In a heartbeat, four years have passed, and I now stand at the threshold of my chiropractic career, a proud graduate of IMU. Reflecting on my journey as a chiropractic student at IMU, I am filled with immense gratitude, growth, and purpose that drives me forward.

My decision to study chiropractic at IMU was because IMU was the only university in Malaysia and Southeast Asia that offered a complete chiropractic degree during my enrolment. More importantly, IMU’s identity as a medical university with a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem, state-of-the-art facilities, and experienced faculty members assured me that I would be learning in an environment that truly prepares the students to become competent and confident healthcare professionals.

IMU also fosters interprofessional networking, allowing students from various medical and healthcare professionals to interact, collaborate, and learn from each other. This provided the opportunity for students to collaborate with peers from various healthcare disciplines, which helped me gain insights into different approaches to patient care. These interactions shaped my understanding of holistic healthcare and highlighted the importance of teamwork in achieving better outcomes for patients.

Besides, IMU has strong international partnerships with other universities that enhanced my learning experience. I had the opportunity to visit AECC University College in the United Kingdom, where I was introduced to different clinical techniques, educational practices, and healthcare systems. This exposure allowed me to see chiropractic care from a global perspective and gave me ideas that I can now bring into my own practice.

Furthermore, IMU has partnership with hospitals such as ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital, this provided the opportunity for chiropractic students to experience real clinical environments with advanced diagnostic imaging tools. This real-life experience helped to anchor the knowledge I had learned in class and developed stronger clinical reasoning skills.

IMU offered me more than just academic excellence. It offered me meaningful opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. One of the highlights of my time at IMU was leading the World Spine Day event, where we successfully transitioned the event from an online setting during the COVID-19 pandemic back to an impactful face-to-face event and won the first prize in World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) World Spine Day Competition under the educational institution category. This valuable experience built my leadership and communication skills while raising awareness about spinal health and chiropractic to the public.

Another defining moment was receiving the FICS Emerging Student Scholarship. This opened the door for me to the global sports chiropractic community. Having been an athlete myself, I have always appreciated the critical role of chiropractic care plays in injuries prevention, recovery, and performance optimization. This scholarship reinforced my interest in this sports chiropractic area and encouraged me to pursue further growth in helping athletes and active individuals.

During my time at IMU, I also took part in several spinal screening events both within and outside the university. These opportunities helped me strengthen my hands-on clinical and communication skills while contributing to raising public awareness of spinal health. One of the most meaningful experiences was participating in the Philippine Chiropractic Community Health Project. (PCCHP). PCCHP was an international outreach programme that provided free chiropractic care to underserved communities in the Philippines. It was a truly eye-opening experience that allowed me to see the real impact of chiropractic care on people’s lives. Working with chiropractors, chiropractic students, and other healthcare professionals from different countries during PCCHP gave me new knowledge and perspectives and reminded me of the importance of teamwork and multidisciplinary collaboration in patient care.

Of course, I will never forget the countless hours spent in the Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre (CSSC). That familiar chiropractic room where we practised our clinical skills, learned, laughed, and grew, those memories will stay with me for life. It was where my classmates and I evolved from curious beginners to confident chiropractors, ready to take on the world of chiropractic.

I have finally become a dedicated chiropractor now with a strong commitment to offering holistic, evidence-based, and patient-centred care to my patients. Every day is an opportunity to apply what I have learned, serve my community, make a difference in someone’s life and keep growing as a chiropractor.

My journey is far from over. I will continuously enhance my clinical skills, expand my knowledge, and stay updated with the latest in chiropractic care. My goal is to become a certified sports chiropractor in the future, helping more athletes and active individuals perform at their peak and achieve their goals. At the same time, I will also contribute to raising public awareness of spinal health and chiropractic services in Malaysia, making neuromusculoskeletal health a priority in our society

To those who are just beginning their chiropractic journey at IMU:

Stay humble, open-minded, and curious. Never hesitate to ask questions, seek help, and explore beyond the syllabus. Your journey will have its challenges, but those are the very moments that will shape you into the chiropractor you aspire to be. And most importantly, surround yourself with peers who support and uplift you because you will find strength, inspiration, and purpose in those shared moments.

IMU was not just a university to me, it was a launchpad, a place that challenged, nurtured, and empowered me. Though my time as a student has ended, my journey as a lifelong learner and dedicated chiropractor is only just beginning.

Written by Soh Yi Xian who graduated on 5 July 2025 with First Class Honours and was the recipient of the Tun Zahir Merit Award, an award given to a graduating student who has shown outstanding academic excellence in his/her graduating cohort.