Photos during the 'The Best Specialities in the World' Lecture

IM in the Media....

A&E unit: Dealing with unexpected everyday




Doing the impossible: Professor Colin Robertson (L) and Dr Zaw Wint, programme coordinator for the lecture at UBD yesterday. Picture: BT/Hana RoslanBRUNEI-MUARA



Thursday, February 26, 2009


AS PART of the Institute of Medicine Medical lecture series, students and teachers at Universiti Brunei Darussalam attended a lecture on specialisation in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit yesterday.

Held at the Senate Room of the Chancellor hall,the lecture was entitled "The Best Specialty in the World" and was given by Professor Colin Robertson who hails from the University of Edinburgh and also serves as a Consultant at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Dubbing A&E as emergency medicine, Professor Robertson covered important areas which aspiring students in emergency medicine should know.

"The great thing about emergency medicine is that it has a number of areas within it that you would not see anywhere else in other areas of medicine," he said.

He said that the unpredictability of this specialty can be seen in a sense that it was not impossible for him to die from a cardiac arrest at any minute.

"And that is what emergency medicine is all about. Everything is unexpected. The fact that you can go to work and see something everyday different and unexpected everyday is exciting and there are not many jobs that can do that," he said.

He also said that working in emergency medicine was not for students who wish to have a quiet and predictable life.

He added that if students want to be constantly stimulated and save lives, then emergency medicine is more than the best specialty in the world.

He added that the unit serves as frontliner when it comes to treating patients.

"Our department will see more patients than most put together. We see them very close to the time they are acutely unwell for example, when you have a heart attack or are bitten by a snake, the first contact is the emergency department. We are uniquely placed to see these patients," he said. In an age where technology in medicine is constantly evolving, Professor Robertson also advised the students to not get carried away with the extraordinary advancements by conducting series of tests to find the diagnosis for patients for fear that it might cause harm.

Basic skills of history taking and clinical examination are paramount, he said and added that the need to accept humility in this career was imperative.

"I think we need to have a lot of humility in what we are doing. When I was a medical student, half of what I was taught was wrong because of the current advances and it will be true for you too," he said.

In this regard, he urged students to challenge what they are being taught as well as defy the conventional dogma.

"Many textbooks from years and years have been written by those who do not see patients. Always challenge what you are being taught. Maintain a questioning mind all throughout the medical practice and what is evident specific," he said.

He also emphasised other priorities such as patient care that is linked with two important strands such as a unique ability for students both young and old to do constant training and the ability to conduct cutting-edge research.

Adding that teamwork is crucial in taking up this career, he also added that it is important for doctors who work in the A&E unit to work in other areas as well.

With courtesy, The Brunei Times

Medical Lecture: The Best Speciality in the World

Dear all,

The Institute of Medicine in collaboration with Ministry of Health is pleased to announce that it will be organising a medical lecture entitled 'The Best Specialty in The World' by Professor Colin Robertson, Professor in Accident & Emergency at the University of Edinburgh and Consultant at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to be held on / at:

Date : Wednesday, 25th February 2009
Time : 2:45 - 4:30 pm
Venue : Senate Room, 1st Floor, Chancellor Hall, UBD

IM would like to invite all students and staffs to attend.

Interview with Mariah & Kenny

As you all might know, two of our beloved staff members have left the IM offices for other positions in the Universiti. So before we say farewell to them, let's have a talk with them one last time:

Q. When did you first start working in IM?
Mariah: On 22 July 2005
Kenny: I will always remember the first time I step into our cosy little office on Monday, 4th July 2005

Q. What was your position in IM and what exactly did your job involve you doing?
Mariah: Assistant Lecturer Undergraduate Assessment. Im involve in assessments (Written and OSCE) as well as evaluation (eg, weekly pbl feedback)
Kenny: My position in IM was as an Assistant Lecturer. Basically, my job involved me in taking care of the students' daily curriculum running.

Q. Fondest memory of IM
Mariah: Dancing Bollywood with everyone! That is the time when I became really close with all of you.
Kenny: Oh man! This is a tough one. Hmmm, it has to be all the wonderful time spent around the students.

Q. What did you like most about working in IM?
Mariah: Family environment.
1.Someone will bring 'sedekah' every morning. If not, someone will buy from Amsarra or make some lovely toast. I will never go hungry at IM...hehehe...
2. Babu and I will always sing together (I will miss that alot). And we will be join by the backup singers - Kenny and Zeti (kekeke..)
3. Reading newpaper at Aslia's desk and gossiping (ops...)
4. Everyone helping last minute
5. Students who invite us for lunch and parties
Many more.......
Kenny: Helping the students to achieving and making their dreams come true.

Q. If you could change one thing about IM before you left, what would it be?
Mariah: I would change the size of the building...kekeke..its too small!
Kenny: To put up a really BIG sign to show people where IM is...Hahaha!!!

Q. Where will you be moving to after IM?
Mariah: I.L.I.A- Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Advancement located temporarily at Chancellor Hall building.
Kenny: I will be moving to just across the road from IM...The Chancellory Office.

Q. Any advice for the person replacing you?
Mariah: Be friendly to the students!!!
Kenny: You can do it mate! Cheers!

Q. Lastly, would you like to say anything to our readers (staff, students, others)
Mariah: Thank you for all your help and support all this years. I will miss ALL of you very much. Most of all I will miss the food, the laughter, the fun, the picnic, the outgoing for lunch and dinner, the activities and many more. It is hard to say in words but I hope you will show the same support to the new AR as you to me. Keep in touch and please do visit my office (when it is ready) anytime. :) Once again..will miss you all......
Kenny: Yes, of course! It has been a hell of a ride for us all. IM has been through a lot of ups and downs. But no matter how down we feel, we always manage to rise above it all and be the BEST among the rest. Thats because we are a family despite our differences in any ways.
Like the old saying goes: ALL for ONE and ONE for ALL. Cheeeers all!

On behalf of all the IM students, I would like to take this opportunity to say a very big THANK YOU to both Mariah & Kenny for all the work they have put into IM. You have certainly made IM part of what it is and we fully appreciate all the effort that you have made to make sure everything runs smoothly. We will certainly miss both of you very much. We wish you all the best in your new positions. Keep in touch k.

UBD Open Day

The UBD open day was held on the 12th to 15th of February 2009 at the Chancellor Hall, UBD. Institute of Medicine along with the Nursing College also took part. The respond from public was very good. Member of staffs including students helped out at our special booth to sell the course. For everyone's information the course that IM offering now includes, Bachelor of Health Science in Medicine (to become a doctor) or Biomedical Science (for those who want to be scientist, Msc Public Health, Diploma in Nursing and as well as degree in Nursing is also being introduced for August. If you are interested, hurry up and apply! I am sure you will love the environment at IM plus, we have our new building up and running pretty soon. For more information please visit UBD official website www.ubd.edu.bn

IM Booth

Fresh new look in this year Study at UBD.. wow!

IM @UBD Open Day (Part 1)

FRIDAY, Chancellor Hall UBD. The second day of UBD Open Day 2009.

As usual Institute of Medicine involve in exhibiting their programmes. People now can have variety of programme to choose at IM as more new programmes are being offered. Some of us the first year and the third year undergraduates involved in volunteering for the UBD open day. Below are the pictures during the 2nd day of UBD Open Day.

IM in the news

In the efforts to promote UBD, particularly the medical programme offered by IM, a series of articles have been published recently in the Borneo Bulletin. Below are the articles:

[Dated 06 February 2009]
Institute Of Medicine To Open New Building With More Programmes
By Sonia K

Bandar Seri Begawan - As Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) is reviewing its undergraduate programmes, the Institute of Medicine (IM) at UBD will not only be offering just one bachelor programme but will be adding another masters programme as well as getting a new building this year.

From August this year, IM will be offering a Bachelor of Health Science where students will have a choice to major one of four — Medicine, Biomedical Science, Nursing and Midwifery.

On top of that, the masters programme that IM will be offering besides Masters in Primary Healthcare, is Masters in Public Health.

According to the Dean of the Institute of Medicine, Dr Anita Aziz, the new masters programme will be open to doctors, nurses and allied professionals or to anyone in the health industry.

She said that IM will also be offering few diploma programmes such as Diploma in Nursing, Diploma in Midwifery and Advanced Diploma in Nursing/Midwifery.

For the Advanced Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery, there will be 11 specialties to choose from such as mental health, midwifery or surgery.

"In addition, students can have a lot of options from a variety of courses which will give them more adaptability and flexibility. It has been developed to keep on par with the rapid changing world out there and we want our students to be better equipped, so that they can evolve together with the changing needs of the society," she added.

IM will also be changing its style of teaching, as it will be more student-centric.

"Students will be doing their own research so they will know how to obtain the necessary knowledge and resources. Apart from mediciné, students taking the three other majors will be spending up to a year abroad (Discovery Year), studying or probably doing some placements abroad," Dr Anita said.

The students will have the option of where to spend their third year, either at hospitals abroad or other universities or even labs, organisations and companies, before coming back to UBD to finish their degree.

Therefore, currently, IM is in talks and negotiations with other universities for the third year abroad programme.

As the institute is proactively looking for ties, it is quite attracted to those who can confer a diploma or related degrees, when the students spend their third year abroad.

As for the medical students, on the other hand, they will have to spend three years at the Institute of Medicine and graduate with an ordinary degree in health science. And then they will have to spend another three years abroad, where they will graduate with a medical degree, coming back as doctors.

IM currently has partnered with medical schools in the UK, Australia and Canada.

According to Dr Anita, IM now has 20 lecturers, ranging from senior lecturers to professors and associate professors.

"The bulk of our teaching staff is actually expatriates. They come from various parts of the world in various fields with different expertise," she added.

As for the Institute of Medicine's new building, they are hoping to move in sometime in April this year.

It has state-of-the-art teaching and research labs, seminar and tutorial rooms and two lecture theatres. Also included in the new building are areas for communication and ethical skills, as well as a reading room for students to study. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

[Dated 07 February 2009]
Future Docs Visit UBD's Institute Of Medicine
By Narissa Noor

Bandar Seri Begawan - UBD's Institute of Medicine (IM) is opening more windows of opportunity for young aspiring doctors to realise their dreams and this time the dream is much closer to home.

A group of Maktab Sains Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan and Maktab Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Mutitadee Billah students took a glimpse of their future recently as they toured the new facilities which they hoped is where they will spend their next three years.

Eagerly a waiting to fill in their applications, these students could be accepted into IM to pursue a Bachelor of Health Science with a major in either Medicine, Biomedical Science Nursing or Midwifery.

Fadhil Abdullah, an 18-year-old from Maktab Duli, hopes to become a general surgeon one day and sees UBD as the best route to get there. "UBD is where I want to go and getting in will be a golden opportunity for me," he remarked adding that the Discovery Year will be an added plus.

UBD medical students spend three years at the IM, graduating with a degree in Health Science before doing a further three years abroad to pursue their medical degree. Meanwhile, students of the other three majors will be able to benefit from the newly launched Discovery Year - one year in universities, hospitals or even organisations abroad.

Aspiring orthopaedist Syaahidah from Maktab Sains grew up thinking that being a doctor is the greatest job in the world. The feeling never went away. The 19-yearold thought she'd end up abroad but said, "I saw what UBD has to offer and was surprised. I realised that UBD is just as good as any other university I would have chosen."

Meanwhile, Hui from MD admits to being fickle. "I wanted to become everything from a doctor to a lawyer to an accountant and a businesswoman," she quipped. "I've finally decided on medicine because I love biology and at the end of the day I have to do something that I love," added the 19-year-old.

According to senior lecture Dr Zaw Wint, IM students are expected to have, by the end of their programme, patient care, examination and communication skills, extensive knowledge of the cardiovascular and neurological system and basic life support skills.

"The qualities of the students we are producing here at UBD are of a high standard with a benchmark from the St George's Medical School," he asserted.

Fifteen recent IM graduates from the first cohort have since moved on to pursue their medical degree in Australia, Canada and the UK.

Since the appointment of Dr Zulkamain Hanafi as Vice Chancellor of UBD, the university's structure and programmes, including those within IM, have seen a huge transformation, which has received both commendation and criticism.

However, in a recent interview with the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Western Australia whose effort to review and consolidate UWA programmes have proved successful, Don Markwell had nothing but praise for the initiative.

"The view that educational leaders have around the world, in a world of rapid change and global forces is that we need to refresh the balance between the breadth that students have and the depth of their specialisation so that they can be equipped to live and work successfully in such an environment.

"The world changes and universities need to change what we offer our students to ensure that it remains highly relevant to the world as it is becoming," said Markwell who believes that a broader educational base and greater professional maturity is a necessary step in pursuing a professional career. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Visit to Physiotherapy at RIPAS Hospital

Last Monday afternoon, the cohort 4 of medicine and cohort 1 of Biomedical Science had a visit at Physiotherapy, RIPAS Hospital.. We learnt a lot during the visit..

Below are some of the pictures during our visit..