Introductory Diving Medicine Seminar - Exploring A Relatively Unknown Field In Malaysia

Diving Medicine Seminar

Dr. Andrew Ng Wei Aun | Dr Tony Lee Chin Tang

Diving Medicine Seminar in iSpace may seem like a contradiction of terms but that is exactly what happened recently. From 10-12 May 2024, the Asian Hyperbaric and Diving Medical Association (AHDMA) organised the first Introductory Seminar in Diving Medicine at iSpace, Plaza VADS, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The response to this medical seminar was overwhelming with few interested doctors had to be placed in waiting list. Doctors who participated in this seminar were mainly from Malaysia, and a few flew from Thailand and Philippines.

Thirty-one medical practitioners from a wide range of specialties (emergency medicine, anaesthesia, ophthalmology, ENT, radiology, general surgery, internal medicine, paediatric, family physician, general practitioner, nuclear medicine and occupational health) sat next to each other during this seminar. All were eager to listen and discuss a range of medical topics not usually covered in the standard medical curriculum in universities. Not surprisingly, 70% of the doctors were scuba divers.

Speakers in the seminar included Dr Andrew Ng Wei Aun (current President of AHDMA), Dr Elise Er (Vice President of AHMDA), and Dr Tony Lee (ex-president of AHDMA), supported by Dr Yim Shao En and Dr Muhamad Azrul from Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital. Together, everyone dived into a variety of topics ranging from diving physics and physiology, fitness to dive for people with certain medical conditions, as well as potential problems that could happen with diving (drowning, gas toxicities, barotrauma, decompression illnesses etc.). Treatment of decompression illnesses was also explained in detail and great clarity.

A range of diving equipment was displayed at the front of the seminar room for the non-divers participants to have better understanding. The participants were very active and engaging in the seminar. Feedback obtained at end of the session was very positive, and all the participants expressed an interest in a Season 2. This seminar definitely had boosted interest in diving medicine in Malaysia. Overall, it was a fun weekend of sharing knowledge and knowing new people with similar interest. Stay tuned and watch this space https://web.ahdma.org/ for our next seminar, or join us as a member of AHDMA and you will be included in our mailing list for any update!

Have you ever wondered about diving medicine? Are you interested in the world of diving, divers and the aquatic environment? For the first time ever, Asian Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine Association (AHDMA) is organizing a 2.5 days “Introductory Diving Medicine Seminar”.