“Obesity is a complex disease that requires a multifaceted and innovative approach.” With this in mind, Malaysian-born Gastroenterologist Dr. Karl King Yong and his team of passionate and innovative medical professionals performed the first Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG), a minimally invasive procedure which aims to treat obesity by reducing the size of the stomach, at the St Mary’s Hospital, after its approval from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE).
As a Consultant Gastroenterologist at St. Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK, he and his team take extra care to view the cases of their obese patients holistically. This means working closely with a Bariatric multidisciplinary team to formulate a personalised management plan to ensure the best possible outcome for each patient. This team includes Bariatric surgeons, Endocrinologists, Dietitians, Psychologists, Psychiatrists and coordinators who collaborate to decide the best clinical management approach for each patient. Dr. Yong states that it is crucial to manage a patient holistically; not just from their organic problem, but also the psychological aspects to achieve a sustainable success from Bariatric intervention, such as the Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty.
A good doctor vs. a great doctor
When asked what the most satisfying part of his job was, Dr. Yong replied without hesitation that it is when his patients express their satisfaction and gratitude following his interventions. He states that when choosing his speciality in medicine, he was interested in one with the right balance between inpatient and outpatient workload and one with plenty of practical procedures – that led him to the field of Gastroenterology.
In all his years of practising medicine, one question seems to keep popping up in Dr. Yong’s life: What’s the difference between a good doctor and a great one? He believes all great doctors have 4 key qualities: a vision for the future of healthcare, the ability to keep calm while making timely clinical decisions in stressful situations, the willingness to push boundaries, an eye for innovations that advance their fields and lastly, persistence in the wake of challenges.
Dr. Yong’s recent implementation of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty at St Mary’s Hospital is a brilliant case study in the exemplary work of medical professionals. The openness and bravery shown by him and his team in taking on this procedure have rightfully earned him the attention of notable news outlets including the BBC. However, this is only a sample of his plans to contribute to medicine. Some of his plans include bringing his knowledge back to his home country, Malaysia.
Internal Medicine Symposium: A symphony to Malaysians at home
Dr. Yong’s recent trip back to Malaysia involved his participation in Sunway Medical Centre’s Internal Medicine Symposium 2024 as a guest speaker. His session included sharing his knowledge of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) and Transoral Outlet Revision (TORe) procedures. His interest in contributing to Malaysia doesn’t end there, as he expresses his passion and excitement in his ability to contribute back to his home country by sharing the knowledge he’s gained from his years practising in the UK.
This perfectly illustrates what MyHeart stands for – Malaysians abroad who are interested in contributing their knowledge back home, such as Dr. Yong, can do so no matter where they are. Their skills are immensely appreciated and contribute to the overall ‘brain circulation’ in Malaysia. Malaysians who may be looking to share their knowledge while living abroad can find facilitations on MyHeart’s Collaboration initiative that can help them on their journey.
Though Dr. Yong had participated in Sunway Medical Centre’s symposium on his trip home, that wasn’t the main reason for his return – he came home to be at the birth of his first child.
The ‘birth’ of a new life back home
Dr. Yong has been living abroad for over 18 years, however, he remarks that he’s still a Klang Valley boy who’s Malaysian at heart. Although he may have lived in Western society for a long time, he still believes in certain traditions found in Malaysia. For example, after his wife had given birth, she was encouraged to undergo postpartum confinement – a common Eastern traditional practice of prioritising a woman’s recovery after childbirth.
He and his wife, who is also Malaysian, believed it was the best option to give birth to their son back home in the proximity of their friends and family.
As Dr. Yong prepares to enter a new chapter in his life, being surrounded by his loved ones, ensuring his wife has the best support while recovering and allowing his newborn to be surrounded by family in their developmental stages remind him that though the trip is short, it’s always good to be home.
If you’re a Malaysian abroad looking to share your expertise and contribute to your nation from wherever you are, register to the MyHeart portal to kick start a collaboration project today!
