Faculty of Medicine

Master Of Paediatric Surgery (MPAEDSURG)

Paediatric surgeons in Malaysia manage neonatal and paediatric surgical conditions from the newborn period to the age of twelve years. For some clinical conditions, management continues until adolescence. The scope of practice encompasses disorders involving the gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, thoracic, urological, vascular, and endocrine systems, and the oncological conditions related to these systems. Burns, polytrauma and transplant surgery may also require the expertise of paediatric surgeons. The ultimate objective of the Paediatric Surgeon is to facilitate a full and healthy life for their patients.

The Master of Paediatric Surgery programme is available to prospective trainees after a minimum of two years in clinical practice following their basic medical degree. The programme duration is a minimum of four years and additionally provides the basis for further sub-specialisation in areas such as urology, complex minimally invasive surgery, oncology, trauma surgery and organ transplantation surgery.

Programme Educational Objectives (PEO)

This training programme aims to produce paediatric surgeons who:

PEO 1. Deliver safe, effective and patient-centred surgical services by practising evidence based medicine and applying up-to-date medical/surgical knowledge and surgical techniques.

PEO 2. Demonstrate professionalism and adherence to core principles of ethical conduct in personal and interpersonal development, whilst making a commitment to lifelong learning.

PEO 3. Demonstrate leadership qualities that will contribute to the development of clinical services, research activities and training, both local and internationally.

Programme Learning Outcomes (PLO)

There are eight learning outcomes for the programme. These are shown below. At the end of this programme, trainees should be able to:

PLO 1. Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts and recent advances in medicine and paediatric surgery to provide safe, optimal and evidence-based cutting-edge patient care.
Corresponds to MQF Cluster 1: Knowledge and Understanding

PLO 2. Apply knowledge to generate novel approaches and solutions to complex conditions.
Correspond to MQF Cluster 2: Cognitive Skills

PLO 3. Demonstrate mastery of clinical and technical surgical skills in the management of paediatric surgical conditions.
Corresponds to MQF Cluster 3: Functional Work Skills – Practical Skills

PLO 4. Communicate with empathy and transparency effectively, ethically and professionally with patients and all stakeholders in the care team.
Corresponds to MQF Cluster 3: Functional Work Skills – Interpersonal and Communication Skills

PLO 5. Employ technological resources and enhance research activities to improve patient care.
Corresponds to MQF Cluster 3: Functional Work Skills – Digital and Numeracy Skills

PLO 6. Demonstrate inclusive leadership in clinical, research and academic matters to enhance paediatric surgery services.
Corresponds to MQF Cluster 3: Functional Work Skills – Leadership, Autonomy and Responsibility

PLO 7. Integrate new knowledge gained through lifelong learning to enable development of the area of specialisation.
Corresponds to MQF Cluster 4 - Personal and Entrepreneurial Skills

Demonstrate professional values, attitudes and ethical conduct in all interactions involving patients and stakeholders.
Corresponds to MQF Cluster 5: Ethics and Professionalism

Career Pathways

Career opportunities for qualified paediatric surgeons are good, both in the public and academic sectors. Paediatric care in Malaysia is currently limited by the lack of sufficient numbers of paediatric surgeons countrywide. To address this and in line with the future needs identified for Malaysia, an increase in the number of trained paediatric surgeons will improve the quality of paediatric surgical care, provide optimal working conditions for surgeons, and open pathways for sub-specialisation.

Course Structure

The Master of Paediatric Surgery programme is a clinical Masters programme that comprises coursework and a research component.

The programme of study is divided into 2 stages, Stages I and II.

Stage I (Basic Clinical Training) focuses on the development of competencies in applied basic sciences and general principles of paediatric surgery. This stage takes place in Year 1 of the Master of Paediatric Surgery programme. At the end of Year 1, trainees are required to sit for the Part I of the Master of Paediatric Surgery Examination. Trainees may only progress to Stage II on the satisfactory completion of Stage I and after passing the Part 1 Examinations.

Stage II consists of Advanced Clinical Training and a research project. The minimum period in which the trainee can successfully complete the programme (Stages I and II) is four years and the maximum period permitted is seven years.

Trainees may graduate from the programme upon fulfilling the following criteria:-

submission of a research project deemed satisfactory by the evaluation panel
satisfactory completion of Stage II and
passing the Part 2 Examination at the end of Stage II.

Meet our Faculty

Get to know us at: https://umpaedsurg.my/who-we-are/

Language Requirement

A non-Malaysian applicant whose degree is from a university or institution of higher learning where the medium of instruction for that degree is not the English language will be required:-

To obtain a score of 600 for a paper-based total (PBT), a score of 250 for a computer based total (CBT), or a score of 100 for an internet-based total (IBT) for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); – OR
To obtain a band of 6 for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic)

Entry Requirement

Applicants to the postgraduate training programme must meet the requirements as detailed below both in terms of the entry as well as the funding criteria as appropriate. Applicants funded by the Ministry of Health (MOH), and applying to University programmes, must meet both MOH and University requirements to be considered for an entrance evaluation. Self-funded applicants only need to meet the requirements of the programme and institution to which they apply.

MOH Administrative requirements:

Has a minimum of two years’ clinical service after completion of house officer rotations.
Scored 85% or more on annual performance evaluations for three consecutive years.
Does not have any disciplinary issues.
Has a written recommendation from two supervising consultants.

University requirements:

Holds a degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, or equivalent medical qualification, as recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council.
See Language requirements

Other requirements:

Qualifies for registration as a medical practitioner under the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) of Malaysia.
Has at least two years of relevant experience following full registration with the Malaysian Medical Council at the time of entry.
This experience may include working in surgical specialties and paediatric medical specialties.
A minimum of 6 months should have been spent in general surgery.
Evidence of the ability to safely perform the required Entry Essential Learning Activities (ELA) as listed in Appendix 1 of the Paediatric Surgery Training Guide (Link to NPMC document on FOM website will be included here). A minimum of 6 months prior experience in a paediatric surgical unit is highly recommended.
Satisfies a recognised Entrance Evaluation in the institution responsible for the programme.
Undergoes a minimum of six months’ clinical attachment in a Malaysian paediatric surgical department prior to entry into advanced surgical training (for international applicants).

Intake Session

Once a year in the month of June.