Dr Peh Suat Cheng

Kuala Lumpur, 15 March, 2011 - UCSI University has appointed renowned pathologist Professor Dr Peh Suat Cheng as its new Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences. Dr Peh was appointed in March and will lead the faculty into its next phase of development. 

“I came to help produce good doctors, to ensure our doctors are both competent and caring,” she said.

Dr Peh joins UCSI University with more than 30 years of experience, including nearly 26 years in academia with positions as lecturer, associate professor, professor, head of department and senior consultant. With a specialisation in pathology and interest in cancer research, she has published her work extensively in national and international peer-reviewed journals and co-authored the WHO reference book on Tumours of the Haematopoietic and Lymphoid tissues. She holds two doctorate degrees, including an MD from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom and a PhD from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. She also holds a Master of Pathology from the University of Malaya and is a Fellow of both the Royal Colleges of Pathologists of Australasia and the United Kingdom. In addition to teaching and research, Dr Peh is an active practising clinician.

“With her extensive experience in academics, research and clinical practice, we are excited to have Dr Peh on our team,” UCSI University Vice Chancellor Dr Robert Bong said. 

Dr Peh comes during a significant period of expansion for the faculty as the University embarks on developing a new state-of-the-art teaching and research hospital in Bandar Springhill, Seremban to be completed in November 2012. The hospital will serve both the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Faculty of Medical Sciences, including the latter’s School of Medicine and School of Nursing. It will also house Malaysia’s first and only School of Anti-Aging, Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine that the University launched earlier this year, also within the Faculty of Medical Sciences.
 
In addition to teaching and research, the hospital aims to become a global destination for medical tourism, offering excellent care at affordable prices for both international and local patients. The hospital will have specialities including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, oncology, psychiatry, otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, emergency services, neurosciences, regenerative medicine, and psychiatry, in addition to general medicine and general surgery. 

Dr Peh is working closely with the hospital’s senior leadership project team on the planning and execution of the hospital, as well as the active recruitment of both local and international medical professionals that will occur in the next few months. Dr Peh said it was the prospect of taking up the new challenge that drew her to the position. 

“My aspiration is to make the faculty a Centre of Excellence in Medical Sciences by bringing in the best talent possible,” she said. 

As the new dean, Dr Peh said she is interested in pursuing cancer research and said she will also be supportive of other research interests within the faculty, such as stem cell research. She also said she would like to promote more post graduate programmes, such as the new Master of Science (Anti-aging, Regenerative Medicine and Medical Aesthetic) and several nursing programmes in the pipeline. 

Since her time with the University, Dr Peh said she was happy to see UCSI University medical students engaging in activities outside their studies including organising fundraisers and performances. 

“That’s the kind of student calibre we have,” she said.

She said she also likes the University environment that allows students from Faculty of Medical Sciences to intermingle closely with students from other faculties. 

“I think it’s going to make them more well-rounded people,” she said. 

UCSI University launched its Faculty of Medical Sciences in 2004 and graduated its first class of medical doctors in 2010.