Georgetown, Penang – RUMC (RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus) is bursting with pride as its aspiring doctors – Khaw Seng Pei, Goh Sue Yee, Aditi Gupta, and Jarren Lu – emerged as champions at the recent Intervarsity Battle of Skills, organised by IMU (International Medical University). The competition, held in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, saw 13 universities vying for the top spot, but it was RUMC’s team that rose above the rest with their exceptional medical knowledge, teamwork and determination.

Their journey to victory was not an easy feat. It was marked by meticulous preparation, strategic planning and unwavering dedication. “The team was self-driven as they divided the responsibility of who studied with area of medicine,” said Associate Professor Dr Tan Kean Chye, Director of the Clinical Simulation Centre (CSC). “Whatever area came up in the competition, the student in charge would confidently step forward to answer.”

The students were still beaming with excitement as they fondly recalled one of the most memorable parts of the competition; a particularly challenging suturing exercise. With a mix of nerves and laughter, they described how they had to suture a chicken skin onto watermelon skin – a task that tested their precision, composure, and ability to think on their feet.

“We were lucky that the questions reminded me of our POPFM quizzes,” shared Aditi Gupta, one of the winning students. For context, POPFM stands for Psychiatry, Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OBGYN), Paediatrics and Family Medicine departments. This familiarity, coupled with the support of their dedicated mentors – Assoc. Prof Tan Kean Chye, Dr Myat Myo Naing, and Dr Foong Wai Cheng – helped the students excel in their respective areas of study.

To honour their achievements, RUMC held a mini trophy ceremony with Professor Dato’ Dr Abdul Rashid Khan, Dean of RUMC, in attendance. As these future doctors recounted their experiences from the competition, Dato’ Rashid shared a piece of wisdom; “I hope that despite the competition between universities, you made new friends.”

This victory is not just a testament to the hard work and dedication off Khaw Seng Pei, Goh Sue Yee, Aditi Gupta, and Jarren Lu, but also a reflection of the strong support system provided by RUMC’s faculty. As RUMC celebrates their success, we also look forward to many more triumphs in the future.

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ABOUT RUMC
RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC) has its roots in Penang Medical College (PMC), which was established in 1996. PMC was created through a collaboration between the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the University of Dublin (UCD), two respected medical universities in Ireland. In 2018, RUMC was awarded University status by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education as a Foreign University Branch Campus, making it one of the highest levels for a foreign-owned university in Malaysia. Today, RUMC is the only Irish university in the region and is recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and Irish Medical Council (IMC) as graduating high-performing doctors. Our students receive a comprehensive medical education and hands-on training in state-of-the-art facilities, preparing them to succeed in the medical profession and ensuring our graduates can pursue their medical careers anywhere in the world, including USA and Canada with recognition from ECFMG, FAIMER and WDOMS.