Our Team

Dr. Tho Lye Mun read Medicine as a John Crawford Scholar and graduated from the University of Sydney, Australia in 1998. He went on to train and work in the UK, obtaining both internal medicine MRCP (UK) and clinical oncology FRCR (UK) qualifications. He was then awarded a prestigious joint Cancer Research UK and Royal College of Radiologists research fellowship where his research into novel checkpoint inhibitors as anti-cancer therapy led to him being awarded a PhD in molecular oncology from the University of Glasgow.

For his work he was also awarded the John Paul Medal and Anne Hollman Medal. After training and working overseas for 23 years, Dr. Tho returned to Malaysia taking up the post of Associate Professor at the University of Malaya and he then subsequently moved into private practice. His passion and commitment to lung cancer has seen him lead many clinical studies in the field, in particular immunotherapy and serve on numerous regional and international advisory bodies and guideline committees.

He has also pioneered the use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung cancer having undergone further training in Korea and the Cleveland Clinic, USA. He is the current Vice President of South East Asian Radiation Oncology Group (SEAROG). He is co-founder and Vice President of Lung Cancer Network Malaysia.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Tan graduated his MBBS from University of Malaya and obtained Master of Medicine (nuclear medicine) from Universiti Sains Malaysia. He pursued his International Fellowship Programme in Seoul National University Hospital; and Radionuclide Therapy training in Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia. He currently works as a nuclear medicine physician and clinical researcher in Sunway Medical Centre and Sunway University. His practice mainly focuses on oncologic PET-CT imaging in detecting, staging and monitoring response for cancers, and radionuclide therapy in certain cancers (i.e. thyroid, neuroendocrine tumour and prostate cancer).

With regards to lung cancer, his interest is on using respiratory gating (4-D) PET-CT in quantifying lung nodule; and monitoring immunotherapy response using FDG PET-CT. He has published more than 15 peer-reviewed journals and has received numerous best paper awards in international conferences.

He is a fellow of Asian Board of Nuclear Medicine and a scientific committee member (for nuclear medicine) in Asia Pacific Neuroendocrine Tumour Society

Dr. Anza Elias is a Public Health Physician (Occupational Health). She completed a Master degree in Community Medicine, specialising in occupational health and holds a Membership in Faculty of Occupational Medicine (MFOM). She trained in medicine from the University of Tasmania, Australia.

She began her career with the Ministry of Health Malaysia and later worked at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) University and was involved in several occupational health projects under the WHO Occupational Health Collaborating Centre for Middle East countries.

She is actively involved in occupational health services and programs, in particular, management of occupational diseases and injuries, fitness for work assessment, smoking cessation at work, and health surveillance. Dr. Anza is currently practising at Tenaga Nasional Berhad. and Twin Tower Medical Centre.

Dr. Balaji Badmanaban graduated from the RCSI medical school in Dublin, Ireland in 1994. He subsequently completed his postgraduate Cardiothoracic surgical specialist training at leading hospitals in the UK. He is a British board - certified Cardiothoracic surgeon since 2007 and has been practising as an independent consultant since 2009.

Dr. Balaji is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He is a highly published surgeon with a special interest in Thoracic (chest) conditions especially lung cancer. His clinical expertise includes minimally invasive keyhole VATS surgery.

He has been an invited speaker at numerous national and international scientific meetings. Dr. Balaji is currently practising at Manipal Hospital, Klang.

Dr. Caryn Khoo obtained her medical degree from Dalhousie University, Canada, and went on to specialise in Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic, USA before pursuing her fellowship in Hospice & Palliative Medicine at Stanford University, USA. She is American board-certified in Internal Medicine as well as Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is registered on the National Specialist Register as a specialist in Palliative Medicine.

Dr. Khoo joined the Ministry of Health and was based at the Palliative Care Unit in Hospital Selayang before transferring to Institut Kanser Negara (IKN) as Head of the Palliative & Supportive Care Department for almost 4 years. She is now practicing as a Consultant Palliative Medicine Physician at Sunway Medical Centre.

She is a member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN), Malaysian Hospice Council (MHC), Lung Cancer Network Malaysia (LCNM) and Mayo Clinic Alumni. She was a member of the technical committee that developed the National Palliative Care Policy and Strategic Plan 2019-2030, launched in November 2019.

Dr. Khoo has published a number of articles in international peer-reviewed medical journals as well as presented scientific posters at various local and international conferences in the areas of Internal Medicine and Palliative Medicine. She has authored chapters in two local reference books, the Hospital Selayang End-Of-Life Care Guidelines, 2014, and the Handbook of Palliative Medicine in Malaysia, 2015.

As a palliative care physician, Dr. Khoo manages the symptoms associated with serious illnesses like cancer, through pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies, in order to improve the patient’s wellbeing and quality of life. Her areas of interest are cancer pain and the multiple dimensions of suffering that occur with serious illnesses – physical, psychological, social and spiritual. Her aim is to provide quality palliative care that reduces the negative impact of a disease on a person and their caregivers.

Dr. Hilmi is currently a Consultant Respiratory & Internal Medicine Physician in Prince Court Medical Centre, KPJ Kajang Specialist Hospital and an Honorary Medical Lecturer with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. He graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and completed his training in internal medicine and respiratory medicine in the UK.

Prior to returning home he was a locum consultant in Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, UK. He is actively involved in undergraduate medical education, and is a committee member of the Malaysian Thoracic Society. His main interests are in the field of lung cancer, pleural disease and interventional diagnostic procedures.

Ng Pui Hwa is a Bachelors Degree holder in Physiotherapy from MAHSA University, Malaysia. She has over 2 years of clinical experience working in a private hospital in Klang Valley. She also has undergone over 1000 hours of clinical practice during her study days. Her job requires her to help patients in functional recovery and improving general quality of life.

She is also equipped with a Basic Life Support knowledge and is actively practising this in her daily work. She’s a very compassionate person in nature and is highly reputable among her colleagues for her interpersonal skills.

She has been featured in a public talk on pre-natal exercises and also been invited to speak on Physiotherapy in geriatric care. She believes in movement is an alternative medicine and adding meaning to life.

Dr. Muven underwent undergraduate medical education at the University of Malaya. He then completed his housemanship at Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching. He subsequently was attached to Miri General Hospital. He completed his training in Internal Medicine Training at University of Malaya. He was awarded the JOHN BOSCO AWARD for Internal Medicine on completing his Masters training in Internal Medicine in 2009 at University of Malaya.

He subsequently completed his Fellowship training in Respiratory Medicine in 2013. He also completed his training in Sleep Medicine at the University of Chulalongkorn. He was awarded the First Place for his presentation at the 2nd ASEAN SLEEP CONGRESS in 2013.

He has presented his research in local and international conferences. He is currently a Consultant Respiratory Physician and Sleep Medicine at Hospital Pantai Ayer Keroh, Melaka.

Dr. How qualified from University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur in 1996 and obtained Master in Internal Medicine at the same university in 2002. He is currently working as Professor of Medicine, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University.

He also works as consultant general physician and chest physician in IIUM Medical Centre, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, and Darul Makmur Medical Centre. He has special interest in EBUS-TBNA, rigid bronchoscopy, navigational bronchoscopy, endobronchial tumour debulking, metallic and silicone stenting. Dr. How’s research interests focus on melioidosis and lung cancer.

He also involved in multi-centre randomized control study on asthma, COPD and lung cancer.

Dr. Raja Rizal Azman is currently Associate Professor and Consultant Clinical Radiologist in the University Malaya Medical Centre. He is also the Deputy Medical Director at University Malaya Specialist Centre.  His areas of clinical and research interests are in Neuro and Cardiac Imaging. Dr Rizal qualified from Guy's, King's College and St Thomas' School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London in 2002.

He obtained the Membership to the Royal College of Physicians in 2005 and the Fellowship to the Royal College of Radiologists in 2010. Dr Rizal completed his Master in Radiology also in 2010 from University Malaya. In 2015 he completed a one year fellowship in Neuroradiology from Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong.

Dr. Teoh read medicine as the University of Nottingham UK, where he obtained his Bachelor of Medical Sciences followed by his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. He then trained in general medicine and obtained his MRCP. Following this he undertook postgraduate specialist training in Oncology in the United Kingdom and completed his specialist training in 2008. Subsequently he spent a year as a clinical research fellow at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and was appointed as Consultant Oncologist there.

He returned to head the new Sabah Cancer Centre in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia in 2010 and was also founding head of the Clinical Research Centre in Hospital Likas. He had also been appointed honorary lecturer at University Malaysia Sabah. He has been involved as principal investigator in many clinical trial and lectures throughout the Asean region.

He is currently Consultant Oncologist at KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital, Kota Kinabalu.

Dr. Voon is currently Head and Consultant Medical Oncologist with Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Hospital Umum Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak. He read medicine at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and graduated in 2001. He undertook training in Internal Medicine and obtained his MRCP (UK) and Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine) from National University of Singapore in 2007. Dr. Voon was later gazetted as Internal Medicine Specialist. Subsequently, he completed his advanced specialist training in Medical Oncology from National University Hospital Singapore in 2012.

He is principal investigator and co-investigator for numerous international multi-center cancer trials. Dr. Voon has published in peer reviewed journals and also co-authoring numerous presentations in national and international scientific meetings.

Dr. Yap underwent undergraduate medical education at the University of Dundee, Scotland. He then trained in clinical oncology at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, England, which is one of the largest specialist cancer hospitals in Europe. He undertook clinical fellowship in Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto, Canada.

He was appointed as a consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, England between 2003-2014. He was a member of the UK National Cancer Research Institute clinical subgroup designing and conducting clinical trials. He was the chief and principal investigator for a number of clinical trials. He won the first prize in his presentation on Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy for Thyroid Cancers in the 2nd World Thyroid Cancer Congress, Toronto Canada in 2013.

He has delivered lectures in various local and international meetings and institutions. He is involved in promoting public awareness on the importance in early cancer diagnoses and treatments. He is currently a consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre.

Jack Shen is a registered pharmacist in Malaysia and Australia with a varied professional experience having practiced in hospital, manufacturing, industry and community pharmacy for the past 17 years. He obtained his pharmacy degree from Monash University Parkville and has never wavered in his belief that pharmacists can play a vital role in building healthier, happier communities.

He is a passionate advocate for the profession, currently serving as the Hon. Treasurer of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) and as the Vice President of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA). He was previously the founding president of the Asian Young Pharmacist Group (AYPG) and one of the founders of the MPS Young Pharmacist Chapter. His continuing work with these organisations allowed him close collaboration with government agencies, pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions in the areas of pharmacy practice, public education, health technology and strategic planning.

He currently works with Tigas Alliance, a community pharmacy network, where he heads pharmacy practice.

 

Dietitian, founder & owner of Indra Balaratnam Nutrition. Indra obtained her BSc. in Nutrition & Dietetics from Lamar University, Texas, USA and has been in practice for 23 years. She runs her own private practice in Kuala Lumpur, conducting diet counselling, group workshops and nutrition consultancy for corporations. Indra is the co-author of “Healthy Eating – Recipes for the Asian Palate” (Times Edition Marshall Cavendish 2004 – translated to Bahasa Malaysia) and “Healthy Family Meals” (Marshall Cavendish Cuisine 2008). She advocates health awareness for the community to prevent and manage lifestyle illnesses.

She’s a regular invited speaker at professional conferences, wellness programmes, workshops and media talk shows. She believes in making nutrition relevant for families. Hence, she writes a column “Eat Well” in The New Straits Times and shares health tips/recipes on social media.

Watch her nutrition cooking show “Indra’s Healthy Indulgences” Season 1 on YouTube. Indra is a Past President of the Malaysian Dietitians’ Association, and member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, USA.

Physiotherapist for the past 10 years in multiple sectors of rehabilitation medicine. Clinical expertise includes, neurological rehabilitation (adult and child), Acute Care Rehabilitation (pre and post-operative care), and Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (in-patient and out-patient clinics).

She is very much an active and firm believer in the Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach to patient care and goal directed rehabilitation. She has lead, a MDT for several years in the hospital she is attached with, which was one of the first of its kind to be established in a private hospital (2011).

Her interests now are very much into the field of robotics in rehabilitation and early mobilisation in acute care settings. She is also very involved in sharing and training young Physiotherapy students in this field. Futhermore, she is a member of the Malaysian Physiotherapy Association and has been featured in several interviews on the radio (e.g. BFM), press and magazines - sharing her experience on the different perspectives for successful outcomes in rehabilitation.

Ms. Khoo is a practising dietitian for more than 17 years. She obtained her degree in Dietetics with honours from the National University of Malaysia. She is professionally trained in translating the science of food and nutrition to meet the needs of individual or target groups. She also plays a vital role in the promotion of wellness through mindful eating, development of therapeutic diets in Hospital Lam Wah Ee, Penang where she is the chief dietitian. She is the active member of the Malaysian Dietitians' Association (MDA) and also the member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, USA. She has been an invited speaker for more than 200 sessions of corporate health talks and medical forums. Although there are many contradictory nutrition messages, she advocates the key to good nutrition is Balance, Variety and Moderation.

Ng Pui Hwa is a Bachelors Degree holder in Physiotherapy from MAHSA University, Malaysia. She has over 2 years of clinical experience working in a private hospital in Klang Valley. She also has undergone over 1000 hours of clinical practice during her study days. Her job requires her to help patients in functional recovery and improving general quality of life.

She is also equipped with a Basic Life Support knowledge and is actively practising this in her daily work. She’s a very compassionate person in nature and is highly reputable among her colleagues for her interpersonal skills.

She has been featured in a public talk on pre-natal exercises and also been invited to speak on Physiotherapy in geriatric care. She believes in movement is an alternative medicine and adding meaning to life.

Ng Yee Voon is a currently the General Manager,  Oncology & Nuclear Medicine and Screening & Preventive Health department at Thomson Hospital. She holds a Master of Science in Nutrition from Texas A&M University and a Registered Dietitian of the USA. She has over 10 years of clinical experience in dietetics, serving patients in acute care setting, preventive medicine, women and children nutrition, and now in post hospital discharge domiciliary care for a private hospital in the Klang Valley. Ms. Yee Voon has been an active clinician for NGOs, and a member of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics U.S.A. Yee Voon served a council member for the Malaysian Dietitians’ Association from year 2012 to 2019.

She has been featured in several interviews by the radio (e.g. BFM), press and magazines. Active as a public speaker and a writer, she has contributed comments and write up as a panelist to several magazines and online platform for all walks of life.

Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy is currently an Associate Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, and a visiting scholar at Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom. Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Malaya. Following completion of her master’s degree in Public Health with distinction, she was awarded a fellowship under the Asia-Link Programme funded by the European Commission. Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy completed her master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology, cum laude,  and a  PhD in cancer epidemiology from the University of Utrecht, Netherlands in 2011.

Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy’s career is focused on optimizing life after cancer through research on cancer survival, treatment outcomes and patient-centered outcomes. Outside the academia, she also actively leads and participates in advocacy efforts to improve the state of cancer control in the low-and middle-income countries.

She was the principal investigator of phase III of the Asean CosTs In ONcology (ACTION) study that comprises close to 10,000 cancer patients from eight low- and middle-income member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN). The study, which examined the costs of cancer to patients and their families has been crucial in providing country-specific evidence for Southeast Asian nations to prioritise policies and develop local solutions to reduce the financial loss and premature deaths associated with cancer.

Prof. Dr. R. Pathmanathan is Senior Consultant Pathologist and Laboratory Director at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre. He is also currently Professor of Anatomical Pathology in the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine, Monash University (Sunway Campus, Kuala Lumpur and Clayton campus, Australia), an Adjunct Professor of Pathology in Manipal University (Manipal campus) and is an Honorary Professor of Pathology in the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Pathma is an examiner in Pathology for the local Master’s degree as well as an examiner for the Royal College of Pathologists, Australasia. He is an established researcher with more than 230 scientific publications in international and peer-reviewed journals and serves on the Editorial Board of “Pathology”, the official publication of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.

He serves as advisor and consultant for numerous multinational pathology diagnostics companies as well as pharmaceutical companies, including Roche, Astra-Zeneca, MSD, Pfizer, Abbot, Leica and Panagene. His current research areas include the molecular pathology of cancers, telepathology and digital imaging.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Caryn Chan Mei Hsien is a psychologist whose focus and expertise lies in empowering and educating patients living with chronic illnesses. She has various interests that include health promotion and psychological strategies in primary and secondary prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Her particular area of expertise is in the field of psychosocial oncology, which examines psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder among patients with cancer. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chan is specifically interested in adaptation and adherence to cancer treatment among patients with cancer and survivors, as well as coping among caregivers. She is the principal lead of several large-scale prospective cohort studies which monitor patients’ psychological wellbeing through psychological assessment shortly after diagnosis and treatment, and at regular intervals in the following months and years.