UK Medical Body Awards Fellowship To Local Surgeon
By Wani Abdul Gapar

Bandar Seri Begawan - A Bruneian specialist doctor has been awarded an honorary fellowship by an academic organisation in the United Kingdom for general practitioners.

Dr Zulkarnain Hanafi, 39, an otorhinolaryngologist head and neck surgeon, was recently conferred the title Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners due to his vision, leadership and very active diplomacy that led to the remarkable growth of the discipline of family medicine in Brunei Darussalam.

The award was given during the Royal. College of General Practitioners Spring General Meeting on May 18 in London. The fellowship is the highest honour that the Royal College can bestow on an individual not in the general practice (family medicine) profession.

It is awarded for distinguished contributions to the work of the Royal College, which include improving care in general practice or influencing the work of general practitioners in the UK or in another part of the world.

"It was largely due to the vision, leadership and very active diplomacy demonstrated by Dr Zulkarnain, as dean of medicine at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), that the trajectory of establishing the discipline of family medicine in Brunei has been so impressive," said a citation read by Dr John Howard, medical director of the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners International or MRCGP International.

Dr Zulkarnain qualified from Liverpool University and subsequently underwent specialist training in ear, nose and throat surgery. On his return to Brunei, he rapidly established himself as a much respected clinician and head of department at the Ripas Hospital. Almost immediately he became the clinical tutor, introducing innovative programmes for hospital staff and general practitioners. Dr Zulkarnain was appointed dean of UBD's newly-formed Institute of Medicine in 2000.

A key role for Dr Zulkarnain has been to plan and facilitate the development of the undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development programmes, according to the Royal College.

"I first became acquainted with Dr Zulkarnain in 2000 when, through colleagues at St George's Hospital Medical School, the Royal College was asked to consider the accreditation of the Brunei Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care with the MRCGP International," said Dr Howard.

"This subsequently became only the second MRCGP International accredited site internationally. Within a few years of recruiting and training extremely able young doctors, vocational training has been established with a summative assessment, being taught and examined by those selfsame young Brunei family doctors."

He added: "Dr Zulkarnain has been a driving force in setting up the undergraduate medical programme at UBD. We anticipate that Brunei can act as a centre of excellence for the Southeast Asia Pacific Region, supporting the development of family medicine in other countries sharing similar healthcare issues.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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