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AUG

A Priceless Lesson

From Silent Mentors

Reported by Chloe Soh Ke Er Sr1ScH | Photography by Kuen Cheng Photography Club

On August 3, 2024, the Academic Department of Kuen Cheng High School
organized an enlightening talk on silent mentors for both levels of Junior Middle Two

and Senior Middle One. The event, held in the school hall, featured Professor Dr.
Chin Kin Fah, Founder of the Academy for Silent Mentor Training Centre—
Malaysia’s only institution dedicated to body donation, the silent mentor, for the
study of medicine.

Dr. Chin shared his journey of discovering the importance of hands-on learning in
medical education. Reflecting on his university years in Scotland, he recounted his
first encounter with real human organs during a dissection. He soon learned that

many bodies were sourced from unknown origins, with some organs even being
purchased from outside of the country, raising ethical concerns about voluntary
donations.

This talk provided students with a profound understanding of the significance of

silent mentors in advancing medical education through ethical body donations.

Dr. Chin's vision for the Silent Mentor Program was sparked by the pioneering

efforts of Tzu Chi University, which launched the world’s first silent mentor initiative.
Inspired by this model, he was determined to introduce a similar program at the
Universiti Malaya. Despite initial challenges, particularly due to Malaysia’s diverse
multiracial and cultural landscape, Dr. Chin and his team successfully overcame these
hurdles.

The donation of Malaysia’s first two silent mentors marked a significant milestone,
leading to the establishment of the Academy for Silent Mentor on October 5, 2016.

The academy’s logo, designed by the medical students, holds significant meaning
Shaped like a dandelion, it reflects the positivity, growth, and enduring legacy of the
silent mentors. Each ‘i’ in the logo represents a mentor, with one standing out to
signify the transition into the afterlife, celebrating their lasting contribution to
medical education.