Hailing from the small town of Bintulu, Sarawak, Dr. Eugene Wong is an accomplished consultant psychiatrist who has made a name for himself in the United Kingdom (UK)’s psychiatry sector through research, service improvement and various advisory roles.
His achievements gained recognition recently when he was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom.
Although he has been based in Scotland for 24 years, Dr. Eugene continues to foster his connection to his roots through food, friends, and hobbies.
Read on to learn more about what drew him to specialise in psychiatry, how he has contributed to the field, and his plans for making an eventual return home.
Venturing Abroad in Pursuit of Passion
“I have always found psychiatry fascinating, driven by my deep interest in the humanities and philosophy. Psychiatry explores the complexities of the human mind, especially in those in the depths of suffering, and seeks to lift them out of this using a combination of compassion and evidence-based treatment”,” said Dr Eugene when asked about what sparked his ambitions.
Dr Eugene went to school in SMK Bintulu, followed by A-levels at Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar in Peninsular Malaysia, which opened up avenues for further study in the UK. At the same time, he wanted to try living overseas and be independent. All these led him to the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, currently ranked 1st in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025 rankings, the move that marked the beginning of his international journey.
“I had culture shock at first but really enjoyed it in Scotland, so I stayed on. While it can be cold at times, with relatively bland food, the people are absolutely amazing,” he said.
Dr. Eugene’s decision to specialise in psychiatry also stemmed from his interest in understanding people’s struggles, especially those that are difficult to express. “ When facing mental health struggles, many people feel a sense of embarrassment when discussing their experiences, as these challenges are not as straightforward to convey as physical pain, such as a broken arm,” he explained.
Championing Mental Health in Scotland
After completing his housemanship in the North of Scotland, Dr. Eugene moved to Glasgow in 2008 to pursue specialist training.
Since then, he has practised as a Consultant Psychiatrist for over a decade, and is currently a Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist with the Hamilton Community Mental Health Team.
What has continued to fuel his motivation all this while is quite simply, a keen interest in people.
“My primary motivation is to gain a deeper understanding of people, their lives, the sources of their suffering, how they experience and cope with trauma and other factors influencing mental illness and put in interventions or strategies effectively aid them in their healing process,” he said.
Other than addressing this directly during face-to-face contact with his patients and their relatives, he also does this more widely via service development initiatives.
Besides that, Dr. Eugene gives a voice to NGOs and patients by being an advisor to various organisations that play an influential role in the standard of psychiatry services, such as the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
Staying Rooted in Malaysian Heritage
After all these years in Scotland, Dr. Eugene still maintains a strong connection to his Malaysian roots, and food has been integral to this connection.
“I’ve had to cook a lot of Malaysian food myself, because you can’t really get Malaysian restaurants in Scotland,” he shared.
YouTube tutorials have been a great help in this aspect, enabling him to master homegrown dishes like kampua (I just wanted to add this Sarawakian dish, hope that’s ok), char kuey teow, chicken rice and curry puffs.
He even proudly proclaims that he has gotten some of the dishes to taste as good as they do back home, which speaks volumes of his resourcefulness.
Besides cuisine, Dr. Eugene remains tethered to his roots through his church that he frequents with his wife and daughter. Whenever there are Malaysian students who come to Scotland for studies, just as he did all those years ago, he is also more than happy to show them around and help them navigate life in the UK.
Working Towards Returning Home
While it is clear he has made a home—and name—for himself in Scotland, these have not steered Dr. Eugene off his initial intent to return home eventually.
If anything, he is more motivated than ever to see it through, thanks to a deepening sense of homesickness and a desire to contribute to his homeland.
“My original plan was to come to the UK, get my medical degree, and then return to Sarawak,” he said. However, life had other plans, starting with the wait for his wife’s graduation, then his specialist training, followed by his wife’s own specialist training. By the time all these passed, the pair had already settled down and started a family.
Dr. Eugene is also inspired by fellow Malaysians who are moving back, of whom he said there are plenty.
“If I don’t take this chance, I might end up here forever,” he said.
Once he makes it back, his greatest wish is to reconnect with family and friends from his hometown and university.
Lending Expertise & Making a Change
Apart from nurturing bonds with loved ones, Dr. Eugene also looks forward to making a more tangible difference upon his return.
“I’ve been able to make a difference in many people’s lives in Scotland, and I would like to do that for my fellow Malaysians too ,” he shared.
He openly shared that, even after all his years in the UK, Malaysia still feels very much like home to him.
That said, he understands change does not happen overnight. Hence, he would like to get the ball rolling by exchanging knowledge with Malaysian healthcare experts.
From there, he will be better able to gauge what the system is like and assess how to lend his expertise.
Additionally, Dr. Eugene aims to work towards reducing the stigma around mental health struggles, and welcomes collaboration opportunities from Malaysia-based psychiatrists in doing so.
As of now, he has already put his plan in motion by registering with MyHeart, with which he plans to connect with fellow professionals, share insights and explore technology and knowledge transfers.
“I’m thinking of applying for the Returning Expert Programme and am in the process of registering with the Malaysian Medical Council,” he shared, highlighting his intent to fully reintegrate into Malaysia’s healthcare system.
For those wondering about venturing into psychiatry, Dr. Eugene has this to say, “ “Treating people isn’t fast or miraculous, like fixing a broken arm. Progress is much slower because the human psyche is complex, and it often involves addressing the whole person and their deeply rooted past experiences.”
“But, you get to be there for people when they’re at the worst place in their lives, and help them.”
Are you a Malaysian abroad hoping to connect with fellow experts in your field abroad or at home? Join MyHeart and get in touch with a global network of Malaysians working to make a difference.
