Taylor’s University was recently invited for a meeting by Institut Kanser Negara (IKN) at Putrajaya, Selangor. The purpose of the meeting was to establish an understanding between the two institutions regarding clinical practicum placement for Taylor’s University Clinical Psychology Trainees at IKN.
Taylor's University was represented by Prof. Dr. Anindita Dasgupta, Head of School, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Prof. Dato’ Dr. Andrew Mohanraj, Professor and Advisor for Psychology programme, along with Ms. Faeza Hasnan, Acting Programme Director for the Master of Clinical Psychology (MCP) programme. Whereas, representatives from IKN were Dr. Puteri Norliza Megat Ramli, Deputy Director (Medical I); Dr. Muhamad Azrin Omar @ Nawi, Deputy Director (Medical II); Mr. Amiruzie Ramli, Deputy Director (Operations) and Ms. Nur Liyana Shamsudin, Clinical Psychologist. The meeting commenced with IKN introducing their Clinical Psychology Services in Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care Department.
The services focus on assisting patients and family members in managing the psychological aspects of advanced cancer diagnosis, complications and treatments. This includes dealing with issues such as unrealistic expectations, loss of function and identity, death and dying, grief and bereavement, family conflict and communication with children. This was followed by Taylor’s University introducing the MCP programme and HEART Psychological Services. The exciting collaboration was discussed further in terms of the timeline of clinical practicum placement, the number of Clinical Psychology Trainees to be placed at IKN, IKN’s expectations toward the trainees and other mutually beneficial projects.
The meeting resulted in an agreement for the clinical practicum placement to commence in August 2023, and two IKN Clinical Psychologists are appointed as Clinical Preceptors (Supervisors) for Clinical Psychology Trainees from Taylor's University. The two Clinical Psychologists appointed are Ms. Nurul Liyana Shamsudin and Ms. Nurul Huda Rahim. The meeting concluded with a fantastic tour of their art gallery which displayed beautiful artwork created by IKN cancer patients.
