Shaun Yo receiving his prize from Dr Alan Davis, the son of Sophie Davis, whom the prize was named after.

Dr Shaun Yo Wee Shuan had the best birthday present – Nov 24 was also the day he learned that he had won the most prestigious award for Monash University medical students – the Sophie Davis Memorial Prize.

Dr Yo is the first Malaysian, and the first Monash University Sunway campus recipient, to receive the prize which is presented to the student with the highest overall aggregate marks for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program.

Dr Yo had recently graduated from the MBBS program at Monash University Sunway campus with honours. He was, needless to say, ecstatic.

“I was next to my mum when I got the email. She screamed!” laughed the 24-year-old, adding he was thrilled that his hard work had been recognised by his peers through the prestigious award.

“I am especially honoured to be the very first Malaysian student from Monash University Sunway campus to be given this prize,” he said, adding that he credited his tutors, especially Deputy Head of School Prof Dato’ Dr Khalid Kadir, for the recognition.

Dr Yo received the award at Monash University’s Medical Undergraduates Society’s MBBS Graduation Lunch Prize Giving in Melbourne on 8 December.

“If you ask any of my classmates, they would tell you that I’m the biggest nerd in school,” he joked.

He admitted that he would spend between three and five hours a day studying in his own time, but added that he had made many good friends, and whilst pursuing his clinical years at the Clinical School Johor Baru, had managed to also spend time with his family.

“After my A-Levels, I hadn’t decided what to do. I discussed it with my family. Since I liked Science and Biology in high school, I decided to do medicine.”

Dr Yo found that he had thoroughly enjoyed his clinical years. In the Monash University Sunway campus medical program, students are required to spend Years Three to Five at the Clinical School Johor Baru for their practical studies.

“The contact with patients, and putting theoretical knowledge into practice, was what excited me the most. In medicine, you have to marry theory and practice. Not many courses give you that human contact,” said Dr Yo, who is from Johor.

Shaun Yo was accompanied to the prize-giving ceremony in Australia by his proud family members.

Dr Yo recalled one of his first clinical tutorials: “During the class, the patient collapsed. She stopped breathing. We all rushed forward. Someone did CPR. But she didn’t make it. She was a young girl in her 20s. The parents came, and the physician had to break the news (of her death) to her father. It was a very emotional experience,” he said, adding that this helped shape his view of the medical program.

Apart from becoming a doctor, Dr Yo is also passionate about soccer, playing the guitar, photography and travel.

“These hobbies remind me that there is life outside medicine! I have realised how important it is to appreciate life’s different dimensions, and not to get consumed and overwhelmed by work,” he said.

Head of the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Sunway Campus, Professor Dato’ Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain said that Dr Yo had been a consistently outstanding student throughout his degree.

“He demonstrated good leadership qualities, was a team player and developed the necessary professional attributes that will help him in his future career development,” Prof Anuar said.

Monash University’s Clayton campus’ Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Dean Professor Christina Mitchell said: “Monash has always been the most global in outlook of Australia's universities, and our Faculty's international network of campuses is core to our global presence. Congratulations, Yo, on your accomplishment – a first for the MBBS program at our Sunway campus in Malaysia.”