The Dr Wu Lien-Teh Society, Penang

08/05/2026

18th National Conference for Clinical Research in conjunction with 2026 Clinical Research Malaysia Trial Connect

It is once again the time of the year for another meaningful gathering in collaboration with the Institute for Clinical Research Malaysia - formerly known as CRC. Since establishing the Dr Wu Lien-Teh Research Award in Penang in 2015, and renewing our MoU twice over the years, we have truly treasured the friendship, trust, and strong bond built together.

This year, we were delighted to have a booth showcasing our books for fundraising purposes, alongside beautiful postcards prepared as souvenirs for participants. It was heartening to see continued interest in Dr Wu Lien-Teh’s remarkable life and contributions. His story as a plague fighter, public health pioneer, and humanitarian continues to inspire many across generations.

We remain deeply grateful for the enduring friendship and collaboration between the Dr Wu Lien-Teh Society and the Institute for Clinical Research, and we look forward to continuing our shared commitment towards advancing research, public health, and medical history.

Congratulations to Clinical Research Malaysia for a successful 2026 CRM Trial Connect and ICR for another great NCCR!

19/04/2026

Thank you to Mr Ian McIntyre from the Vibes. We appreciate your presence and coverage for the event yesterday.

Dr Dzulkifli Abdul Razak urges universities to prioritise humanity, compassion and real-world engagement over rigid systems and profit-driven goals

18/04/2026

“Healthcare is not just about systems—it’s about people.”

From breaking silos to putting humanity, heart, and high-touch back into care, Prof Dzulkifli’s lecture challenged us to rethink what sustainable public healthcare really means.

We have had an interactive session today, with visitors from as far as IIUM, Kuantan. Our session was made lively not only by the guest of honour, our President, Dato' Seri Dr Anwar Fazal welcomed all visitors warmly and had a thoughtful remark for closing, calling all of us to adopt the 3C in order to improve healthcare (Conscience, Courage and Competence).

There are several quotes and remarks from the 10th Annual Public Lecture for our reflections:

“It is no longer about livelihood. It is about life.”
“We are human beings first, professionals second.”
“Universities have knowledge—but communities have wisdom.”
“If you cannot sympathise, you cannot serve.”
“We are not just digital natives—we are spiritual beings.”
“Silos create separation; systems create solutions.”
“Education without values is education without soul.”
“Don’t just study problems—go where they exist.”

“Turns out the best classroom… isn’t a classroom.”
“You can’t solve real problems from air-conditioned theories.”
“Maybe the future of healthcare starts outside the hospital.”
“Less PowerPoint, more ground work.”
“Sustainable healthcare: not just high-tech, but high-touch.”

Heartfelt thanks to Penang Institute for hosting the event and everyone for making this event a success!

18/04/2026

“From Livelihood to Life”: Dzulkifli Calls for Human-Centred Revolution in Public Healthcare

What does it really take to build sustainable public healthcare?

At the 2026 Dr Wu Lien-Teh Annual Public Lecture, Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dr Dzulkifli Abdul Razak offered a clear answer: start with people—not systems, not technology, and certainly not silos.The topic resonates well with the celebration of World Health Day in April 2026.

Receiving the Dr Wu Lien-Teh Award for Leadership in Public Health, Professor Dzulkifli delivered a thought-provoking lecture that challenged conventional thinking in healthcare and education.

At the heart of his message was a simple but powerful shift:
“It is no longer about livelihood. It is about life.”

Reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, he argued that many existing systems—particularly in healthcare and education—remain fragmented, overly technical, and disconnected from the realities of the communities they serve.

Instead, he proposed a stepwise approach anchored on three key transformations:
From silos to systems
From knowledge to lived experience
From technology-driven to human-centred care

He introduced the idea of moving beyond the traditional “3M” model—manpower, mindset, machine—towards a more meaningful “3H” framework:
humanity, heart, and high-touch.

In practice, this means embedding empathy, compassion, and ethical responsibility into healthcare systems—values often overlooked but essential for long-term sustainability.

One of the most striking examples shared was a large-scale initiative involving university students working directly within communities. Instead of learning solely from textbooks, students were required to identify real problems and develop practical solutions on the ground.

The results were significant:
Over 15,000 students mobilised
More than 600 community projects implemented
Over 10,000 individuals positively impacted

“Before this, we learned about poverty in air-conditioned rooms,” one student reflected. “On the ground, we realised the real problems—and sought for the real solutions.”

Professor Dzulkifli also highlighted the concept of Sejahtera—a holistic vision of well-being that integrates physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health—as a foundation for sustainable public healthcare.

His message was clear:
True transformation does not begin with policy documents or technology—it begins with reconnecting systems to people, and people to purpose.

03/04/2026

Heartiest congratulations again to Prof! 🎊🎉🌻

Congratulations to Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak for receiving the 5th Dr Wu Lien‑Teh Award for Leadership in Public Health 2026! Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dzulkifli served as the 6th Rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) from 1 August 2018 to 31 August 2024. He was President of the International Association of Universities (IAU) from 2012 to 2016, and Chairman of the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Board of Directors from April 2016 to September 2018.

19/03/2026

🎇We are very proud to announce that Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak * as the recipient of the 5th *Dr Wu Lien-Teh Award for Leadership in Public Health 2026 !🎆🥳

We cordially invite you to attend this year named Annual Public Lecture and the award ceremony to celebrate his success, in conjunction with Dr Wu Lien-Teh's 147th birthday anniversary.

Date: 18th April 2026, Saturday
Time: 2:00 – 5:00pm (Registration starts at 1pm)
Venue: Penang Institute, 10 Brown Road, 10350 George Town
Organisers: The Dr. Wu Lien-Teh Society and Penang Institute

Registration Link:
(For Physical Attendance) https://bit.ly/WLT-2026

Note: Entrance to this event is FREE. No refreshment will be provided.

Do come and join us for this inspirational lecture and celebrate Dr Wu's birthday at Dr Wu Lien-Teh Garden at Penang Institute!

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
Academician Prof. Em Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak will deliver his lecture "Stepwise Approach Toward Sustainable Public Healthcare".

Synopsis:
Sustainable Development is a global agenda, namely Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 3 specifically focuses to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Including public health as a critical component to healthcare globally. To ensure that SDGs are integrated firmly in public healthcare practices in fulfilling Agenda 2030, a stepwise approach is proposed as a tried and tested initiative at a local campus. In addition, a long-forgotten indigenous concept (sejahtera) was reintroduced. The presentation will share and elaborate on the action taken for implementation.

See you!

Sincerely yours
The Dr Wu Lien-Teh Society, Penang

10/03/2026

🎊Remembering Dr Wu Lien-Teh on his 147th Birthday🎉

Today marks the 147th anniversary of the birth of Dr Wu Lien-Teh (伍连德医生) — a visionary physician, scientist and public health pioneer whose work changed the course of epidemic control and saved countless lives.

His courage and scientific leadership as the Plague Fighter reshaped modern public health and remains a powerful reminder of how knowledge, compassion and dedication can protect humanity.

On this special day, the Society proudly remembers and honours his enduring legacy.

May his life continue to inspire future generations to serve humanity with wisdom, courage and compassion.

🥳Happy Birthday, Dr Wu Lien-Teh. 🌿🎂💐

05/02/2026

Covered by The Star

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/02/04/dr-wus-legacy-lives-on-at-hmu

GEORGE TOWN: Despite 100 years since the founding of Harbin Medical University (HMU) in China by Penang-born physician Dr Wu Lien-Teh, his legacy continues to receive international recognition.

Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said Dr Wu’s legacy remains a living bond between the state and Harbin, linking Malaysia and China through shared achievements in medicine, epidemic control and public health innovation.

“Founded a century ago, Harbin Medical University carries forward its mission across generations, and its origins are inseparable from the life and work of Dr Wu, who was born in Penang.

“He later devoted more than three decades of his career to public health in China,” Wong said in his welcoming address at the “Dr Wu Lien-Teh’s Spirit: A Living Bond Between Penang and Harbin” session held here yesterday.

Dr Wu was born in Penang in 1879 and later founded HMU in 1926. He passed away in 1960 at the age of 81.

He was the first ethnic Chinese to obtain a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Cambridge before going on to gain global prominence during the pneumonic plague outbreak in Northeast China between 1910 and 1911.
The plague claimed about 60,000 lives before Dr Wu helped bring it under control.
Following the epidemic, Dr Wu continued his public health work in China and went on to found Harbin Medical College.
He returned to Penang in 1937 after his residence in Shanghai was destroyed during the war, ending a 30-year career in China.

In recounting Dr Wu’s achievements, Wong said it was Dr Wu who identified the outbreak in China as the pneumonic plague and introduced a series of scien­ce-based containment measures.
He added that this led Dr Wu to design a simple protective gauze mask, later known as the Wu mask, which is widely regarded as the forerunner of today’s medi­cal masks and N95 respirators.
“At a time when there was little understanding of droplet transmission, his insistence on perso­nal protection and quarantine measures helped stop the epide­mic,” Wong said.
Also critically implemented by Dr Wu was his decision to implement cremation to eliminate sources of infection, despite strong social resistance.
This proved successful in containing the outbreak in China by March 1911, Wong added.
He said that Dr Wu’s contributions are well honoured in Penang, including the establishment of the Dr Wu Lien-Teh Society of Penang in 2010, as well as the naming of Jalan Dr Wu Lien-Teh and Taman Wu Lien-Teh.
He also said the bronze statue of Dr Wu at the Penang Institute, presented by HMU in 2014, symbolised the enduring ties between the university and Penang.

During the session, HMU students and delegates thanked the medical institution, now one of the best in the area.

GEORGE TOWN: Despite 100 years since the founding of Harbin Medical University (HMU) in China by Penang-born physician Dr Wu Lien-Teh, his legacy continues to receive international recognition.

03/02/2026

https://www.enanyang.my/news/20260203/State/1154668

掌管槟州旅游及创意经济行政议员黄汉伟指出，哈尔滨医科大学即将迎来建校100周年的重要里程碑，而这所大学与槟城之间的关系渊源流长，因为其创立者正是现代医学的重要先驱伍连德医生。...