Page 15 - Pulse@UM Issue 4/2019

our people, our story

professor dr jamunarani a/p s vadivelu: renowneD microbiologist
anD meDical eDucationist

I graduated with a Ph.D. in Microbiology from program enabled me to learn about leadership
the London School of Hygiene and Tropical skills and medical education. With the skills
Medicine, United Kingdom (UK) and worked and knowledge learnt, I was able to initiate
as a postdoctoral research fellow in the various activities in the development and
University of Maryland, United States. I chose implementation of medical education through
to serve my country and began as a lecturer MERDU, a unit for medical education, research
in the Department of Medical Microbiology, and development.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (UM)
in March 1989. It was a tough ride but with full support
from the Dean, Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba
Starting as a young academician in UM, I faced Kamarulzaman, we initiated the reformation
coping with the challenge of both the teaching by introducing a new integrated curriculum.
and research in early academia. When I first It has subsequently developed into the
joined UM, I only knew what lecturing was, but organised and structured University of Malaya
not teaching; and I had neither been taught Medical Programme (UMMP) that we have
how to teach. I would say that the learning today. The current curriculum provides optimal
process of the local students was much integration to fill the gaps between basic and
different from where I was trained. In the clinical sciences. As the head of MERDU since
UK, I was receiving lectures all the time and 2012, I always believe that a good curriculum
expected to learn independently and search combined with committed academic staff
for knowledge. Due to different educational can enhance the learning and teaching
cultures, I can understand that the drastic experience for learners and teachers. We took
shift and change in the learning paradigm for this opportunity to write a book on the various
school leavers entering University is difficult processes in medical education, to help new
for the local students to cope with. They thus lecturers in their early academic career.
want us to teach them instead of getting
directions to learn further. Coming from a basic science background, on
my return to Malaysia I started working on
In the past, the medical curriculum was non- melioidosis. We organised the first research
integrated and it was difficult for the student meeting on melioidosis and it has now grown
to integrate basic sciences with clinical to an annual international meeting, where the
sciences. In order to obtain the skills for research fraternity in melioidosis has grown
teaching in a medical programme, I applied significantly. My research interest grew and
and was selected to join a prestigious I worked on many areas, collaborating with
2-year fellowship programme offered by the clinical colleagues. I subsequently undertook
Foundation of Advancement of International a Master’s in Computational Genetics and
Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) Bioinformatics at Imperial College, London in
under the auspices of ECFMG, USA. The 2002. With the introduction of High Impact

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