VLU’s Faculty Of Medicine hold a session with Professor Cheng Hwee Min (University Of Malaya, Malaysia)

On the 23rd and 24th of February 2024, students from the Faculty of Medicine at Van Lang University had the opportunity to meet Professor Cheng Hwee Ming - Advisor to the Medical Student Association, Faculty of Medicine (University of Malaya) and engage in 4 specialized topics: Homeostasis and Feedback, kidney function in Body Fluid balance and Blood Pressure Regulation, common misconceptions in understanding physiology, and the application of physiological knowledge in practical situations.

Prof. Cheng Hwee Ming has been a member of the American Physiological Society since 2002. He served as a member of the Education Committee of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) from 2011 - 2013 and advised many medical organizations in Malaysia and other countries worldwide. Throughout his career, he has dedicated time to completing valuable scientific research, such as "Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma" and "Mapping of EBV Antigen Epitopes." He is also the President of the Inter Medical School Physiology Quiz (IMSPQ) held annually in Malaysia since 2003.

In the topic "Homeostasis and Feedback," medical students were provided with important foundational knowledge about the human body's homeostasis and feedback mechanisms. They analyzed issues related to this topic, such as the body's self-regulation after fever or the balance of sodium in the blood and the role of related hormones in regulating nutrient levels in the blood.

For the topic "Kidney Function in Body Fluid Balance and Blood Pressure Regulation," Professor Cheng Hwee Ming and Dr. Thanh Minh Khanh, a lecturer from Van Lang University's Faculty of Medicine, clarified misconceptions about kidney function. They provided an overview of the concept and the functions of water and sodium balance in regulating body fluids and blood pressure.

To wrap up the series of knowledge-sharing, Prof. Cheng Hwee Ming and the Faculty of Medicine organized discussions on "Common Misconceptions in Understanding Physiology" and "Application of Physiological Knowledge in Practice." Professor Cheng addressed 21 misconceptions, providing visual explanations to enhance understanding.

With the topic "Application of Physiological Knowledge in Practice," Professor Cheng likened physiology to a puzzle game, starting with understanding related concepts and progressing to the application of gathered knowledge in clinical settings. Starting from basic concepts like osmotic pressure or cardiac physiology, he outlined their impact on physiological activities in the human body, such as cardiac circulation or excretion.

Dr. Le Quoc Tuan, a lecturer in Physiology at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, and a guest lecturer in Physiology at Van Lang University said: “Organizing training and knowledge exchange activities is truly beneficial and necessary for students studying medicine, opening doors for them to continue to develop their potential and become proficient physicians. Therefore, we also see that Physiology is extremely important for clinical disciplines.”

News: Thanh Tam – Thanh Phuc
Image: Dac Khanh – Khanh Dang