08 March 2025 – [TALK] From SARS to COVID-19: 20 Years’ Lessons of Coronavirus Infection by Prof. Zhong Nan Shan

We are very proud to announce that Professor Dr. Zhong Nanshan as the recipient of the 4th Dr Wu Lien-Teh Award for Leadership in Public Health 2025!
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We cordially invite you to attend this year named Annual Public Lecture and the award ceremony to celebrate his success, in conjunction with Dr Wu Lien-Teh’s 147th birthday anniversary.
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Academician Prof. Dr Zhong Nanshan will deliver his lecture “From SARS to COVID-19: 20 Years’ Lessons of Coronavirus Infections”, followed by a Health Forum with Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Noor Hisham bin Abdullah on Pandemic Preparedness- Lessons Learnt and Ways Forward
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DETAILS

Date: 8th March 2025, Saturday
Time: 2:00 – 5:00pm
Venue: Penang Institute, 10 Brown Road, 10350 George Town
Organisers: The Dr. Wu Lien-Teh Society and Penang Institute
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(There is no live broadcast this year.)
Note: Entrance to this event is FREE. No refreshment will be provided.

EVENT SUMMARY

On March 8th, the Dr. Wu Lien-Teh Society hosted the 2025 Dr. Wu Lien-Teh 9th Annual Public Lecture & 4th Dr. Wu Lien-Teh Award for Leadership in Public Health at Penang Institute, honoring exceptional public health leaders. This year’s award was presented to Professor Dr. Zhong Nanshan, Director of Guangzhou National Laboratory and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, China, a globally renowned expert recognized for his role in the SARS and COVID-19 outbreaks. Dr. Zhong expressed his gratitude, emphasizing that the award represents not just a personal honor but a testament to collaboration between nations and a shared commitment to global health.

Speaking to a full house, Dr. Zhong shared insights from managing MERS, SARS, and COVID-19, providing valuable lessons on public health crisis management and pandemic preparedness. The lecture was followed by a Health Forum on Pandemic Preparedness: Lessons Learnt and Way Forward, featuring Dr. Zhong and Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, former Director-General of Health, Malaysia, and inaugural recipient of the award in 2022, moderated by Dr. Hor Chee Peng. Dr. Noor Hisham—praised for his transparency during COVID-19—highlighted the dangers of misinformation on social media, which in some cases had a greater impact than the virus itself. As the first Chair of the WHO Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (SCHEPPR), he stressed the need for global collaboration in pandemic response and preparedness.

The event was a resounding success, bringing together two esteemed experts to inspire and reinforce the importance of international cooperation in public health.