Bridging Borders in Bone Health: First Week of Fulbright Specialist Program Kicks Off at USM@KL

The Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI) of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), was honoured to host the first week of the Fulbright Specialist Program – Malaysia Edition, which officially kicked off on 19 June 2025 at USM@KL, Kuala Lumpur. The inaugural session featured Fulbright Professor Dr. Kebret Kebede Theodore from Nevada State University, USA

Led by Dr. Siti Hawa Ngalim, this engagement focused on the theme “Bone Health – Bioeconomy”, and brought together a diverse group of Malaysian stakeholders, including academics, healthcare professionals, and researchers. The session fostered meaningful discussions around pressing challenges and emerging opportunities at the intersection of public health, biomedical innovation, and sustainable economic development.

Professor Dr. Kebret’s visit, conducted under the prestigious U.S. Fulbright Specialist Program, exemplified the power of international academic exchange in driving innovation, building capacity, and strengthening global collaboration.

This program was made possible through the generous support of the Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE Fulbright) (www.macee.org.my), under the banner of Fulbright Malaysia, in collaboration with AMDI USM.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Professor Dr. Kebret, MACEE, Fulbright Malaysia, and all participating stakeholders for their invaluable contributions and active engagement in making the first week of this series a great success. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Centre for Development of Academic Excellence (CDAE USM) for their generous provision of match funding, and to the International Mobility and Collaboration Centre (IMCC USM) for their dedicated assistance in managing the visa arrangements for our Fulbright Specialist.

Special thanks also go to AMDI USM for their steadfast support from the provision of facilities to the commitment of human resources as well as to USM@KL for warmly hosting the first week of the program and providing excellent venue support.

Following the event, Professor Dr. Kebret and members of the organizing committee had the opportunity to visit the MACEE headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, a wonderful occasion to strengthen institutional ties and personally express our appreciation for their ongoing support. Special thanks to Ms. Leena Rajagopal from MACEE for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality.

The Fulbright Specialist Program series continues in the coming weeks, and we look forward to building on this strong start to further foster global partnerships in health, science, and innovation.