The university paid tribute to co-founder Dr Mei Ling Young during its 2019 convocation in a joyous celebration for all.
Kuala Lumpur, 29 June 2019 – The International Medical University (IMU)’s co-founder Dr Mei Ling Young was conferred with the Honorary Doctor of Medical Education, a tribute to her continuous dedication in establishing the IMU (formerly known as the International Medical College) in 1992 as the first private institution to offer a globally recognised curriculum in medicine, and in 1999 for obtaining University status for the IMU, enabling Malaysians to complete their medical degree in Malaysia.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award. And it is all the more meaningful to me as IMU is so much a part of my life,” said Dr Mei Ling Young, Advisor and Co-Founder of IMU Group.
Read more about Dr Mei Ling Young, her citation and acceptance speech.
This took place during IMU’s convocation that was held on Saturday, 29 June 2019 at its campus in Bukit Jalil, in which 306 graduands celebrated the completion of their postgraduate and undergraduate studies in various healthcare programmes available at IMU. 
The event was attended by IMU’s Chancellor Dato’ Dr Gan Ee Kiang, Pro-Chancellor Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Yahya bin Awang, Vice-Chancellor Prof Abdul Aziz Baba, Chairman of IMU Group Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Abu Bakar, members of the Board of Governors, Senate, faculty members, invited guests, students, parents and friends of students. 
In their addresses to the Class of 2019, both Prof Abdul Aziz Baba and Dato’ Dr Gan Ee Kiang emphasised the act of kindness and compassion that one must nurture as a healthcare provider. Said Prof Abdul Aziz Baba, “It all goes back to the healthcare philosophy of do no harm, which equates to being kind, compassionate and caring – three very important characteristics of a good healthcare provider and overall, as a human being. At IMU, we have always emphasised on not just being the healthcare provider with all the answers but also the healthcare provider with heart because at the end of the day, you are not just providing better care but also the support, encouragement and empathy to your patients to help them through their darkest moments.” 
Also in his address, Prof Abdul Aziz Baba shared the achievements of IMU in 2019, many of which included collaborative projects to fortify its standing as a global centre for learning and research as well as its focus on giving back to the community. Meanwhile, Dato’ Dr Gan Ee Kiang called on the Class of 2019 to remember the humanity part of healthcare. He said, “There has never been a time more important than now for us to put the human back in human-focused healthcare. Let us not neglect to take into account the human aspect of our job that technology can never replicate – compassion. Wear your white coat with pride – it is an honour to serve the public as a healthcare provider. Always remember that it is your privilege to be your patient’s provider, not your patient’s privilege that you are their care provider.” Read the full text of the speeches by Prof Abdul Aziz Baba and Dato’ Dr Gan Ee Kiang.
A Prize Presentation Ceremony was held the day before on Friday, 28 June 2019, at the IMU campus.
| Award | Student Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Dr John Joseph Bosco Memorial Gold Medal | Chua Min Huang (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)) | Chua, who had wanted to become a doctor since he was a teenager, thanked his family for the support they have given him throughout his studies at IMU. “I am forever grateful to my family as without their continuous support, I would have never made it this far. When I was announced as the recipient of this award, I was deeply humbled. Looking back, it was indeed a difficult journey. I would also like to credit my colleagues and lecturers. Attaining such an accomplishment is never due to my effort alone but also theirs,” said Chua. Read about Chua’s journey studying medicine at IMU: Award-Winning Medical Graduate: My Humble Medical School Journey at IMU |
| Tun Zahir Merit Award | Hossein Jahedi (Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biomedical Science) | On being named the recipient, Hossein said, “Receiving this award meant I was doing something right! My degree journey was one of the hardest times in my life; not just academically but also a difficult period of my life in which I had to figure many things out by myself. The award serves as a reminder that pushing through and not giving up when times are hard will pay off.” Hossein is also the proud recipient of a full tuition fees and living costs scholarship to pursue his PhD in biomedical science from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Read about Hossein’s IMU journey at IMU Scholar: It’s Always About The Bigger Picture!. |
| Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Sulaiman Daud Merit Award | Lim V Ren (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | “I had not expected or dreamt of winning this award as my classmates were all extraordinary and exceptional in their work. Winning this award has left me feeling humbled knowing that my consistent hard work and perseverance has paid off,” said Lim. The award winner also added that IMU’s style of self-directed learning had taught him to be an independent learner. “Graduating with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from IMU has truly been a period of self-discovery and has taught me to see things from a different perspective. Coming to the end of my five-year long roller coaster ride, I can’t help but feel fortunate to have joined IMU,” he said. Read about V Ren’s journey studying dentistry at IMU: My Life as an IMU Dental Student: A Journey to Self-Discovery |
Like previous years, 2019’s convocation ceremony was also broadcasted live at other lecture theatres in the University for the benefit of family members and friends who were unable to be in the auditorium. The event ended at 1pm with graduands and their families and friends further celebrating their achievements.
Congratulations to the Class of 2019!
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