SPEAKERS

Professor Dato' Dr. Ab. Rahman Izaini Bin Ghani is a renowned Malaysian neurosurgeon, currently serving as a Professor and Consultant Neurosurgeon at the Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. Born on January 5, 1972, in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, Dr. Ghani is a distinguished figure in the field of neurosurgery, with a particular focus on Functional Neurosurgery, Movement Disorders, and Sellar/Pituitary Pathology.

He earned his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Queensland, Australia, in 1998, before pursuing advanced studies in neurosurgery at Universiti Sains Malaysia, where he completed his Master of Surgery (MS) in 2006. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his fellowship with the Japan Clinical Medical Training (JCMT) in 2009.

In addition to his clinical practice, he is actively involved in national neurosurgical training programs, contributing to the education and development of future neurosurgeons in Malaysia. Fluent in both Bahasa Malaysia and English, he is well-regarded for his expertise and dedication to advancing neurosurgical care.

Dr. Albert Wong is the Head of the Neurosurgical Services in KKM. His clinical focus includes spine and vascular neurosurgery, alongside clinical innovations, audits, and teaching.

Dr. Albert Wong has published 38 papers in national and international peer-reviewed journals. His goal as HOS is to improve the accessibility and efficiency of neurosurgery services nationwide, support subspecialties, and enhance opportunities for both patients and younger neurosurgeons, especially at regional centers.

Dr. Azmi Alias is the Head of Neurosurgery at Tunku Abdul Rahman Neuroscience Institute and Hospital Tunku Azizah. He chairs the National Safe Surgery Saves Lives Steering Committee and serves on several national committees, including the POMR and Medical Qualifying Committee (Neurosurgery). An honorary lecturer for postgraduate neurosurgery at Universiti Sains Malaysia and University of Malaya, he is also active with the World Academy of Neurological Surgery and International Society for Minimally Invasive Techniques in Neurosurgery. He has held leadership roles in the Asian Australasian Society for Neurological Surgeons and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.

Prof. Dr. Benedict Marius Selladurai is a Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at Ara Damansara Medical Centre and Subang Jaya Medical Centre, and a former Professor of Neurosurgery at UKM. His subspecialty interests include epilepsy surgery, neurotrauma, and pituitary surgery. He authored the highly acclaimed book "Head Injury: A Comprehensive Guide for Initial Management" and contributed to "Emergency Neurosurgery: Core Knowledge and Safe Clinical Practice".

Prof. Dr. Benedict has delivered notable orations such as the Dr. P.S. Ramani Oration by the Neurotrauma Association of India and received several awards including the Sir A M de Silva Oration and Gold Medal. His neurotrauma research has been cited in major guidelines for severe head injury. He is a faculty member at international meetings and has been an invited speaker at prestigious institutions, including the Department of Neurosurgery, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford.

Prof. Dr. Karlsson Bengt Gunnar earned his M.D. from the Karolinska Institute Medical School in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1980, and his Ph.D. from the same institute in 1996. He began as a Neurosurgery Consultant at Karolinska Hospital in 1988.

He served as Assistant Director and Director of the Karolinska Gamma Knife Center from 1991 to 2001, then led the Gamma Knife Center at Goethe University Frankfurt until 2004. From 2004 to 2009, he was Head of Gamma Knife and a Full Professor of Neurosurgery at West Virginia University.

Since 2009, Prof. Dr. Gunnar has been the Director of the Singapore Gamma Knife Centre and a visiting consultant at National University Hospital in Singapore. His research impact includes an H-index of 35 and an i10-index of 57. He has been a visiting professor at institutions such as Armed Forces Hospital Riyadh, University at Buffalo, and Cleveland Clinic.

Prof. Dr. Brian Chiu is an esteemed neurosurgeon with extensive expertise in spinal surgery, minimally invasive procedures, and trauma care. He holds a Ph.D. from the Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine at National Defense Medical Center and an EMBA from National Taiwan University. Prof. Dr. Brian Chiu earned his MD from China Medical University.

He currently serves as an attending physician at China Medical University Hospital and is the Chief of the Neurosurgical Department at Taichung and Changhua hospitals under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Additionally, he is the Chief of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and an assistant professor at the Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences at China Medical University.

Graduating from Kolej Pembantu Perubatan Kuching with a Diploma in Pembantu Perubatan in 2003, he completed his post basic training in Neuroscience at KSKB Sg Buloh in 2009. His career began in the Emergency Department at Hospital Serian, Sarawak, from 2003 to 2004, followed by work at Klinik Kesihatan Kakus in Bintulu until 2010. Since then, he has served as the AMO In-Charge of Neurosurgery at Sarawak General Hospital.

Prof. Dr. Chun-Chung Chen earned his medical degrees and PHD from China Medical College and specializes in Neurosurgery. He is an Associate Professor and Chief of Neurosurgery at China Medical University Hospital, with extensive experience in Taiwan and the USA.

Prof. Dr. Stanley Hao-Yu Chuang is an esteemed neurosurgeon with extensive expertise in Brain tumor, spinal surgery, and cell therapy. Prof. Dr. Stanley Chuang earned his MD from China Medical University in Taiwan, and he also holds a Ph.D. from the Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine at China Medical University.

He currently serves as an attending physician at China Medical University Hospital and is the Chief of the surgical Department at China Medical University Yun-Lin Hospital, and the Chief of the Neurosurgical Department and Translational Cell Therapy Center at China Medical University An-Nan Hospital.

Additionally, he is the Vice Superintendent of Neuroscience and Translational Cell Therapy Center at China Medical University An-Nan Hospital, and on assistant professor of the school of medicine and Biomedical engineering at China Medical University.

With 12 years of experience in critical care, SN. Cornellia Tan is a dedicated nurse currently pursuing a Master of Medical Science at the University of Malaya. She is committed to delivering evidence-based care to critically ill and ventilated patients and leads a team of nurses to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Her extensive experience includes presenting at national and international conferences on topics such as aneurysms, traumatic brain injury (TBI), hemorrhagic events, and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention. She also holds numerous certifications in Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, and clinical practices.

Dr. Davendran is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with a focus on skull base and minimally invasive endoscopic/ keyhole neurosurgery and pituitary surgery. Following his Masters in Neurosurgery for which he received a Gold Medal, he underwent his fellowship in Skull-base and MINS and Pituitary surgery under world renowned surgeon, Prof Daniel Kelly in USA. He has a particular interest and expertise in brain, skull-base, and pituitary tumours for which he applies the keyhole concept, utilising advanced neuroimaging and microsurgical techniques to minimise collateral damage to the brain.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) & the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) alongside an active member of the NASBS, NAM and is involved in various research/clinical studies and publications to date.

Dr. Donald Liew Ngian San graduated with an MBBS from the University of Malaya in 1996. He completed his FRACS in Neurosurgery in 2005 and further specialized with a Fellowship in Radiosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh in 2009.

AMO. Erizam Saidin has over 20 years of experience in neurosurgery, having joined KKM in 2000. He completed his Diploma Pembantu Perubatan (1997–2000) and furthered his training with a Pos Basik in Sports Medicine (2006–2007) and a Pos Basik in Neuroscience Care (2009). Since 2015, he has served as a local preceptor for the Advanced Diploma in Perioperative Sub Neurosurgery program.

Prof. Dr. G P Dureja is a distinguished former Professor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where he established the first Pain Management Clinic in 1986. He later founded the Delhi Pain Management Centre in 2005, which now boasts eight branches across India. In 1999, he organized the first live interventional pain management workshop for Asia and Pacific delegates.

Prof. Dr. Dureja is the author of six books and has published 243 articles in indexed journals. He has trained 2,860 professionals from various specialties, including neurosurgery, orthopedics, anesthesiology, neurology, and rehabilitation, in both basic and advanced pain management techniques.

A neurosurgeon from Melaka, he trained under the national postgraduate neurological surgery programme and has dedicated nearly two decades to the Department of Neurosurgery in Sarawak. He holds an AO spine fellowship and has received specialized training in minimally invasive spinal procedures in Taiwan.

Recently relocated to Melaka, he now leads pioneering neurosurgical services in the region, offering treatments for head trauma, neurovascular conditions, minimally invasive spine surgery, neuro-oncology, CNS infections, pediatric neurosurgery, and hydrocephalus. He is also actively involved in research and has published scientific papers in medical journals.

Dr Lester Lee is a Consultant Neurosurgeon in the National Neuroscience Institute in Singapore and currently provides care to patients in Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Changi General Hospital.

In addition to general neurosurgery, Dr Lee is also subspecialised in skullbase and spine surgery. He is well versed in minimally invasive techniques for both brain and spine surgery. During surgery, he frequents uses both circular retractors as well as the endoscope to accomplish his minimally invasive surgical goals.

His current academic interests include minimally invasive brain surgery and robotic spine surgery as well as other minimally invasive spine techniques.

Prof. Dr. Iype Cherian is the Director and Chair of the Nobel Institute of Neurosciences at Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital (NMCTH) in Biratnagar. He is the Counselor General for the Asian Congress of Neurological Surgeons (ACNS) and manages their educational courses.

He invented Cisternostomy, a novel technique for severe head injury now widely accepted. Dr. Cherian is a visiting faculty member for ACNS and the World Federation of Neurosurgery (WFNS), where he teaches advanced neurosurgical techniques. He also serves on the WFNS Anatomy Committee and reviews for several neurosurgery journals.

Prof. Dr. Cherian completed a neurovascular fellowship at Fujita Health University, Japan, in 2009, and earned his MCh in Neurosurgery from CMC Vellore (2002-2006). He obtained his MBBS from Kottayam Medical College (1993-1999).

Professor Dato' Dr. Jafri Malin Abdullah is a leading figure in Neurosciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia, where he chairs the Brain and Behavior Cluster. He received the Young National Malaysian Scientist Award in 1999 and the Top Research Scientist Award in 2013. His research spans neuro-oncology, CNS tuberculosis, epilepsy, and neuro-ethnopharmacology, with additional focus on neuroinformatics and neurotechnologies.

He has established advanced labs for MRI, EEG, and other neuroimaging techniques and is the Chief Editor of the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences. He also initiated Asia's first Integrated Doctor of Neurosciences Programme and a joint Psychology and Cognitive Neurosciences Programme. Since 2001, he has educated 132 neurosurgeons at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Dr. Lim Swee San obtained his Master in Neurosurgery from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2013 and advanced his training in functional neurosurgery at Mahidol University’s Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2017, focusing on movement disorders and pain. He is a certified Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgeon from KKM.

He started the Functional Neurosurgery Services at Sarawak General Hospital, where he performs neuromodulation procedures, epilepsy surgery for both adults and children, and awake craniotomy, in addition to general cerebral and spinal neurosurgery. Outside of his professional life, he is an enthusiastic deep-sea and jungle stream sport fishing angler.

Dr. Low Peh Hueh graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2004, followed by an MBBS from International Medical University in 2009. She completed her Master of Surgery in Neurosurgery at Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2018 and received a Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2023.

In 2022, she was awarded the FIENS-Bassett Fellowship and undertook an International Travelling Fellowship in Pediatric Neurosurgery at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, mentored by Professor Michael Levy. Since 2018, Dr. Low has served as a neurosurgeon at Sarawak General Hospital and has been based in Miri Hospital since 2021 to establish neurosurgical services in Northern Sarawak.

Dr. Mohammed Azman Mohammad Raffiq has dedicated 20 years of service to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, including a decade as a neurosurgeon. He is specialized in skull base and brain tumor surgery, with additional training in spine surgery. Since 2020, he has been the Head of the Neurosurgery Department at Penang General Hospital.

He is also a Board of Examiner Member for the Masters of Neurosurgery program at MOH Malaysia and served as a neurosurgeon at the Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, from 2013 to 2020. Notably, he was the Organizing Chairman of the Penang International Neurosurgery Congress 2022 and is involved in spine surgery and awake craniotomy for brain tumor procedures at the Penang Neurosurgery Department.

Dr. Muhammad Ihfaz Ismail is a dedicated Neurosurgeon committed to providing the highest level of patient care and passionate about advancing student development through teaching. Specializing in brain and spine neurological pathologies, he is keenly interested in further subspecialty training in skull base, pain management, spine intervention, and neurovascular surgery. He is also actively seeking new opportunities and networking avenues to expand his expertise and embrace future challenges in the field of neurosurgery.

Dr. Nelson Yap Kok Bing, originally from Sarikei, Sarawak, graduated as a neurosurgeon from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2019. By 2020, he became the Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at Sibu General Hospital, overseeing a 30-bed neurosurgical ward. With a keen interest in neuro-spine surgery, he completed a 3-month fellowship in minimally invasive spine surgery at Wooridul Hospital, Seoul, in 2023. Dr. Yap has authored seven publications and is the founder and president of the Neurosurgical Association of Sibu Hospital (NASH). He is dedicated to advancing neurosurgical services in Central Sarawak.

Matron Noorliana Noordin has dedicated 26 years to service in the Ministry of Health. She earned her Diploma in Nursing from the College of Nursing Kuala Lumpur (1995–1998) and specialized in Midwifery Division I from the same institution (2004). She completed a Post-Basic Course in Perioperative Nursing at KSKB Sg Buloh (2008) and obtained her Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) from UiTM Puncak Alam (2011–2014).

She is an active member of various committees, including the SSSL at KKM and is the Chief Auditor for internal audits at HKL. She has also served as the Deputy Chairperson of the Malaysian Nurses Association, Federal Territory Branch. Her experience includes a neurosurgical nursing attachment at Fujita Health University Hospital in Nagoya, Japan, and she has been a speaker at neurosurgical conferences in Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Nepal, and India.

Matron Paula Candida Anak Joseph Jantan is a seasoned nursing professional with a Diploma in Nursing (1996) and a Degree in Nursing (2015). She began her career as a Staff Nurse at Sibu Hospital from November 1996 to September 1999. Since October 1999, Paula has been with Sarawak General Hospital, where she served as a Staff Nurse until 2011, then as a Nursing Sister until 2022. She currently holds the position of Matron U36 in the Neurosurgery HDU at Sarawak General Hospital, overseeing critical care and management in the department.

Dr. Prabu Rau Sriram is a consultant neuro and spine surgeon based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. He earned his medical degree and Master’s in Neurosurgery from Universiti Sains Malaysia and received a fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (FRCS). He completed advanced training in open and endoscopic skull base and pediatric neurosurgery at Oxford, UK. He is skilled in managing complex neurosurgical cases and has made significant contributions to the field through numerous publications and presentations, both locally and internationally.

Dr. Rahmat Harun Haron is a Consultant Neurosurgeon at Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, where he has been serving since 2016. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Otago, New Zealand, in 2000 and completed his Neurosurgery training at Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2009. He has worked at various KKM facilities, including Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kota Kinabalu.

He specializes in acute stroke management and is a member of the TICH research group in Malaysia. Additionally, he collaborates in multidisciplinary case management with ENT and maxillofacial teams and performs lateral skull base surgeries, including regular translabyrinthine procedures.

Dr. Ravi Krishnapillai completed his neurosurgical training at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, UK, where he obtained the FRCS (SN). After returning to Malaysia, he worked as a consultant neurosurgeon at Hospital Kuala Lumpur. In 2003, he transitioned to private practice.

He pursued specialized training in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery at both Pittsburgh and Cleveland Clinic, and further clinical training under Prof. Dr. Roberto Martinez in Madrid, Spain. Currently, he serves as a consultant neurosurgeon at Sunway Medical Centre, focusing on Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. He is a Fellow of the College of Surgeons Edinburgh and an active member of the Neurosurgical Association of Malaysia.

Dr. Regunath Kandasamy is a Consultant Neurosurgeon based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with nearly 18 years of experience in the field. He specializes in spinal surgery and holds an MBBS from the University of Malaya, membership with the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, and an MS in Neurosurgery from Universiti Sains Malaysia. Dr. Regunath has contributed significantly to the field through numerous publications in international peer-reviewed journals. His primary interests are in neurosurgery and spinal surgery.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rekaya Vincent Balang is an Associate Professor at the Department of Nursing and currently serves as the Deputy Dean for Student Affairs & Alumni at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UNIMAS. A registered nurse with the Malaysian Nursing Board (No: 47514), he earned his BSc (Hons.) in Nursing from UNIMAS, a Master of Nursing from the University of South Australia, and a PhD in nursing practice and professionalism from the University of Huddersfield, UK.

He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning from UNIMAS. Since joining UNIMAS in 2001, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rekaya has worked in various nursing roles, including Trauma OT and Mental Health. His research interests encompass nursing practice, professionalism, education, mental health, and medical-surgical nursing.

Dr. Saiful Azli Mat Nayan is currently the Head of the Neurosurgical Department at Hospital Sg Buloh and the Head of Neurosurgical Services for Selangor. With 17 years of experience as a consultant neurosurgeon, he specializes in epilepsy surgery and neuro-modulation procedures.

He is a trainer for the Area of Interest (AOI) in Functional Neurosurgery for KKM and serves as a trainer and examiner for the Master in Neurosurgery programs at USM, UM, and UKM. He has been actively involved in the National Epilepsy and DBS programs since 2010 and has performed nearly 100 anterior temporal lobectomies during this time.

Prof. Dr. Sarun Nunta-Areeis currently working in the Division of Neurosurgery at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok. He earned his M.D. from Siriraj Hospital in 1991 and obtained the Thai Board of Neurosurgery in 1994. He furthered his qualifications with the Japanese Board of Neurosurgery in 2001 and completed his Ph.D. at Osaka City University in 2002.

His fields of interest include craniobasal surgery and movement disorder surgery.

Prof. Dr. Takayuki Hara graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1995 and earned his doctorate in medicine in 2003. He is currently the Director of Neurosurgery at Toranomon Hospital in Tokyo, specializing in cerebrovascular and skull base surgeries. His recent interests include hybrid treatments combining direct surgery with endovascular techniques, as well as open craniotomy and endoscopic surgery.

Dr. Aaron Tan Yew Chin is a Consultant Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon specializing in biportal endoscopic spine surgery and pain management. After completing his MBBS in Malaysia, he began his career at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Dr. Tan has furthered his expertise through training in Japan, Thailand, Korea, and China, focusing on minimally invasive spine techniques.

Currently practicing at Bagan Specialist Centre in Penang, he is dedicated to advancing patient care. Renowned for his work in pain management, Dr. Tan also contributes to the field through teaching, research, and international speaking engagements, always with a focus on patient-centered care.

Professor Dr. Tang Ing Ping has completed fellowships in otology, neurotology, lateral skull base surgery, rhinology, and advanced endoscopic skull base surgery. He is the Past President of the Malaysian Society of Otorhinolaryngologists Head and Neck Surgeons (MSO-HNS), and the current President of the Sarawak ENT Society and Sarawak HEAR.

Dr. Tang has published extensively and authored books and chapters on skull base surgery. Over the past decade, he has performed hundreds of ear implants. He is currently a Professor at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and a senior consultant at Sarawak General Hospital, with additional roles as a visiting consultant at Borneo Medical Centre and Timberland Medical Centre in Kuching, Sarawak.

Dr. Toh Charng Jeng is the Head of Neurosurgery and a Consultant Neurosurgeon, Endoscopic Spine Surgeon, and Interventional Pain Specialist at Sunway Medical Centre. He served as Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the National University of Malaysia and Consultant Neurosurgeon at UKM Medical Centre from 2007 to 2022.

He is the founding President of the Malaysia Society of Endoscopic Spine Surgery and the Immediate Past-President of the Malaysia Society of Interventional Pain Practitioners. Dr. Toh holds an MBBS from Manipal Medical College, an MS in Neurosurgery from Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Fellowships in Neurosurgery and Interventional Pain Practice. His interests include skull base surgery, minimal invasive neurosurgery, neuro-modulation, and endoscopic spinal surgery.

Dr. Vinodh is the head of neurosurgery at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan in Pahang, with a special focus on spinal disorders and pain management. He has published extensively in prestigious scientific journals and received international grants for his research and presentations.

Alongside his neurosurgical practice, Dr. Vinodh is passionate about medical law and ethics, having completed a Master of Law (LLM) in Health Care & Medical Law. He frequently emphasizes the importance of preventing medical negligence and upholding ethical standards in healthcare.

Prof. Dr. Zamzuri Idris graduated from the University of Wales College of Medicine in Cardiff, UK, and completed his postgraduate training in Neurosurgery at USM. In 2007, he furthered his expertise with a fellowship in Neuroendoscopy, Functional Neurosurgery, and Epilepsy at Gent University, Belgium.

He is currently the head of the Department of Neurosciences, with a focus on minimally invasive neurosurgery, precision radiation therapy, brain trauma, epilepsy, awake brain surgery, brain mapping, and stimulation. Recently, his research interests have expanded to include Quantum Brain and Plasma Physics and Brain Thermodynamics. He has published extensively and authored 17 chapters in international books.