Dr Teoh Soo Huat, a lecturer at the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT) of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Bertam, recently won the Dr Peter G. Lindner Award from the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) of the United States.
OMA is the largest organisation working to improve the quality of care for obese patients, which comprises doctors, nurses and physician assistants. The 39-year-old is the only recipient of the award outside of the US, which honours clinicians’ contributions to the field of obesity medicine.
“This award serves as a motivation for me to continue my role in the field of obesity medicine in Malaysia.
“I want to provide quality obesity care to patients and to train doctors with similar interests in this country,” he said.
The obesity medicine doctor and family medicine specialist at the Department of Clinical Medicine in IPPT strives to assist the Malaysian community in dealing with obesity, which is prevalent in the country, through evidence-based treatments.
“We offer clinical services to people living with obesity by providing lifestyle advice, behaviour modifications, anti-obesity medications, and discussion on bridging to bariatric surgery,” he added.
Teoh, who was born in Jelutong, has been working in this area for nearly 12 years, including seven of those spent with the Health Ministry before beginning work at USM. Teoh received a scholarship from USM and the Higher Education Ministry, and in 2022 he finished his subspecialty training in obesity medicine in Ottawa, Canada.
He had previously been recognised by the World Obesity Federation in 2020 as a National Fellow. – The Health
