What is your role at your work?
I am a family physician and a senior consultant in a primary care clinic. I am an academic teaching postgraduate students and leading research projects in the field of hypertension. I’m collaborating with organisations and societies in community projects to improve cardiovascular health in Malaysia.

How did you get interested in your career path?
I was inspired by my mentor, who is the leader in hypertension in Malaysia. Moreover, in my clinical practice in primary care, hypertension affects my patients’ quality of life and burdens the healthcare system. Hence, I’m interested in pursuing my research interest in hypertension to improve cardiovascular health in Malaysia.

What are you most proud of in your career or otherwise?
I was listed as the 2021 top 2% scientist award in my university. I was elected as an ISH Women in Hypertension Committee member as well as a council member for the Malaysian Society of Hypertension.

What important career challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
As a researcher in a low-middle income country, lack of funding to establish a hypertension registry/dataset that represents the local population is a challenge. Therefore, I collaborate with senior researchers from other countries to gain more experience analysing big data and exploring future collaboration in grants application.

What advice would you give your younger self?
Find a mentor who will guide and enlighten you in the academic path. Never say “No” to the opportunities offered in front of us. Please join ISH- Women in Hypertension Research Network as it encourages, supports and inspires women in science and medicine in the field of hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases.

What are your most significant research contributions and publications?
1) Validation of the Framingham general cardiovascular risk score in a multiethnic Asian population: a retrospective cohort study
2) Validation of the pooled cohort risk score in an Asian population–a retrospective cohort study
3) Prevalence and risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus in Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
4) Validation of a Malay version of the smartphone addiction scale among medical students in Malaysia
5) Complementary alternative medicine use among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the primary care setting: a cross-sectional study in Malaysia

Have you had any significant career mentors?
I am very lucky to have Professor Chia Yook Chin as my career mentor. She coached me well when I started my academic career. She encouraged me to work hard, be meticulous in research methodology and generate impactful clinical research.

How can we support the next generation of women scientists?
We can invite them to collaborate and publish papers together by providing data analysis and academic writing guidance. Subsequently, I would encourage them to present their work at international conferences and proceed with publication. With our encouragement and support, I hope more women scientists will further their postgraduate study and embark on hypertension research.