Congratulations to Datuk Dr. T. Devaraj for being listed in the World Medical Association’s 100 Caring Physicians of the World. He is the Chairman of the Penang Hospice Society and the Vice-Chairman of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, Penang Branch. His work with cancer patients is truly selfless and commendable. This recognition is well-deserved. His contribution to both organisations and his compassion to those under his care is altruism at its highest level. In her last days, Mum had the privilege to be under his care. He was gentle, soft-spoken and reassuring. I am sure she was consoled by his kind words. I was. Well done Dr. Devaraj! God bless you.
The following is the article in today’s The Star:
Doctor does country proud Malaysian recognised as a caring physician
ALOR STAR: Datuk Dr T. P. Devaraj has done Malaysia proud. He is the first and only Malaysian to be listed in the World Medical Association’s 100 Caring Physicians of the World.
Although there is an allocation for 100 personalities, recognition was given to only 65 physicians from 55 countries.
A panel of judges selected physicians who have demonstrated humanity and the core values of medicine in performing their duties based on nominations submitted by national medical associations.
Penang Medical Association chairman Dr Goh Eng Leong said such recognition was a great honour to the medical fraternity here.
The Malaysian Medical Association recently held a ceremony at the Penang Club to celebrate Dr Devaraj’s achievement.
Dr Devaraj is known for his charitable work in aid of cancer patients.
He is the Penang Hospice chairman, and National Cancer Society of Malaysia branch vice-chairman.
World Medical Association (WMA) immediate past president Dr Yank Coble, who initiated the Caring Physician initiative, expressed hope that the physicians’ remarkable stories would help restore pride, passion, enthusiasm and optimism among the medical practitioners.
The book was launched in Santiago, Chile, on Oct 12 during the WMA annual assembly.
Physicians profiled in the book include Mamphela Ramphele of South Africa who was imprisoned for her anti-apartheid political activities, John Awoonor-Williams from Ghana for single-handedly serving a vast remote region and Valentin Pokrovsky for being the first in Russia to instil awareness on HIV infection and AIDS.
Also included in the book are Sister Lucia Yu from Korea who spent more than two decades in Kenya to attend to patients suffering from malaria and tuberculosis and Nanshan Zhong who played a vital role during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in China in 2002.
The book was published with the support of the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative.
Related entry:
Malaysian Medical Resources – Caring Physicians of the World