Congratulations to Patrick Peng Wee Yao on Successfully Completing His Doctor of Public Health Viva Voce

We are delighted to share the success of Patrick Peng Wee Yao on the completion of his Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) viva voce. His thesis, titled “Association of Psychosocial Work Factors and Voice Disorders Mediated by Psychological Distress Among Secondary School Teachers,” marks a significant contribution to public health research and occupational health.

Patrick’s research addresses a critical issue in the teaching profession – voice disorders, which are often overlooked but can have significant impacts on educators’ well-being and performance. His work explores the association between work psychosocial factors (such as occupational stress, supervisor and coworker support) and voice disorders, with a particular focus on the mediating role of psychological distress.

This research is particularly significant for teachers, one of the largest occupational groups relying on their voices for work. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing both psychosocial and mental health factors to improve teachers’ vocal health.

Patrick’s study provides a strong foundation for:

• Policy recommendations: Recognizing voice disorders as occupational diseases.
• Workplace interventions: Implementing programs to reduce psychological distress and enhance workplace support.
• Future research: Exploring additional risk factors and adopting longitudinal study designs.

We would like to acknowledge the guidance and support provided by his supervisors, Prof. Dr. Moy Foong Ming and Professor Dr Victor CW Hoe, as well as the expertise of his examiners, Professor Dr Kamarul Imran Musa from the Universiti Sains Malaysia and Dr Rama Krishna Supramaniam.

The viva session, chaired by Prof Dr Tan Maw Pin, and supported by Professor Dr Azlina Amir Abbas representing the Deputy Dean for Postgraduate and Dr Bala Murali Sundram representing the Head of Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine.

We extend our heartiest congratulations to Patrick Peng Wee Yao on this outstanding achievement. His work is a testament to his dedication and commitment to advancing public health knowledge and improving the well-being of educators.

We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and look forward to his continued contributions to the field.