Professor Dato’ Dr Goh Khean Lee is a renowned figure in the world of gastroenterology both locally and internationally. His achievement in the field has been unmatched. Professor Goh is Professor at the University of Malaya and Senior Consultant at the University Malaya Medical Centre for the last 36 years. He had been the Head of Department of Medicine from 1998-2004, a member of University Senate from 2003-2006, Head and Dean of the Health and Translational Medicine Cluster (equivalent to dean of a faculty) and Head of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and GI Endoscopy Unit since 1996, at UMMC. Professor Goh studied medicine at the University of Malaya and did his advanced training at the Royal Infirmary Glasgow in 1987, and the Academic Medical Centre at the University of Amsterdam in 1991, under Professors Guido Tytgat and Kees Huibregtse Professor Goh has been instrumental in stimulating and catalysing research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology in this country. He has supervised and examined many doctoral theses (MD and PhD) both within and outside the University of Malaya. He is a mentor to many gastroenterologists in this country and in the region. Under his capable leadership, Professor Goh established the GI unit as one of the best in the country with international reputation. In fact in 2008, the endoscopy unit at UMMC was awarded OMED Centre of Excellence by the World Organization of Digestive Endoscopy which has now been extended in 2015 to 2020. It is the only centre in Malaysia and one of only four centres in Asia which has been accorded this prestigious honour. The GI Endoscopy Unit is now a highly sought-after training centre, both locally and internationally. Professor Goh was one of the founding members of MSGH in 1995, where he served as SecretaryGeneral and then President in 1996-1997. He has served as the Chairman of Specialist Subcommittee for credentialing in gastroenterology and hepatology of the National Specialist Register, Malaysia, from 2004-2015. Through his leadership as Organising Chairman and Scientific Chairman over the past 15 years, the MSGH has organised some top-class annual scientific meetings. This culminated with Malaysia hosting the 9th Asian Pacific Digestive Week in Kuala Lumpur in 2010, with Professor Goh as the President and the Organising Chairman. This meeting has been considered by many, to be the best APDW meeting organised so far. In tandem with these meetings, from 1993, he has organised under the auspices of the MSGH and the University of Malaya, the annual International Therapeutic live endoscopy workshops, which is now regarded as one of the best organised endoscopy workshops in the world. Professor Goh is currently the President of the Asia Pacific Digestive Week Federation which organises this premier annual scientific meeting in Asia Pacific (the APDW). He was the President of the Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology from 2010-2014. He was also Vice-President of the World Gastroenterology Organization from 2011-2015. He is the first Asian to hold such high position in WGO. In addition, he is also the Chairman of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation. He is of course, also the recipient of the prestigious Merdeka Award in 2011, in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contribution in elevating the study and practice of gastroenterology and hepatology in Malaysia to global standards. He was also awarded the prestigious ASGE Crystal Award for International Service in 2014, for his contribution to GI Endoscopy internationally. Professor Goh is also Editor Emeritus of Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Professor Goh has published 314 peer-reviewed papers in international journals, eight book chapters and 387 abstracts. One of the few academicians with a doctoral degree, his thesis on
“Helicobacter pylori in Malaysia” is considered seminal work and has been widely cited throughout the world. He continues to publish consistently and was awarded the prize of “highest impact paper in a journal in 2008” by the University of Malaya. He has the highest number of publications in the biomedical field in Malaysia with papers in high impact journals such as the American Journal of Gastroenterology Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Gut. He is a member of several important international Consensus panels - the Maastricht 2, 3 and 4 consensus panels on Helicobacter pylori, Asian Pacific Consensus panels on Helicobacter pylori in 1997 and 2008, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (2002, 2005, and 2014), Colorectal Cancer Screening (2008 and 2012), NAFLD in 2008, and Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in 2009. Professor Goh currently still sits in the important “Guidelines” and “Publication” sub-committee of The World Gastroenterology Organization and is a member of the review committee and co-author
of the world practice guidelines on colorectal cancer screening (2006, 2010) and Helicobacter pylori (2006, 2009), HCV infection (2012), and liver cancer (2013). He has been invited as Visiting Professor at the University of Arizona, USA, and at the University of Magdeburg, Germany. He has
also been an invited speaker for numerous international meetings including the World Congresses of Gastroenterology, APDW, and as Faculty for several live endoscopy workshops including in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, China, Japan, USA and Brazil. Professor Goh is happily married to Su Lin, a Consultant Ophthalmologist. They have three children, two daughters, Li Yen, a Trainee Ophthalmologist in London, Li Syuen who is finishing her chemical engineering degree in London, and son, Li Han, who is currently a medical student in Australia. Professor Goh enjoys reading history and playing tennis and badminton with his children. After 36 long years of outstanding service and achievement, Professor Goh is finally retiring from public service to embark on a new journey, a new chapter of his life
