September 8, 2024, was an especially memorable day for me and my medical school classmates, the 10th batch of medical students from the Class of 1973/78, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya. Now in our early 70s, we had just successfully published a book chronicling our five-decade journey in the field of medicine, and it was being launched with great celebration and fanfare in the very halls of our alma mater.
The book contained the collective experience of 21 senior doctors from 14 medical specialities accrued over almost half a century. The doctors wrote about their experiences from the time they considered taking up medicine as a life career, to their days as medical students, the challenges that they faced as young doctors and finally their work as medical specialists in various fields. Though it was an ambition for most of the authors to study medicine, some did so to please a parent. One author wrote a hilarious chapter about his many failed attempts to avoid medical school, but once he trained in medicine, he became one of the most accomplished and dedicated physicians in his field. The stories will inform the reader, that every author had led a meaningful life bringing about positive changes in the lives of the patients that they touched. Some did even more and the Malaysian reader will take great pride reading the achievements of their fellow countrymen and women. The book contains heroic stories of saving lives with limited facilities in the out backs of rural East Malaysia and in the villages of Africa. Some of the authors were pioneers in their fields, performing never done-in-the past surgeries and setting up organ transplant centres. Some helped build medical schools and train the next generation of doctors. Patient case histories are shared where the doctors just used their eyes, ears and hands without the aid of modern technology to make life saving decisions and effecting treatment. The book reveals that doctors are also human as the authors share their own personal confrontation with various illnesses some with fatal outcomes. Those who survive their illnesses, describe how the experience enabled them to treat their patients with more compassion, as they had now seen sickness not just from the bedside but from the bed too.
As a run up to the event, the leading Malaysian magazine, the EDGE had run an extensive four page review a week before the book launch replete with several professionally taken group photographs of the authors. Eight of the authors took up the magazine’s invitation to come for a photoshoot on a Sunday morning. It was a memorable photo session and some of us observed nostalgically that given our age it was likely to be one of the last few photographs that we were going to take as a class group.
The book launch was nothing short of spectacular. When we initiated this project two years earlier, none of us could have imagined the momentous occasion it would become. As we worked tirelessly to create a book worthy of the legacy of our medical school—the first in Malaysia—and the distinguished authors who contributed, we never envisioned such a remarkable outcome. The alumni of our medical faculty adopted the book about two months before the launch. Much effort went into the planning and execution of the launch. The Prime Minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah agreed to officiate the launch. She had been our classmate for a few months right at the beginning of medical school before she left on a scholarship to complete her studies in Ireland. Unfortunately nearer the launch she got called off on other official duties, so could only give us a pre recorded speech. Being a doctor herself and having worked at the University Hospital in her younger days, it was a heartfelt speech. In Datuk Seri Wan Azizah’s place, the Pro Chancellor of University Malaya, Toh Puan Dr Hajjah Aishah Ong, also a medical doctor, officiated the function. The book launch was held in an auditorium name after a beloved teacher, Professor TJ Danaraj, who was the founding dean of the school. We managed to get ten of our old medical school teachers, some close to 90 years of age, to attend the launch. At least one came in a wheelchair. They were all thrilled to meet colleagues and students some of whom they had not met for more than 40 years. Besides our teachers the audience of about 150 included alumni, family members, friends and medical students. Malaysian literary luminaries who were present included Tan Sri Johan Jaffar and Dr Pola Singh. The new Dean who was an alumnus of our medical school, class of 1987/92, gave a very inspiring speech and drew on the contents of the book to advice doctors on how they should serve their patients who place their trust in them. Her speech confirmed that her leadership will ensure that the legacy of the founding fathers will be carried into the future. I gave the audience a glimpse of the contents of the book by highlighting key passages in each chapter, accompanied by several power point slides. The book launch ceremony included the presentation of complimentary copies of the book signed by all the authors to our teachers. One of the primary aims of producing the book was to share with future generations the valuable lessons we learned from both our successes and failures in the journey of becoming good doctors. Towards this end, we presented four complimentary copies of our book to our medical library. Each of these books contained this inscription :
To the Medical Students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya,
As authors of Beyond the White Coat and former students of this esteemed institution, we present this book to you as a token of our shared journey in the noble field of Medicine.
We offer it to you not just as a guide, but as a companion in your own pursuit of knowledge, compassion, and service. In these pages, you will find our experiences—both our triumphs as well as our failures and the lessons we learned along the way. May they illuminate your path and remind you that every life you touch makes this world a better place, and in turn, deepens the meaning of your own.
We hope our stories inspire you, and that you carry forward the legacy of excellence that defines the University of Malaya.
Written in lay man language with explanations, this book is a must read for all who want a glimpse into the amazing world of Medicine. As explained above, it should also be read by every medical student as the authors wanted to inspire and share their experiences with the next generation.
Publication of the book was funded by the Tan Sri Hew See Tong Foundation and the authors have pledged all proceeds of book sales to the University Tengku Abdul Rahman Charity Hospital in Kampar.
The book can be bought in major bookstores, on Shoppee and through this link. For the latter, would be buyers should register and login before they can purchase the book
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