KUCHING: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian hopes to see more cardiologists from Sarawak and Malaysia qualifying to be Fellows of the American College of Cardiology (FACC).
He expressed such hopes during a series of meetings in Washington together with Sarawak cardiologist Dr. Alan Fong recently.
He said he was elected to be a FACC in 2000 and that currently, there are fewer than seven from Sarawak and around 40 from Malaysia.
“I also was the first foreign cardiologist leader to visit the ACC headquarters a week after its relocation to Washington DC in 2006.
“I am very honoured to be the only Asian member of the ACC’s international steering committee, which led to the establishment of its International Chapter in 2009,” he said in his official Facebook post on Wednesday.
He said that Malaysia was chosen as the first international chapter, a highlight of his presidency at the National Heart Association of Malaysia.
“The partnership between the ACC and Malaysia continues, with Dr. Alan Foong, from Sarawak Heart Centre becoming the ACC’s GHATI Chair last year.
“Additionally, Dr. Koh Keng Tat was the first Malaysian selected for the ACC’s Wael Al-Mahmeed Global Leadership Institute training this year,” he added.
In another development, Dr. Sim met with the Malaysian Ambassador to the United States, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz and held discussions to follow through on various issues concerning Sarawak.
He also held discussions with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Global Affairs which explored potential partnerships aligned with Sarawak’s healthcare aspirations.
