Sunway University proudly hosted the latest instalment of the Sir Jeffrey Cheah Distinguished Speakers Series, featuring two esteemed scholars from Harvard Medical School, who are also Jeffrey Cheah professors.
The guest speakers for this distinguished event were Professor Salmaan Keshavjee and Professor Mercedes Becerra.
Professor Keshavjee is a renowned Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine and the Director of the Center for Global Health Delivery at Harvard Medical School.
![Photo [from left] professor mercedes becerra, tan sri dato’ seri dr. Sir jeffrey cheah kbe ao and professor salmaan keshavjee.](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/wp-content/webp-express/webp-images/doc-root/wp-content/uploads/photo-from-left-professor-mercedes-becerra-tan-sri-dato-seri-dr-sir-jeffrey-cheah-kbe-ao-and-professor-salmaan-keshavjee.jpg.webp "Global Health Experts From Harvard Speak At Sunway University | Weirdkaya")
Professor Becerra holds the prestigious position of Jeffrey Cheah Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine and serves as the Faculty Dean of Adams House at Harvard Medical School.
During the event, Professor Keshavjee delivered an insightful lecture on the social roots of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV in South Africa.
He emphasised that disease and illness are fundamentally bio-social phenomena, necessitating a bio-social analysis to understand and address them effectively.
His discussion highlighted the intricate interplay between social factors and health outcomes, calling for a holistic approach to tackling these significant health challenges.
Professor Becerra followed with a compelling discussion on the implications for social medicine and global health equity.
She stressed the importance of addressing social determinants of health to achieve equitable health outcomes globally.
Her insights underscored the critical need for integrating social medicine principles into global health initiatives to bridge the gap in health disparities.
In a significant development, Sunway University has recently collaborated with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to establish the Sunway University Medical Doctor Programme.
This collaboration aims to enhance healthcare delivery and medical education in the region.
Professor Keshavjee remarked on this initiative, stating, “The training of highly skilled physicians is essential in the medical field. Sunway emphasises on healthcare delivery, and one of the University’s greatest strengths is tying research with teaching to ensure that the best training is provided for physicians to better serve the communities.”
The Sir Jeffrey Cheah Distinguished Speakers Series continues to be a platform for thought leaders across various industries and sectors to share their knowledge and insights, fostering an environment of learning and collaboration at Sunway University.
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