Prof Datuk Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid’s appointment as new Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Pro-Vice Chancellor (Kuala Lumpur Campus) is expected to spearhead UKM’s Health Campus in Kuala Lumpur to become an international Centre of Excellence.
Dr Hanafiah’s appointment is for three years effective March 1, 2021. He was previously Hospital Cancelor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) Director.
“It is hoped that his appointment will spearhead UKM’s Health Campus in Kuala Lumpur to become an international Centre of Excellence that will be a catalyst for an academic-led economic growth for the country,” UKM said in a recent statement.
UKM said the appointment of the consultant vascular surgeon will see him leading UKM Kuala Lumpur Health Campus which comprises four health faculties (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences), two hospitals (HCTM and UKM Children’s Specialist Hospital (HPKK) and the UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI).
Dr Hanafiah, 53, was the first Malaysian to be awarded the ‘royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh International’ medal in 2016 and was appointed as the international surgical advisor for the oldest surgical institution in the world.
“He was instrumental in the establishment of the Advanced Surgical Skills Center (ASSC), UKM, and the first royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh International office located at this centre (HCTM) as well,” the statement said.
He received his education at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar and graduated from University of St Andrews with a Bachelor’s in Medical Sciences in 1990, and with an MBChB from the University of Edinburgh Medical School in 1993. He obtained a fellowship in Surgery from the royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1998.
He was instrumental in the establishment of the Advance Surgical Skills Centre, UKM, and the first royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh International office located at HCTM.
Dr Hanafiah is the president of the Asian Surgical Association, former president of the College of Surgeons Academy of Medicine Malaysia, vice-president of the Vascular Society Malaysia, and a current council member of the Malaysian Medical Council and Academy of Medicine Malaysia.
He has received nine fellowships from national and international societies, including three honorary awards. — The Health
