Associate Professor
Datin Dr. Vasanthie Balakrishnan
Department / Discipline
Orthopaedic Surgery
Primary Appointment
2012
Short Bio
A medically qualified academic with a degree in Medicine and a postgraduate qualification in Orthopaedic Surgery with a special interest in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery. She has also just completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Health Professions Education. She is a gazette Orthopaedic Specialist Surgeon registered with the Ministry of Health and the National Specialist Register. Following optional retirement from government service, she has continued in academia for the past 14 years, contributing extensively to teaching, leadership, and academic governance.
Her clinical expertise lies paediatric orthopaedic surgery with a research focus on clinical paediatric orthopaedic Institutionally, she serves as the Department Head of Orthopaedic Surgery and also holds key leadership roles, including Vice Dean Student Affairs, Member of RUMC Executive Management Committee and Member of the Industrial Advisory Committee. She also is a visiting consultant specialist to Gleneagles Hospital, Hospital Pulau Pinang and the Penang Spastic Centre. She is a certified Malaysian Qualification Agency for undergraduate medical student’s assessor.
Areas of Expertise
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
- Medical Education
Current Research & Projects
- Quality of life among the elderly population in elderly care homes in Penang. A study on physical, psychological, social and environmental well-Being
- Stress Amongst Parents of Children with Orthopedic Disability Attending the Pediatric Orthopedic Outpatient Clinic In A Tertiary Hospital
- Pediatric Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (PIASTM) therapy on children with cerebral palsy: A case report.”
Awards, Grants & Recognition
- Service Excellence award by Ministry of Health 2000
- Most Popular Lecturer, RUMC – 2021
- Best Lecturer, RUMC – 2022 & 2024
- Best Charismatic Staff, RUMC -2019
- Best Sensei Award – RUMC – 2023
- Community Blossom Award, RUMC – 2025
Professional Membership & Appointments
- Malaysian Orthopaedic Association (Ordinary Life Member).
- Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons of Penang (Treasurer 2007 – 2015)
- Paediatric Orthopaedic Circle (MOH)
- Penang Spastic Centre Advisor
- Penang Paediatric Circle