A Healthy Start for Life

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rashdan Zaki Mohamed has spent more than two decades in medicine, with much of his career devoted to caring for children.

"What continues to inspire me is the opportunity to make a lasting impact early in life. A timely intervention in childhood can influence an individual's wellbeing for decades to come," he says.

Dr Rashdan is a Consultant Paediatrician and Paediatric Endocrinologist at Damansara Specialist Hospital 2 (DSH2), with clinical interests in growth hormone deficiency and childhood obesity. He also serves as Head of Paediatrics at KPJ Healthcare Berhad.

Understanding Children's Changing Needs

Paediatric endocrinology focuses on conditions involving hormones, growth and development. As children grow, the assessment and management of these conditions must take account of their age, stage of development and changing health needs.

Dr Rashdan graduated in medicine from the University of Malaya in 2004 and completed his Master's in Paediatrics in 2013. He later undertook clinical fellowships in paediatric endocrinology at University Malaya Medical Centre in 2015 and National University Hospital, Singapore in 2019.

"Some of the most meaningful moments have come from seeing critically ill children recover and thrive, and from families who return years later to share how their children are doing," he shares.

"These experiences reinforce the importance of treating not just the condition, but the child and family as a whole," he says.

It is also a perspective he encourages younger doctors to embrace.

"If you are considering this path, ensure that you enjoy working not only with children but also with families, because family-centred care is at the heart of what we do," he advises.

Looking Beyond Individual Patient Care

As Head of Paediatrics, Dr Rashdan's responsibilities extend beyond his specialist practice at DSH2 to supporting paediatric services across the KPJ Health System.

His approach is guided by three principles of patient safety, clinical excellence and continuous improvement.

"First, patient safety must always be at the centre of everything we do. Every process, protocol and clinical decision should contribute to safer care for children," he explains.

For Dr Rashdan, maintaining clinical excellence means ensuring that healthcare professionals have opportunities to learn, collaborate and apply the latest evidence in their practice.

He also believes in regularly reviewing how care is delivered. Clinical governance, quality assurance, risk management and audit are important parts of that process, alongside professional development.

His emphasis is not simply on individual expertise, but on the systems and working practices that allow teams to deliver safe, effective care.

What Lies Ahead for Paediatric Care

Childhood obesity, mental health concerns, developmental disorders and chronic diseases are among the issues Dr Rashdan believes will require greater attention in the years ahead.

Digital health, artificial intelligence and precision medicine also offer opportunities to improve diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and access to care.

At the same time, families increasingly expect healthcare that responds to their individual needs and is readily accessible.

For Dr Rashdan, advances in medicine must be balanced with the personal understanding that remains essential when caring for children and their families.

"Technology can support care, but empathy, communication and clinical judgement will always be fundamental," he says.