Sunway University has officially launched the Sir Jeffrey Cheah Sunway Medical School, marking a major milestone in Malaysia’s medical education landscape. The new school aims to train healthcare professionals with strong medical expertise, ethical values, leadership, and innovation to meet the demands of modern global healthcare.
The opening of the medical school follows the earlier establishment of the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre in Cambridge, further demonstrating Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah’s commitment to advancing education and biomedical research.
The launch ceremony, held at Sunway University on May 7, 2025, was officiated by the Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, and attended by Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah, Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group, along with several international ambassadors.
One of the key moments of the launch was the White Coat Ceremony for the school’s first cohort of medical students. As part of this symbolic rite of passage, the students took the Hippocratic Oath, formally marking their entry into the medical profession.
The university’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme offers a forward-thinking medical curriculum with strong clinical foundations. Students receive hands-on training at Sunway Medical Centre, one of the country’s leading private quaternary hospitals, where they learn to apply medical theory in real-life scenarios.
The programme also fosters inter-professional collaboration, encouraging students to work alongside a range of healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive patient care.
One of the distinguishing features of the Sir Jeffrey Cheah Sunway Medical School is its strong international partnerships. “We are proud to collaborate with prestigious institutions like Cambridge and Harvard Medical School,” said the Dean. “Our faculty is passionate about imparting knowledge and preparing graduates who are future-ready.”
The curriculum has been updated to include critical topics such as sustainable development and planetary health, reflecting the importance of addressing issues like climate change in healthcare education.
The medical school at Sunway University is also expanding rapidly to address the national shortage of doctors. After enrolling 30 students in its inaugural year, the school plans to admit 50 students this year, with ambitions to double that number in the near future.
Beyond traditional medical training, the school is placing a strong emphasis on research skills, aiming to produce more clinician-scientists who can contribute to medical research and clinical trials. “Malaysia needs more doctors who are also skilled researchers,” the Dean stated, citing recent achievements such as faculty publications in top international journals.
Malaysia’s higher education institutions—both public and private—play a crucial role in supporting the country’s agenda to enhance talent and upskill students.
Speaking at a recent event, the Minister highlighted that both public and private higher education institutions are working collaboratively to produce the skilled talent required for the country’s future.
“We have set clear targets for student intake from both sectors, and partnerships as those between UKM and Sunway University in medical education are key to meeting these goals,” the Minister explained.
With a progressive curriculum, world-class clinical facilities, and strong international partnerships—including those with Cambridge and Harvard—Sunway University aims to position the Sir Jeffrey Cheah Sunway Medical School as a leading centre for medical education in Asia.