By Chan Jee Onn
My journey into biomedical engineering was not a straightforward one. After completing my matriculation in Kedah, my initial aspiration was to pursue dentistry, a profession that integrates scientific precision with human compassion. Confident in my academic performance, I listed Dentistry at UM, UKM, and USM as my top three choices.
However, fate had other plans, and I was instead offered my fourth choice, Biomedical Engineering at UM. Although uncertain at first, I told myself that if dentistry was unattainable, I would pursue an engineering discipline that still carried medical relevance. That decision, once made with hesitation, has since evolved into one of conviction and gratitude.
Throughout my undergraduate journey (Year 1 until now), I discovered that biomedical engineering represents a meaningful convergence and concoction of medicine, engineering, and innovation. It is not merely about designing instruments or analysing data but about applying technology to improve the quality of human life. This field has taught me that empathy and technical excellence can coexist, and that true innovation arises when technology serves and connects humanity with integrity and purpose.
The most transformative experience in my academic life was my six-month industrial training at B. Braun Medical Industries Sdn. Bhd. in Penang, the Global Centre of Excellence for Intravenous Access within the B. Braun Group. During this placement in the Research and Development Department, I was involved in projects focusing on the design and development of a portable vein simulator, a digital documentation system for catheter insertions using Microsoft Power Apps and MySQL, as well as a publication landscape and product timeline on catheter technologies. These projects expanded my understanding of how research, data management, and user-oriented design integrate to create safer and more efficient clinical practices.
Developing the portable vein simulator allowed me to explore realistic vein modeling and sensor integration techniques, deepening my appreciation for the synergy between mechanical design, electronics, and biomedical applications in clinical training. Aside from device invention, developing the digital documentation interface enabled me to appreciate the link between clinical workflow design, medical standards, and the application of digital technologies in healthcare.
Integrating the interface with an Azure-hosted MySQL database strengthened my understanding of data protection, validation, and system reliability in health informatics. Through this experience, I realized that biomedical engineers play a crucial role in bridging the gap between clinicians and technology, ensuring that innovations are both functional and patient focused.
Equally significant was the publication landscape project, which involved analyzing global advancements in catheter technologies from 1950 to 2025. This task sharpened my analytical and research skills while exposing me to the global competitiveness and regulatory rigor of the medical device industry. Beyond technical proficiency, the professional culture at B. Braun shaped my values. The emphasis on ethical practice, teamwork, and continuous learning taught me that every engineer bears a responsibility to uphold human well-being above profit and convenience.
The internship also developed my leadership and interpersonal skills. Serving as the lead for a departmental team-building session taught me how to coordinate, communicate, and inspire collaboration within diverse groups. It reinforced my belief that in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and the upcoming Industrial Revolution 5.0, engineers must pair technical expertise with adaptability, empathy, and ethical decision-making to thrive in an increasingly interdisciplinary environment.
By 2030, I aspire to become a biomedical engineer who champions human-centric innovation in healthcare, developing technologies that are sustainable, inclusive, and accessible to all. I aim to contribute to Malaysia’s Malaysia MADANI vision by designing medical devices that embody compassion, integrity, and trust, ensuring equitable healthcare access for every citizen regardless of socioeconomic status.
As the ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia is hosting the ASEAN Summit twice this year, namely the 46th Summit in May and the 47th Summit from October 26 to 28 in Kuala Lumpur. Earlier in June, Malaysia also hosted tHIS ASEAN 2025, the first major regional healthcare exhibition held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The event brought together more than 200 exhibitors and 5,000 professionals in medical equipment, diagnostics, digital health, and hospital infrastructure. It showcased Malaysia’s capacity to lead cross-border research, regulatory harmonization, and digital healthcare transformation.
Biomedical engineers from Malaysia play a vital role in these initiatives by integrating artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analytics into healthcare solutions, supporting ASEAN’s collective vision for a resilient and technologically advanced healthcare ecosystem.
By 2030, I also hope to go deeper into the AI-driven world of medicine, contributing to the design and manufacturing of intelligent medical devices that enhance daily life. I aspire to master engineering skills such as programming and integrated circuit design, which form the foundation of next-generation biomedical systems.
By strengthening my expertise in AI and electronic system programming, I aim to contribute meaningfully to the biomedical engineering field and remain versatile in pursuing future opportunities within medical technology and beyond.
The author is a final year biomedical engineering student at the Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, and may be reached at nahrizuladib@um.edu.my