Posted 23 March 2015
Minister officially opens new Clinical Skills and Education Centre for Penang Medical College
The Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Mr Lim Guan Eng has officially opened the Penang Medical College (PMC), Clinical Skills and Education Centre in Seberang Jaya Hospital.
The new 5,000ft2 facility provides seminar rooms, several clinical skills laboratories, and on-call rooms for students training in the hospital. It is the first such facility in the region of Penang, and is designed for medical students to develop their practical skills in parallel with their clinical training. Seberang Jaya Hospital is one of Penang Medical College's major teaching hospitals (one of three).
Pictured at the official opening: Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Mr Lim Guan Eng and Professor Desmond Fitzgerald, Principal, UCD College of Health Sciences, University College Dublin
Penang Medical College was founded in 1999 through a partnership between the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and University College Dublin (UCD). It is the only medical school outside of Ireland where graduates are eligible to be interns in Irish hospitals. Graduates receive a Degree in Medicine from the National University of Ireland after spending 2.5 years in either medical school in Dublin and 2.5 years in Penang. To date, some 1,200 doctors have graduated from Penang Medical College. They provide medical care for millions of patients in Malaysia.
"The opening of the new Penang Medical College, Clinical Skills & Education Centre is a commitment to the Irish history with Penang. In line with the Penang State Government’s aim to achieve higher standards in education and healthcare, Penang Medical College is evolving in response to changing needs," said Professor Amir Khir, President, CEO and Dean of Penang Medical College.
"Penang Medical College provides outstanding medical graduates for Penang, trained in Malaysia but with a global perspective," said Professor Desmond Fitzgerald, Principal, UCD College of Health Sciences, University College Dublin. "This training is provided through partnership - partnership between experienced Irish and Malaysian academics, teachers, clinicians; partnership between hospital and college; and partnership between Penang Medical College and the people of Penang. This new Clinical Skills and Education Centre in Seberang Jaya Hospital is another strong example of the success of this partnership model.”
The official opening ceremony was also attended by Professor Cathal Kelly, CEO, RCSI; Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI; Dr Pat Felle, Associate Dean for International Affairs, UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin; and Mr Michael McGrail, Corporate Director, RCSI.
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
