysian … to be accepted in America, traditionally all doctors in Malaysia look up to the United Kingdom or Australia.”
The surgeon whose parents taught deaf students in his hometown, Malacca also thanked the College of Surgeons of Malaysia president, professor Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid, who had supported him in his application.
Mentored by prominent US urologists
Apart from participating in educational opportunities and activities of the five-day ACS clinical congress, Dr Ho also conducted clinical, teaching and research activities while in North America.He had the opportunity to observe robotic surgery on prostate cancer and kidney cancer performed by Dr Claus Roehrborn, the renowned professor of urology in the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre.
Besides, he took a tour of the facilities and the set-up of the new state-of-the-art-university hospital, and was privileged to be mentored by another prominent American urologist, Professor Dr Arthur Sagalowsky.
An inspiration to young scientists
The international recognition was a monumental moment for Malaysia; it has certainly raised the country’s ranking in scientific research and teaching.Dr Hanafiah, who also attended the congress, commented that both the College of Surgeons of Malaysia and the nation are very proud to see the young surgeon receiving the award from the largest surgical institution in the world.
“I hope this will be an inspiration to our young trainees in Malaysia and Dr Christopher (Ho) will use this opportunity to learn some of the finer aspects of modern surgery from the institution that has produced many Nobel laureates, and transfer the knowledge for the benefit of our patients,” she added.
In recent years, Malaysian clinical scientists have made significant strides. Dr Hanafah is the first Malaysian to have won the International Medal for Distinguished Award from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Another Malaysian clinical scientist, Dr Muzlifah Haniffa, a professor of dermatology and immunology at Newcastle University in UK, is the first clinical scientist to be awarded a Lister Institute Research prize in recognition of her outstanding efforts in pioneering research to improve the human immune system. MIMS
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