9th APCPH Scientific Programme

07:30–08:00

REGISTRATION

08:00–11:00

SPARK Sessions (Parallel)

SPARK Session 1 | Grand Ballroom 1 | Track: People & Technology

From Evidence to Action: Implementation Science for Public Health Impact

• Dr. Rumana Akhter Saifi — Senior Lecturer, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya
• Prof. Frederick Lewis Altice — Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases), Yale School of Medicine

Chairperson: Dr. Na’eemah binti Zaini | Co-Chairperson: Dr Deventhari Ramanaidoo

SPARK Session 2 | Grand Ballroom 2 | Track: People & Equity

Moderator : Prof. Dr. Victor Hoe Chee Wai bin Abdullah — Head of Department, Social and Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya

Public Health Medicine Competency Framework: From Training to Excellence, Strengthening Competencies for Future-Ready Practice

• Dr. Ahmad Faudzi Yusoff — Consultant Public Health Medicine Specialist, CD Epidemiologist, Vice President of College of Public Health Medicine, Academy of Medicine Malaysia
• Dr. Ismuni bin Bohari — Deputy Director General of Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia
• Prof. Dr. Sanjay Rampal A/L Lekhraj Rampal — Executive Director, Department of Research Development, Universiti Malaya; Education Committee, Malaysian Medical Council

Chairperson: Dr. Huzaimah binti Husin | Co-Chairperson: Dr Nadrah binti Abdul Rahim

SPARK Session 3 | Grand Ballroom 3 | Track: People & Equity

Beyond the Numbers: Qualitative Approaches in Public Health Research

• Dr. Anisah binti Baharom — Medical Lecturer, Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Chairperson: Dr Hadita Sapari | Co-Chairperson: Dr Muhamad Redzuan bin Jokiram

SPARK Session 4 | Junior Ballroom | Track: People & Technology

Machine Learning in Public Health

• Dr. Jason Vivek Jayaraj — Deputy Director (Analytics & Informatics), Digital Health Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia

Chairperson: Dr Rahayu binti Othman | Co-Chairperson: Mr. Wan Mohd Ikhtiaruddin

SPARK Session 5 | Meeting Room | Track: Climate & Environment

Human Health Risk Assessment

• Lt. Kol. Bersekutu (PA) Dr. Afiqah Syamimi Masrani — Medical Lecturer, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM)
• Fascilitators:
  • Dr Nor Sujaihah binti Mohd Hanafi – Senior Principal Assistant Director, Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Johor State Health Department
  • Dr. Md Faizul bin Abd Razak – Epidemiology Officer, Johor Bahru District Health Office

Chairperson: Dr. Mohd Hafiidz bin Baharudin | Co-Chairperson: Mr. Yusralhakim Yusoff

11:00–11:30

Refreshment and Networking

Poster Session

11:30–13:00

Keynote Address and Opening Ceremony

Main Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom, Meeting Room

“Closing the Public Health Gap Through Technology, Partnership & People”

Guest of Honour: YB Dato’ Hajjah Hanifah Hajar Taib — Deputy Minister of Health, Malaysia

13:00–14:00

Lunch Break and Networking

Poster Session

14:00–15:00

Plenary 1 | Main Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom, Meeting Room | Track: People

Community Power and Public Health: The Person at the Centre

Speaker: Dato’ Dr. Feisul Idzwan bin Dato’ Mustapha – Director of Health, Perak State Health Department

Chairperson: Dr Muhamad Hazizi Bin Muhamad Hasani | Co-Chairperson:  Dr Rozita binti Abdul Rahman

15:00–15:30

Special Session | Main Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom, Meeting Room |

Speaker: Prof. Dato’ Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman – Chief Executive Officer of Monash University Malaysia; Co-chair & Chairman, Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) Board of Trustee

Chairperson: Dr Wong Liang Tung | Co-Chairperson:  Dr Nazmeen Adline Fawwazah bt A Fauzi

15:30–16:00

Refreshment and Networking

Poster Session

16:00–17:30

Parallel Symposia

Symposium 1 | Grand Ballroom 1 & Grand Ballroom 2 | Track: Equity
Digital Inclusion and Health Equity

• Prof. Dr. Shamsul Azhar Shah, Professor of Epidemiology and Statistics, Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia — “Designing Inclusive Digital Health Platforms: Ensuring Equity in Health“
• Dr. Jessica Watterson, Senior Lecturer, Digital Health, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University; Senior Lecturer, Department of Human Centred Computing, Monash University (Malaysia/Australia) — “Using Co-Design to Promote Digital Inclusion and Health Equity“
• Dr. Wong Min Fui @ Esther, Health System Researcher, Centre for Health Policy Research, Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health — “Digital Inclusion for Marginalised Populations: Technology-Enabled Reform in Prison Healthcare“

Chairperson: Dr. Mohd Rahim bin Sulong | Co-Chairperson:  Dr Aashvini A/P Prakash Rao

Symposium 2 | Grand Ballroom 3 | Track: Technology

AI and Disease Forecasting in the Global South

• Prof. Raina MacIntyre, Head, Biosecurity Research Program, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales Medicine and Health — “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Real-Time Disease Surveillance“
• Dr. Sarbhan Singh A/L Lakha Singh, Head, Biomedical Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health — “From Prediction to Preparedness: AI Applications in Public Health Decision-Making“
• Prof. Dr. Jamalludin bin Ab Rahman, Dean of the Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia — “Ethical and Policy Challenges in AI-Driven Disease Forecasting“

Chairperson: Dr. Asnida binti Anjang Ab Rahman | Co-Chairperson:  Dr  Seetha Selvaraju

Symposium 3 | Junior Ballroom | Track: People

Moderator: Prof. Vicknasingam B Kasinather, Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Humanising Public Health: Advancing Harm Reduction for Health and Hope

• Dr. Mark Tyndall, Former Director of the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control and Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada — “Bridging Evidence and Policy: The Roadblocks to Tobacco Harm Reduction“
• Dr. Anita Suleiman, President and Founder, Harm Reduction Action Network (HaRAN); Former Director of Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia — “Harm Reduction in HIV: Lessons from Asia for a More Inclusive Public Health“
• Prof. Dato’ Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Chief Executive Officer of Monash University Malaysia; Co-chair & Chairman, Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) Board of Trustee — “The Human and Financial Cost of the War on Drugs“
• Dr. Syed Sher Al Jaffree, — “Financing Harm Reduction: Investing in Better Health”

Chairperson: Dr. Khalsom binti Samsudin

Co-Chairperson:  Dr Fatin binti Ismail

Symposium 4 | Meeting Room | Track: Climate & Environment

Planetary Health, Climate Resilience, and Public Health

• Dr. Bala Murali A/L Sundram, Senior Medical Lecturer, Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya — “Planetary Health Thinking for Future-Ready Public Health Systems“
• Dr. Thahiratul Asma’ binti Zakaria, Deputy Director (Non-Communicable Disease) Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia — “Climate Change and Environmental Health Risks: Malaysia’s Experiences“
• Dr. Zulhizam bin Hj. Abdullah, Director of the Public Health Development Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia — “Strengthening Public Health Workforce and Systems for Climate-Resilient Health“

Chairperson: Dr Wan Noraini binti Wan Mohamed Noor | Co-Chairperson:  Dr Nik Fatin Farhana binti Mohd Rahhim

07:30–08:00

REGISTRATION

08:00–09:30

Parallel Symposia

Symposium 5 | Grand Ballroom 1 & Grand Ballroom 2 | Track: Equity

Building Trust in Data Sharing and AI Use in Public Health

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dhesi Baha Raja Selva Raja, Associate Professor & Consultant Public Health Medicine Specialist, Monash University Malaysia Chair, Digital Health Society of Southeast Asia (Malaysia Chapter) — “Bridging Public and Private Healthcare Through EHRs Across Asia Pacific”
• Dr. Wan Kim Sui, Head, Centre for Non-Communicable Disease Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health — “Integrating Health Data for Precision Public Health”
• Prof. Dr. Sanjay Rampal A/L Lekhraj Rampal, Executive Director, Department of Research Development, Office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Universiti Malaya; Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health — “Ensuring AI in Public Health Does Not Widen the Gap through Algorithmic Justice“

Chairperson: Dr Khairul Hafidz Alkhair bin Khairul Amin | Co-Chairperson:  Dr Aashvini A/P Prakash Rao

Symposium 6 | Grand Ballroom 3 | Track: Technology

Building Integrated Health Ecosystems: Translating Public–Private–Academic Partnerships into Scalable Population Health Solutions

• Gs Lily Hamaddah binti Ramle, Senior Assistant Director, Research and Development Division, PLANMalaysia — “Planning for Health: The Role of Urban Design in Building Integrated Population Health Ecosystems”
• Dr. Hjh. Yatela Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer, Yayasan Sime Darby — “Public-Private Partnerships in Health Sector Innovation”
• Prof. Jonty Heaversedge, Clinical Director, Chief Clinical Informatics Officer in Population Health Office of NHG Health, Singapore — Designing for Impact: Implementing AI for Sustainable Health System Change”

Chairperson: Dr. Mohd Faiz bin Ibrahim | Co-Chairperson:  Dr. Seetha Selvaraju

Symposium 7 | Junior Ballroom | Track: People

Cross-Border and Global Health Security

• Dr. Thilaka A/P Chinnayah, Programme Area Manager for Country Health Emergencies, World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) — “Beyond Borders: Risk Readiness and Workforce Resilience for Global Health“
• Dr. Nor Sujaihah binti Hanafi, Senior Principal Assistant Director, Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Johor State Health Department — “Beyond Kim-Kim: Rethinking Environmental Toxicology and Emergency Preparedness in Industrial Corridors.”
• Dr. Hazlin bt Abu Bakar, Kota Tinggi District Health Officer, Kota Tinggi District Health Office — “Health in the Fast Lane: Public Health Collaboration in Pengerang’s Industrial Rise”

Chairperson: Dr. Zamzaireen binti Zainal Abidin | Co-Chairperson:  Dr Fatin binti Ismail

Symposium 8 | Meeting Room | Track: Climate & Environment

Resilient Health Systems Planning for the Future

• Dr. Siti Noraida Binti Jamal, Deputy Director, Health Facility Planning Section, Planning Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia — “Closing the Gap: Using Strategic Facility Planning to Drive Service Integration and System Reform”
• Dr. Rima Marhayu binti Abdul Rashid, Head of Sector, Family Health Branch, Family Health Development Division, Ministry of Health — “Integrated Service Delivery: The Pathway to a Stronger, Resilient Health System”
• Dr. Ahmad Fairudz bin Jamaluddin, Director of the National Climate Centre (NCC), Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) — “Enhancing Health System Resilience Through Climate-Driven Early Warning Systems”

Chairperson: Dr Zaahirah binti Mohammad | Co-Chairperson:  Dr Nik Fatin Farhana binti Mohd Rahhim

09:30–10:00

Refreshment and Networking

Poster Session

10:00–11:00

Forum 1 | Main Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom, Meeting Room | Track: Technology & People

Moderator : Prof. Dr. Victor Hoe Chee Wai bin Abdullah, Head of Department, Social and Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya

Digital Public Health Transformation: Ensuring No One is Left Behind

• Dr. Maheshwara Rao Appannan — Director, Digital Health Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia
• Brigadier General Prof. Dr. Mohd Arshil Moideen (Rtd) — Head, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia
• Madam Laili binti Ismail — President, PERTIWI

Chairperson: Dr Noor Aizam bin Mohd Said | Co-Chairperson: Dr Muhammad Haikal bin Ghazali

11:00–12:00

Plenary 2 | Main Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom, Meeting Room | Track: People & Technology

Funding the Future of Public Health: Public–Private–People Partnership

Dr. Ismuni bin Bohari, Deputy Director-General of Health (Public Health), Ministry of Health Malaysia

Chairperson: Dr Sunita binti Abdul Rahman | Co-Chairperson: Dr Rozita binti Abdul Rahman

12:00–13:00

Lunch Talk: Sponsored by Camber Laboratories Sdn Bhd

Public health implications of the next generation antiretroviral therapy in Malaysia

Dr Sathya Rao Jogulu, Consultant Family Medicine Specialist, Klinik Kesihatan KL

Chairperson: Dr. Khalsom binti Samsudin | Co-Chairperson: Dr. Nazmeen Adline Fawwazah bt A Fauzi

13:00–14:00

Lunch Break and Networking

14:00–15:00

Forum 2 | Main Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom, Meeting Room | Track: Climate & Environment

Moderator : Dr. Jeyanthini Sathasivam, Senior Principal Director, Communicable Disease Unit, Johor State Health Department
Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Integrating Climate Action into Public Health

• Prof. Dr. Mazrura binti Sahani — Honorary Professor, Center for Toxicology and Health Risk Research (CORE), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); Professor, Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
• Dr. Rohaida binti Ismail — Head, Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health Malaysia
• Madam Kamisah binti Mohd Ghazali — Head, Livability & Community Division, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA)

Chairperson: Dr Mohammad Fadzly Bin Marzuki | Co-Chairperson: Dr Muhammad Haikal bin Ghazali

15:00–15:30

Refreshment and Networking

Poster Session

15:30–17:00

Parallel Free Paper Oral Presentations
Sessions 1–5 running concurrently across five breakout rooms

Oral Presentation 1 | Grand Ballroom 1 | Communicable Diseases

Chairperson: Izzat Izzudin bin Kamarudin | Co-Chairperson: Dr Deventhari Ramanaidoo

Oral Presentation 2 | Grand Ballroom 2 | Communicable Diseases, Non-communicable Diseases, Health Promotion

Chairperson: Dr Muhammad Alfatih Bin Pahrol | Co-Chairperson: Dr Nadrah binti Abdul Rahim

Oral Presentation 3 | Grand Ballroom 3 | Health Care Management, Family Health

Chairperson: Dr Nor Hazimah bte Rosle | Co-Chairperson: Dr Muhamad Redzuan bin Jokiram

Oral Presentation 4 | Junior Ballroom | Occupational Health, Environmental Health, Disaster and Health

Chairperson: Dr Gowri Mutthumanickam | Co-Chairperson: Mr. Wan Mohd Ikhtiaruddin

Oral Presentation 5 | Meeting Room | Technology and Health, Social and Behavioral Health, Implementation Science

Chairperson: Dr Farah Nurulhuda Binti Anuar | Co-Chairperson: Mr. Yusralhakim Yusoff

07:30–08:00

REGISTRATION

08:00–09:30

Parallel Free Paper Oral Presentations
Sessions 6–10 running concurrently across five breakout rooms

Oral Presentation 6 | Grand Ballroom 1 | Communicable Diseases

Chairperson: Dr Ng Wei Meng | Co-Chairperson: Dr Deventhari Ramanaidoo

Oral Presentation 7 | Grand Ballroom 2 | Communicable Diseases, Non-communicable Diseases, Health Promotion

Chairperson: Dr Wan Nur Deeni binti Wan Ali | Co-Chairperson: Dr Nadrah binti Abdul Rahim

Oral Presentation 8 | Grand Ballroom 3 | Health Care Management, Family Health

Chairperson: Dr Nurhanis Ahmran | Co-Chairperson: Dr Muhamad Redzuan bin Jokiram

Oral Presentation 9 | Junior Ballroom | Occupational Health, Environmental Health, Disaster and Health

Chairperson: Dr Rathiruba Selvaraju | Co-Chairperson: Mr. Wan Mohd Ikhtiaruddin

Oral Presentation 10 | Meeting Room | Technology and Health, Social and Behavioral Health, Implementation Science

Chairperson: Dr Then Moli Othayamoorthy | Co-Chairperson: Mr. Yusralhakim Yusoff

09:30–10:00

Refreshment and Networking

Poster Session

10:00–11:30

Parallel Symposia

Symposium 9 | Grand Ballroom 1 & Grand Ballroom 2 | Track: Equity

Strengthening Health Systems

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aidalina Mahmud, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia — “Redesigning Primary Health Care to Bridge Malaysia’s Economic Divide”
• Dr Muhammed bin Abdul Khalid, Adjunct Professor, Ungku Aziz Centre, Faculty of Economics at the University of Malaya; Research Fellow, Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia — “Inclusive Health Financing: Advancing Equity and Financial Protection for All”
• Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr. Awang Bulgiba, Epidemiologist and Health Informatician, Emeritus Professor in Epidemiology and Health Informatics, Fellow of Faculty of Public Health UK, Fellow of Public Health Medicine Malaysia — “Health Systems Strengthening, Data and Health Equity“

Chairperson: Dr Naffisah Othman | Co-Chairperson:  Dr Aashvini A/P Prakash Rao

Symposium 10 | Grand Ballroom 3 | Track: Technology

Innovations in Public Health Surveillance and Crisis Response

• Dr. Vivek Jason Jayaraj, Deputy Director (Analytics & Informatics), Digital Health Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia — “Digital Transformation in Disease Surveillance”
• Mr. Aymen Abdullah, Head of Mission, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Malaysia — “Epidemic Preparedness in Humanitarian Services”
• Dr. Thilaka A/P Chinnayah, Programme Area Manager for Country Health Emergencies, World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) — “Health Security for All: Integrating Equity into Public Health Emergency Preparedness.”

Chairperson: Dr. Muhammad Alimin bin Mat Reffien | Co-Chairperson:  Dr.  Seetha Selvaraju

Symposium 11 | Junior Ballroom | Track: People

Youth and Gender Health in a Digital World: Creating Psychologically Safe Work Environments

• Miss Pam Guneratnam, Founder of HumanKind Malaysia, Registered counsellor — “Psychological Safety for Youth and Women”
• Dr Catherine Thamarai Arumugam, Medical Lecturer, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya — “Clicks and Connections: Why the Future of Work Begins at Home?”
• Miss Nadira Ilana, Filmmaker & Youth Rights Activist, Founder of Telan Bulan Films — “Stories as Medicine: Narratives, Youth and Mental Health in a Digital Era”

Chairperson: Dr Loganathan Salvaraji | Co-Chairperson:  Dr Fatin binti Ismail

Symposium 12 | Meeting Room | Track: Climate & Environment

Strengthening Climate Resilience: From Urban Planning to Health Systems and National Policy

• Madam Kamisah binti Mohd Ghazali, Head, Livability & Community Division, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) — “Building Resilient Cities: Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into Johor’s Urban Planning”
• Prof. Dr. Rozita Hod, Head of the Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia — “Building Climate-Resilient Health Systems: Adaptation Strategies for a Warming World”
• Mr. Noor Akmar Shah Bin Mohd Nordin, National Coordinator, 2A00, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) — “National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change in Malaysia”

Chairperson: Dr Nabihah binti Ali | Co-Chairperson:  Dr Nik Fatin Farhana binti Mohd Rahhim

11:30–12:00

Networking Session

12:00–13:00

Lunch Talk — Sponsored by Novo Nordisk

Main Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom, Meeting Room

Quantity & Quality: Navigating Obesity Treatment Landscape with Semaglutide

Speaker: Dr Harpreet Kaur A/P Harnam Singh
Consultant Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital (Tebrau)

Chairperson: Dr Cheah Yong Xiang  | Co-Chairperson: Dr Nazmeen Adline Fawwazah bt A Fauzi

13:00–14:00

Lunch Break and Networking

Poster Session

14:00–15:00

Plenary 3 | Main Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom, Meeting Room | Track: Technology, People & Equity

From Policy to Practice: Cross-Sector Collaboration for Health, Safety and Community Well-being

Prof. Dr. Ervina Efzan Mohd Noor — Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Malaysia Multimedia University

Chairperson: Dr. Ahmad Hafiz bin Mohamad | Co-Chairperson: Dr Dina Nurfarahin binti Mashudi

15:00–16:00

Forum 3 | Main Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom, Meeting Room | Track: People & Equity

Moderator : Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr. Awang Bulgiba, Epidemiologist and Health Informatician, Emeritus Professor in Epidemiology and Health Informatics, Fellow of Faculty of Public Health UK, Fellow of Public Health Medicine Malaysia

Social Determinants and Cross-Sector Collaboration in Practice

• Dr. Shahrul Azian bin Hj. Masrom – Director, Makmal Kesihatan Johor
• Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus — President, MERCY Malaysia; Consultant Pulmonologist; Humanitarian & Healthcare Policy Expert
• Dato’ Dr. Hartini Zainudin — Co-founder Yayasan Chow Kit Malaysia; Child rights activist

Chairperson: Dr Amirul Akmal bin Sohor | Co-Chairperson: Dr Dina Nurfarahin binti Mashudi

16:00–17:30

Closing and Prize-Giving Ceremony
Main Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom, Meeting Room