RUMC Researcher's Profile
ASSOC. PROF. DR. FOONG SIEW CHENG
AP Siew Cheng Foong, a Universiti Sains Malaysia alumnus (1994), completed her postgraduate training in Paediatrics and obtained the MRCP (UK) in 1998, then the Post-graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education (PG Dip HPE, RCSI) in 2022. She is currently an Associate Professor in in the Department of Paediatrics.
She has over 25 years of experience in teaching, and has been instrumental in designing and implementing the undergraduate Paediatric module in RUMC, led strategic initiatives to improve medical education, and served as an examiner for international paediatric examinations. She is also trainer for workshops on Cochrane systematic review protocols, lactation management, and kangaroo mother care (nationwide) and neonatal resuscitation. Her teaching sessions combines evidence-based education with hands-on activities to ensure high-quality engaging sessions where learners not only learn but are also able to implement new skills effectively.
She is a passionate breastfeeding advocate and researcher, an active member of the Making Penang Breastfeeding Friendly project, and is currently working in with a team to develop indicators for a breastfeeding-friendly city. She has published several papers on breastfeeding related topics, including a Cochrane systematic review on galactagogues, which won the prestigious Kenneth Warren award in 2021 for being a systematic review with high methodological quality that is relevant to health problems in developing countries. Back in 1999, she was also awarded the Excellent Service Award from the Ministry of Health.
She is the founding president of the Kangaroo Mother Care Advocates Malaysia (KAMY), a national-level NGO that supports kangaroo mother care for infants in Malaysia, and an active member of the Asia-Oceania KMC Network (A-OK net).
Research Interest
EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS
- Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh MRCP (UK)
- Malaysian Medical Association (MMA)
- Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA)
- National Specialist Register (NSR)
- Cochrane Trainer’s Network
- Kangaroo Mother Care Advocates Malaysia (KAMY)
- Asia-Oceania KMC Network (A-OK net)
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), Breastfeeding, Medical education
Experiences
- Medical Officer 1980-1984
- Alor Setar General Hospital
- Sungai Petani District Hospital
- Registrar (Paediatrics) 1984-1985
- Penang General Hospital
- Paediatrician
- Dept. of Paediatrics, Penang General Hospital (1/4/86-31/3/89)
- Consultant Paediatrician, Dept. of Paediatrics
- Kuala Lumpur General Hospital 1/3/91-30/11/98
- Head of Paediatric Neurology Unit
- Paediatric Institute, Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (January 1992 – November 1998)
- Consultant Paediatric Neurologist and Head
- Dept. of Paediatrics Penang Hospital from 1/12/98 –14/7/03
- Senior Consultant and Head of Department
- Dept. of Paediatrics, Institute Paediatric, Kuala Lumpur Hospital 15/7/03 –30/7/16
- Head of Paediatric Services in Ministry of Health, Malaysia 15/7/03-30/7/16
- Consultant Pediatric Neurologist, Penang Hospital 10/10/16- 5/11/20
- Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics, RCSI UCD Malaysia Campus, 15/11/20 –
Publications
Awards & Recognition
| Award | Years |
|---|---|
| KENNETH WARREN PRIZE (Cochrane) | 2022 |
| Majlis Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang | 2022 |
| KENNETH WARREN AWARD | 2021 |
| Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang Award for Service Excellence from the Ministry of Health Malaysia | 1999 |
| Long Service Award (15 years) | 2016 |
| Long Service Award (20 years) | 2022 |
Funded Projects
- National survey on the implementation of Kangaroo Mother Care for premature infants in Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals across Malaysia. RUMC Research grant RC-92. 2024 (Principle Investigator)
- Evaluation of an antenatal lactation preparation package (ALPP) on breastfeeding practices among postnatal mothers in a postnatal care centre in Penang. RUMC Research grant RC-84. 2023 (Principle Investigator)
- Mothers’ breastfeeding and hygiene experiences in confinement homes in Penang compared to experiences at home. PMC Research Grant (RC17). 2017 (Principle Investigator)
- Tocotrienol supplementation in school going children with ADHD (TOCAT). Funding from Malaysian Palm Oil Board. 2011-2013(Co-Investigator)
- Knowledge and belief of galactogogues consumption among breastfeeding mothers in Penang. PMC Research Grant (RC10). 2016(Co-Investigator)
- South East Asia – Using Research for Change in Hospital acquired Infection in Neonates (SEA-URCHIN). Project grant from National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. (2011-15) (Co-Investigator)
- Population-based breastfeeding practices up to 6 Months in Penang, Malaysia. RUMC Research Grant (RC38). 2019 (Co-Investigator)
- Workplace provision of breastfeeding support in Penang: a qualitative study. RUMC Research Grant (RC57). 2021 (Co-Investigator)
- Developing Indicators of a Breastfeeding-friendly city (BFCITY). RUMC Research Grant (RC89), Penang State Government. 2024 (Co-Investigator)
- World Health Organisation project in developing a guideline on the follow-up care of sick and small infants. Research funding from WHO 2023-24 (Co-Investigator)
Information is correct at time of printing / publication. RUMC reserves the right to amend the information without prior notice.