Monash University Sunway campus Pro Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Robin Pollard exchanging documents after the signing ceremony with DEMC Specialist Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Dr Omar Abd Hamid. With them are Professor Dato’ Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain, Head of Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences of Monash University Sunway campus (right) and Dr Abdul Razak Rahman Hamzah, DEMC Specialist Hospital's Medical Director.

Monash University Sunway campus and DEMC Specialist Hospital today announced a strategic collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the two parties.

Under the agreement, Monash University Sunway campus will engage the hospital’s medical and health practitioners as teaching staff at its Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The School’s students of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) will also be allowed patient visitations under the guidance of selected medical professionals.

Both parties also agreed to collaborate towards the continued professional development of students, staff, including medical and health practitioners.

“We are entering this strategic partnership with DEMC to address the need for a high number of medical experts for our consultant-based teaching curriculum during clinical placements of Year 5 MBBS students,” Head of Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences Professor Dato’ Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain said.

This arrangement, he said, was synergistic as it provided clinical expertise and exposure to medical students.

“The hospitals, in turn, benefit from the self-audit of their clinical care provision,” said Professor Dato’ Dr Anuar.

He added that Monash University Sunway campus’ partnership with DEMC Specialist Hospital complemented the ongoing partnership with the Sultanah Aminah Hospital via the Ministry of Health.

“We are now looking towards similar arrangements with private hospitals,” he said.

In return, Monash University Sunway campus will facilitate continuous medical education activities for the hospital’s staff.

At the signing, Pro Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Robin Pollard represented Monash University Sunway campus, while DEMC Specialist Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Dr Omar Abd Hamid acted on behalf of the hospital.

In his speech, Dato’ Dr Omar expressed his appreciation to Professor Dato’ Dr Anuar for initiating the venture between the two organisations.

“We are deeply honoured to be associated with a ‘big brand’ in education like Monash University. DEMC is collaborating with Monash University for the simple reason that we are a learning organisation,” he said.

“By accommodating the undergraduate medical teaching, we also hope that this means that we are not only accommodating the future generation, but providing a service to our patients and the community.”

Professor Robin Pollard and Professor Dr Iekhsan Othman, the Head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Sunway campus (blue tie), listening to a brief on the hospital's facilities.