Embedded Files
June 16, 2025- Shadowing in the Memory Clinic
Today, I shadowed Dr. Khor in the Memory Clinic and was able to observe 4 patient interactions. The first patient interaction was a follow-up appointment over the computer with an elderly woman and her daughter, who cared for her at home; Dr. Khor asked about the elderly patient's general well-being, and the daughter reported she had recently had a fall. She had some very lengthy concerns about the medication dosage, so Dr. Khor advised her to come in for an in-person appointment.
Dr. Khor then had to take a phone call, so I spent some time observing one of the clinic's occupational therapist as she conducted a cognitive exam for one of the patients. This occupational therapist explained to me that she frequently administered two tests: the Montreal Cognitive Exam (MOCA) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Both are used to assess the mental capabilities of the patient, but MOCA is a more difficult version of the exam and typically reserved for patients that have already completed secondary education. A MOCA score of 19+ and an MMSE score of 25+ are considered good. The patient that I observed was a shy elderly woman, and she verbalized that she didn't feel comfortable with so many eyes on her while she was taking the exam, so I stepped to the side. Luckily, Dr. Khor came to grab me soon after.
Below are my notes for the last 2 patients, both with very interesting cases:
Shadowing Notes
Patient A:
daughter brought her in, concerned she may have pre-dementia/degeneration
Dr. Khor recommended her popular daycares and advised daughter to keep her constantly engaged/stimulated to slow her degeneration as opposed to isolating her at home
I will never forget the resigned look on the daughter's face; I can't even imagine how she must have felt in that moment, hearing that all she can do now is slow the inevitable
Dr. Khor also plans on ordering an EKG before starting her on medication since some meds can slow the heart down
Patient B:
this patient had vasovagal syncope and fainted after straining on the toilet; it turns out he had overdosed on blood pressure medication --> he is now more unstable due to his low blood pressure and has a fainting issue
Dr. Khor recommended his daughter that she reduce his dosage, monitor his conditions, and proceed to either reduce/increase the dosage accordingly
June 17, 2025- Drumming Session at MPDA
Today, we had a special appearance at the MPDA! A drummer named John visited the MPDA and hosted a musical session for all the elderly folk. We spent the morning drumming away to John's rhythm, and he even gave a handful of people the spotlight to demonstrate their drumming skills! It was so heartwarming to see the MPDA guests regain their confidence through drumming; when John initially gestured at one of the guests to play the beat, she expressed some hesitation. However, once her solo moment came, she drummed with all the strength and vigor she had and blew us away with her energetic performance. I think many of them appreciated the feeling of being in control of their bodies again, especially those with hand tremors due to their Parkinson's.
selfie with John and another volunteer!
John setting the rhythm for the drummers
all of our special drummers at MPDA :)
me drumming along
June 18, 2025- Breast Cancer/Telemedicine Study Data Collection Day 3
see "Research" tab for full reflection
June 20, 2025- Shadowing in the Geriatric Clinic
Today, I shadowed Dr. Khairizan in the Geriatric Clinic. Most cases involved patients with osteoporosis, but one case in particular caught my attention because this patient was nearing the end of life. Dr. Khairizan prescribed this patient Aclasta to slow bone decay and stimulate growth, but she only prescribed one dosage since the patient was only expected to live for 1-2 more years. This made me think about how treatment plans shift when quality of life becomes prioritized over longevity. Providers do all they can to elongate a patient's life, but sometimes, it isn't enough, and prioritizing the patient's comfort is more necessary. It struck me then that even a small decision, such as prescribing a dose of medicine, must be done with careful consideration of all of the patient's circumstances.
June 21, 2025- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Health Screening @ Batang Berjuntai Town Indian Muslim Mosque
view of the mosque
farms/grasslands we passed on the way
set-up for our station
Today, I traveled to a mosque in the rural outskirts of KL with a group of volunteers from the hospital. Once again, we set up the same stations from our CLAP Charity Run event. I was in charge of measuring women's waist circumferences, weight, and height, and recording the numbers down on their health slip. Many of them did not know which way to face while I was measuring height, which indicated to me that they did not frequently have health screenings or hospital visits in the area. After recording their measurements, I then directed them to the next station, where they could measure their blood pressure and glucose levels.
At around noon, the planners for this event announced a raffle, and all the volunteers and I immediately flocked to the sides of the mosque with our raffle tickets. My lucky number was "dua tiga lapan" (two three eight). I unfortunately didn't win anything, but two of our volunteers did! Our session ended after we screened about 80 adults. The planners insisted that we stay for lunch, so we ended the day with some delicious rice, chicken, and juice---and of course, lots of photos :)
Page updated
Report abuse