Closing and Appreciation Ceremony of the Community and Family Case Study (CFCS) Program, School of Medical Sciences, USM, 2023/2024 Session

PASIR PUTEH, KELANTAN – The Community and Family Case Study (CFCS) the School of Medical Sciences (PPSP), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), for the 2023/2024 academic session, which took place in the Semerak District, Pasir Puteh, concluded with a Closing and Appreciation Ceremony held at the Operations Room, Pasir Puteh District and Land Office.

The ceremony was attended by YBrs. En. Mohd Khalis Syafiq bin Mohamad Nor, Deputy Chief of Pasir Puteh District, Associate Prof. Dr. Wan Zahiruddin Wan Mohammad, Head of the Department of Community Medicine representing the Dean of PPSP, Dr. Ahmad Filza Ismail, Coordinator of the CFCS Program, as well as Dr. Mustafa Ahmad, Penggawa of Semerak District, along with the village heads and community supervisors. The ceremony was officiated by YBrs. En. Mohd Khalis Syafiq bin Mohamad Nor.

The closing program aimed to express USM’s gratitude and appreciation to the community, especially the village heads, community supervisors, and Penggawa in the Semerak District, for their cooperation and involvement throughout the residency program. Their support and commitment were crucial in ensuring the smooth execution of the program, which also provided students with the opportunity to conduct research and engage with the community.

In his speech, Associate Prof. Dr. Wan Zahiruddin expressed hope that this program will continue to be an effective platform for students to master clinical and social skills in the field, aligned with the university’s objective of inspiring the ‘Service-Learning University Malaysia - University for Society’ (SULAM) initiative, introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT). He hopes this program will produce well-rounded medical graduates, excelling both academically and in soft skills.

The program coordinator, Dr. Ahmad Filza Ismail, also expressed his appreciation to all parties who worked closely with USM throughout the residency program. He mentioned that two student groups, Group 1 representing Mukim Air Tawar and Group 4 representing Mukim Dalam Rhu, were selected to present their research findings at the 16th Medical Undergraduates' Annual Scientific Research Meeting (MUASRM) 2024, where they won second and third place, respectively. He emphasized that such programs not only strengthen the bond between USM and the local community but also provide students with valuable exposure to understanding community health issues more deeply.

Meanwhile, in his speech, En. Mohd Khalis Syafiq expressed hope that the strong relationship between USM and the community, particularly between the students and their foster families, will continue to thrive. He also welcomed USM to conduct similar activities in the future, especially in the Pasir Puteh District.

This event was also held to acknowledge the sacrifices and dedication of all those involved in ensuring the success of the CFCS Program. Indeed, the close relationship between the university and the local community is one of the key strengths of this program, providing a positive impact on both parties.

A heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everyone who contributed to the success of this year's Community and Family Case Study Program.