Collaboration

AMDI USM Makes History with Its First-Ever Fulbright Specialist Program

MOHD KHAIRUL AKMA BIN DARWIS

Published : 02 July 2025

Group photo after Sharing session with postgraduate students in ARC

IPPT USM AND PPUSM, July 2 2025 -

USM, 4 July 2025 – The Fulbright Specialist Program (Malaysia Edition), hosted by Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI) of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in collaboration with the Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE), concluded a successful three-week engagement from 19 June to 4 July 2025. This prestigious program featured Professor Dr. Kebret Kebede Theodore from Nevada State University, USA, as the appointed Fulbright Specialist. Marking a significant milestone, this initiative is the first Fulbright Program ever held at AMDI USM. The initiative was led by our dedicated AMDI lecturer Dr. Siti Hawa Ngalim as the project leader, with the overarching theme of “Bone Health – Bioeconomy”. This three-week program aimed to foster international collaboration, elevate biomedical research, and promote public awareness on bone health issues in Malaysia.

Photo By Fulbright Specialist Photo By Fulbright Specialist Program
Prof. Dr. Kebret Kebede delivering his presentation to postgraduate students Public awareness talk at Pusat Perubatan USM Bertam

The program commenced in Week 1 with a Stakeholder Engagement Session on 19 June 2025, held at USM@KL, Kuala Lumpur. This session brought together a wide range of stakeholders including academics, researchers, healthcare professionals, and representatives from public agencies and industry. Discussions focused on the integration of bone health research within Malaysia’s national bioeconomy agenda, highlighting the urgent need for innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions to address the growing burden of bone-related diseases. The event emphasized the importance of aligning healthcare innovation with sustainable economic development and policy planning. In Week 2, the program continued at USM’s Main Campus in Penang with another stakeholder engagement session held on 25 June 2025 at Nest@USM, following a similar agenda to the discussions conducted in Week 1.

The final week, Week 3, took place from 2 to 4 July 2025 at AMDI USM and focused on community engagement and student outreach. One of the main highlights was the Bone Health Awareness Program, a public event designed to educate the local community on the importance of bone health that held on 2 July 2025 at Pusat Perubatan USM Bertam (PPUSMB). The program included a variety of engaging activities such as interactive booths, educational colouring contests for children, trivia and quizzes for youth and adults, and practical demonstrations on nutrition and physical activity for maintaining strong bones. These activities attracted families and the general public that visited the PPUSMB, transforming the hospital’s public space into a dynamic educational hub.

Alongside the community program, two exclusive academic sharing sessions were conducted with AMDI postgraduate researchers, on 3 July. These sessions provided students with the opportunity to engage directly with Prof. Dr. Kebret Kebede, ask questions, and explore clinical perspectives on bone health and musculoskeletal disorders. Topics ranged from orthopaedic innovations and surgical approaches to preventive care and international best practices. The sessions were well-received, with many participants expressing appreciation for the rare opportunity to learn from an internationally renowned expert within a local setting.

A partnership and collaboration dialogue was held on the final day of Week 3, 4 July 2025, between the AMDI USM management team and Prof. Dr. Kebret Kebede. The session served as a strategic discussion on potential future collaborations, focusing on areas of mutual interest in research, academic exchange, and capacity-building. The inclusion of key representatives from TalentCorp and academia further enriched the dialogue, bringing forward a forward-thinking perspective on aligning academic initiatives with industry needs which particularly in preparing graduates for a more competitive and future-ready workforce.

The three-week Fulbright Specialist Program successfully bridged international expertise with local aspirations, advancing USM’s mission to be a leader in global engagement, medical research, and community health education which aligned with USM’s slogan “WE Lead”. It also showcased the power of the Fulbright Program in promoting mutual understanding, fostering academic excellence, and building long-term partnerships between Malaysia and the United States.

Photo By Fulbright Specialist Program
Partnership session conducted between AMDI management and Prof. Dr. Kebret Kebede, which also attended by TalentCorp representative.

USM and AMDI extend their heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed Fulbright Specialist, Prof. Dr. Kebret Kebede, MACEE, Fulbright Malaysia, Centre for Development of Academic Excellence of USM for the match funding, International Mobility and Collaboration Centre of USM for visa arrangements and all collaborating institutions, stakeholders, and participants and of course our dedicated committee members who contributed to the program’s success. The university looks forward to continuing this momentum through future initiatives that support innovation, knowledge exchange, and societal impact.