BERTAM, 2 July 2021 - Professor Dr. Tunku Kamarul Zaman Tunku Zainol Abidin has been announced as the new Director of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT).

Seconded from University of Malaya (UM) for the next two years, Tunku Kamarul assumed office beginning 1 July 2021.

He was the Director of University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) for five years and was one of the founding members of the National Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence for Research and Learning (NOCERAL), Faculty of Medicine, UM.

In UM, he is a Professor of Orthopaedics and Regenerative Medicine with special interest in upper limb and microsurgery.

He obtained his medical degree (M.D.) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 1998. He entered the Masters of Orthopaedics speciality training programme i.e. M.S. (Ortho), in UM in 2000 and was later inducted as a lecturer in the same university upon completing his training in 2004.

He also obtained a diploma in tissue banking from National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2003 during his specialist training. Upon completing his sub-speciality rotations locally, he was awarded a national scholarship to pursue his sub-specialty training at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen hospitals from 2006 till 2010. During that period, he also obtained a PhD degree from The University of Liverpool.

He is an accomplished academician and researcher; with over 200 peer-reviewed articles in many impact factored journals and has been invited to present research groups' discoveries in numerous international scientific meetings (Citations: >4,450; H-index=37).

Tunku Kamarul was chosen due to his extensive experience in running a 1,000-bed teaching hospital, as a Deputy Dean of Research for the Faculty of Medicine in UM, and one of the most productive researchers in UM via NOCERAL and High Impact Research.

He has also served on various boards including the UM Specialist Centre which generates an annual income of more than RM100mil.  

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan, on behalf of the University’s top management, congratulated Tunku Kamarul, saying he will take IPPT to greater heights in the development of all aspects amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Among his key deliverables include i) to train the next group of IPPT leaders, ii) to develop a unifying theme and direction for IPPT to optimise return on investment in terms of research, teaching/learning, and clinical services via Bertam Medical Centre (BMC), and iii) to significantly increase IPPT/BMC income/profits,” said Faisal Rafiq.

 

Tunku Kamarul took over the reins from the outgoing Director, Professor Dr. Syed Azhar Syed Sulaiman who completed his two-year tenure at IPPT on 30 June 2021.

“We thank Syed Azhar for his leadership, commitment and sacrifices made over the years and wish him the very best as he returns to the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences to continue with his academic and research endeavours,” added the Vice-Chancellor.

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe/Photo & Infographic: Ebrahim Abdul Manan