Professional Qualifications

• MEmMed(UM), (Emergency Medicine), Universiti of Malaya
• MBBS (Manipal), (Medicine, Obstetrics and Surgery), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mahe, India

Dato’ Professor Dr. Rishya Manikam is the Head and Senior Consultant Trauma & Emergency Physician at the University Malaya Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine. With an exceptional career spanning over two decades, he earned his MEmMed from the University of Malaya in 2010 as the top student and his MBBS from Manipal Academy of Higher Education in 2003, graduating as a Gold Medalist.

Since 2003, Dr. Rishya has been a dedicated educator at the University of Malaya, teaching and supervising both undergraduate and postgraduate students. His influence is significant, having trained over 60% of Malaysia’s emergency physicians. He has supervised numerous Master’s students, guiding them through literature reviews and research projects related to emergency medicine and critical care. With a prolific body of work, Dr. Manikam has made significant contributions through numerous publications in respected journals. Their research includes influential papers on capnography, the effects of promethazine on morphine administration, and the role of lung sonography in diagnosing pulmonary edema.

Dr. Rishya has been actively involved in research projects such as the clinical trial evaluation of COVID19, studies on the functional correlates of virus-specific T cells in dengue, and investigations into immune mechanisms related to respiratory viruses in children. Their work also encompasses the epidemiology of dengue and studies on mucosal associated invariant T cells. He has an impressive academic record with 88 publications listed on Google Scholar, totaling 1,910 citations and 1,256 since 2019. His h-index is 26 overall and 21 since 2019, with an i10-index of 37 overall and 36 since 2019, reflecting the substantial impact of his research.

Dr. Rishya’s professional roles include serving as a National Specialist Registrar and holding memberships with the SCCEM Conjoint Board and the College of Emergency Physicians. His leadership includes being the Head of the Trauma and Emergency Academic Unit at the University of Malaya and coordinating the Masters Programme in Emergency and Trauma. His expertise covers early detection and clinical presentation of dengue, critical care ultrasound, and trauma care for the elderly.

His academic excellence is recognized through various awards, including the prestigious Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang and a Silver Medal for an AED project at Itex. Their commitment to education is further demonstrated by multiple gold medals for academic achievements. Beyond their professional accomplishments, Dr. Rishya has made substantial contributions to the community, including providing food aid during the Movement Control Order (MCO), delivering public health talks, and conducting first aid demonstrations.

In addition to his medical career, Dr. Rishya is a black belt in karate and the President of the Malaysia Underwater Hockey Association. He serves as an advisor to the Malaysian Taekwondo Association and is a sought-after expert witness in high-profile Malaysian legal cases. Dr. Rishya is also the founder and Grandmaster Trainer of First Aid in Martial Arts under the Martial Arts Medical Academy, where he develops and delivers specialized first aid training for martial artists.

Dr. Rishya’s diverse contributions to medicine, education, sports, and martial arts, along with his involvement in the legal system, establish him as a distinguished leader and expert, with ongoing influence in advancing these fields both in Malaysia and internationally. Through his multifaceted work, Dr. Rishya Manikam continues to drive progress in emergency medicine, making substantial contributions to both the field and the community.