IMU Chinese Medicine Lecturer Wins International Award

IMU Chinese Medicine lecturer, Dr Hea Ai Sim was awarded the “Outstanding Women in Buddhism 2016” for her contributions in healing individuals and society through Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and through Buddhism in a multi-ethnic society. The Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards recognises Buddhist women in their accomplishments towards improving the recognition of Buddhist women and girls, charitable activities, and the spread of Dhamma. To date, 208 women from 24 countries have received this award. Dr Hea Ai Sim, earned a PhD in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Shandong University of TCM, China with extensive prior training in Malaysia and Taiwan. She has her own TCM clinic in her hometown Teluk Intan, Perak, and is also a part time lecturer at IMU. A Buddhist female devotee, she became actively involved in Buddhism in 1980 and became an active volunteer committing herself to the promotion and development of Buddhism which has now spanned to about 30 years. She has focused her talents on cultivating Buddhist youths via creative ways such as composing lyrics for modern Buddhist songs, leading Buddhist youth camps and workshops, and ultimately was elected President of the Lower Perak Buddhist Association. In particular, she established a fund for needy students and pioneered the construction of the Dhammacakka Building and the Bodhicitta Building for the Association. At the same time, Dr Hea was also actively involved in the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia, a national association. During her tenure as a national council member, she served in different positions such as Deputy President, Vice President, chairperson of Perak State Liaison Committee, chairperson of Welfare Committee, and chairperson of Culture Committee, Director of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia 5th Six-Year Plan, chairperson and speaker of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia National Convention, and as a guest speaker at numerous Buddhist seminars etc. Although she is no longer serving as a national council member in Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia due to an age limit, she is still actively involved in Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia as their consultant. Presently, as a practising TCM physician, Dr Hea had served as committee members at the Malaysia Chinese Medical Association, the Academy of Professional Acupuncture and the Chinese Physicians Association of Malaysia. She was also the Head of Department for Chinese Medicine at the IMU. All these opportunities have provided her with a platform to dedicate herself to the promotion and development of the academics in TCM.

Both Buddhism and TCM are the main passion of her life, driving her to serve and be dedicated in whichever way she can. For her, achieving a balanced life with TCM and Buddhism is her goal, a lifelong pursuit.

Dr Hea was also awarded the Excellence in Demonstrating IMU Core Values Award at the IMU University Day on 11 March 2016.