Prof Dr Hajah Firdaus Mukhtar
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Professor Dr Hajah Firdaus Mukhtar, born in Kuala Lumpur is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist currently is the Head Department of Psychiatry, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Dr. Firdaus pursued her undergraduate degree in Psychology at IIU Malaysia (1995-1999), and both postgraduate study in Australia.
At International Level, she was nominated as President-elect for Asian Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Association (2018-2021) . Her works has been recognized as Best Research Award at International Brain and Behavior Conference, Greece. World Health Organization has appointed Dr Firdaus as CBT Expert Consultant to conduct and develop CBT manual and training to all Family Medicine Specialist in the country. The highest spark in her career was when she was awarded as Young Scientist Award by Loreal Malaysia due to her excellent contribution in research on CBT and immunology. She has trained CBT skills to various types of groups such as both psychiatric and medical illness patients, medical doctors, FMS and Psychiatry Specialist, counsellors and community at large not just in Malaysia but also in the area of South East Asia. She was appointed as peer-reviewers for both local and international journals. She has more than 25 publications in books (3 CBT books on depression and anxiety) and research papers, both at the local and international’s level.
Prof Madya Dr Barakatun Nisak Mohd Yusof
Dietitian
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Barakatun Nisak Bt Mohd Yusof, is an Associate Professor and a practising dietitian in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). She currently holds a position of Dietetics Program Coordinator and a member of the Research Centre in Nutrition and Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases (NNCD). Dr Nisak received her PhD in Dietetics from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia before completing the Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Joslin Diabetes Centre, Harvard Medical School in the field of Diabetes Nutrition.
Broadly, her research aims to improve metabolic control and quality of life in those with type 2 diabetes, women with gestational diabetes and obese individuals. Within this framework, she has published various articles and book chapters including the Diabetes Nutrition Plan during Ramadan organized by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). She is currently leading a Ramadan Nutrition Plan Study for people with diabetes funded by the international industry partnership. She has actively involved with multiple stakeholders. She shared her experience with Ministry of Health, industrial partnership and professional associations in developing diabetes nutrition-related guidelines such as “Clinical Practice Guidelines for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes” and “Diabetes in Pregnancy"
Dr Zanariah Hussein
Consultant Endocrinologist
Hospital Putrajaya
Dr. Zanariah Hussein is a Consultant Endocrinologist and Physician at Hospital Putrajaya, where she is the Head of the Endocrinology Subspecialty Service. She obtained an MBBS from the University of Malaya and an MRCP from Edinburgh, UK. She holds various educational administrative positions including the Chairperson for the Endocrine Fellowship Training Program, Honorary Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine UiTM, UKM and UM as well as a member and Ministry of Health representative for the Specialty Conjoint Board for Masters of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Zanariah is an active member in the Malaysian Endocrine and Metabolic Society, Asia Pacific Neuroendocrine Tumour Society, National Diabetes Institute, The Endocrine Society, USA, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. She is and has been an Investigator and Co-Investigator in over 40 mulicentre clinical trials and has published over 50 national and international peer reviewed journals.
Despite the many hats she wears and the international recognition for her research contributions, Dr. Zanariah remains a humble and down-to-earth clinician. She recently shared with CRM about her experience running clinical trials.