Two Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidates, Dr Tan Cia Vei and Dr Gowri Mutthumanickam, from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, received Best Presenter Awards at the 9th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health (APCPH 2026). Dr Tan was recognised in the oral presentation category, while Dr Gowri received the award in the poster presentation category. The conference was held from 6th to 8th July 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru and featured 270 scientific presentations, comprising 75 free-paper oral presentations and 195 poster presentations.
Their achievements reflect the quality, relevance and impact of public health research undertaken by Universiti Malaya’s Doctor of Public Health candidates.
Organised by the College of Public Health Medicine, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, APCPH 2026 was held under the theme “Closing the Public Health Gap through Technology, Partnership & People”. As the College’s flagship biennial conference, APCPH brought together public health professionals, researchers, policymakers, academics, and practitioners to exchange knowledge, strengthen collaborations and address emerging public health challenges. There was a total of 800 participants from 15 different countries.
Recognising Women’s Reproductive History in Diabetes Prevention
Dr Tan Cia Vei was recognised as one of the recipients of the Best Oral Presentation Award for her presentation entitled:
“Menopause, Gestational Diabetes, and Type 2 Diabetes in Malaysian School Teachers.”
Her research was conducted under the supervision of Professor Dr Moy Foong Ming and Professor Dr Noran Naqiah Mohd Hairi.
The presentation shared findings from a prospective cohort study involving female schoolteachers from the Malaysian cohort study on health and lifestyle risk factors among teachers (CLUSTer). The research examined the incidence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and assessed whether women’s reproductive characteristics were associated with risk of developing the disease. By following women over time, the research was able to establish the temporal relationship between menopause and previous gestational diabetes and the later development of Type 2 diabetes.
The recognition received by Dr Tan reflects the relevance of her research to women’s health and non-communicable disease prevention in Malaysia. It also demonstrates the value of longitudinal cohort research in generating locally relevant evidence to guide public health policy and clinical practice.
Translating Occupational Health Knowledge into Workplace Practice
Dr Gowri Mutthumanickam was recognised as one of the recipients of the Best E-Poster Award for her presentation entitled:
“Bridging Knowledge to Practice: Effectiveness of a Hearing Conservation Program among Palm Oil Mill Workers—A Pilot Study.”
Her research was conducted under the supervision of Dr Rama Krishna Supramanian and Professor Dr Mas Ayu Said.
Dr Gowri’s study addressed an important occupational health concern among palm oil mill workers, routinely exposed to hazardous industrial noise. This workplace condition places them at risk of developing occupational noise-related hearing disorder, a condition that is permanent but largely preventable through a comprehensive Hearing Conservation Program.
Her pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a tailored, multimodal information, instruction and training element of a Hearing Conservation Program designed to translate hearing conservation knowledge into daily workplace practice. Using practical, engaging tools, the intervention strengthened workers’ knowledge, attitudes and hearing conservation practices. Guided by the message, “From Training Room to Mill Floor: Normalising Hearing Conservation Practice,” the study demonstrates how occupational health education can translate into meaningful action at the workplace. The study was supported by a multi-stakeholder collaboration, reflecting the shared responsibility of workers, employers, occupational health professionals and relevant agencies in preventing occupational noise-related hearing disorders.
This recognition highlights the importance of student research that not only identifies occupational health risks but also develops practical solutions to prevent irreversible harm. Dr Gowri’s research reinforces a fundamental principle of occupational health: occupational diseases are preventable and must be addressed early before resulting in a permanent impairment.
Advancing Public Health Research Through DrPH Training
The accomplishments of Dr Tan and Dr Gowri demonstrate the extensive scope of applied public health research conducted by DrPH candidates at Universiti Malaya. Their presentations also illustrated a core feature of Doctor of Public Health training: translating scientific evidence into actionable strategies to improve population health.
These achievements highlight the Department’s ongoing commitment to advancing impactful, locally relevant public health research. They also focus on developing future public health leaders who generate meaningful evidence, communicate findings effectively, and translate research into practical solutions for real-world health challenges.
Recognition at APCPH 2026 provided both candidates with an opportunity to share their work with a wider professional audience, receive feedback from experts, and contribute Malaysian evidence to regional public health discussions. Their success also reflects the important role of academic supervision and institutional support in guiding postgraduate researchers from the development of a research question to the dissemination of findings.
The department congratulates Dr Tan Cia Vei and Dr Gowri Mutthumanickam on their commendable achievement and wishes them continued success in their academic and career pursuits. Their recognition represents a proud milestone for the candidates, their supervisors, and Universiti Malaya, while reaffirming the value of research that connects evidence with meaningful public health action.
This write-up was prepared by Dr Tan Cia Vei and Dr Gowri Mutthumanickam, DrPH Batch 2023/2024, from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
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