On 8 October 2025, IMU proudly hosted TEDxIMU: Ideas That Heal, a day dedicated to exploring stories of resilience, innovation, and purpose. The event featured eight inspiring speakers — a blend of IMU alumni, students, and distinguished guests — each sharing ideas that challenge convention and inspire change.
The day began powerfully with Dr. Aiesha Asmadi, an IMU alumna, medical doctor, and fitness consultant, who spoke on “Redesigning Your Life: When Passion Becomes Your Compass.” Dr. Aiesha reminded us that setbacks are not signs of failure, but opportunities for growth and sometimes, what feels like being lost is actually being guided toward our true purpose. Her talk set the tone for a day centred on strength, transformation, and rediscovering one’s inner compass.
Continuing this theme, Aishvarrya Lakshmi, our final-year Nursing Science student, shared “The Ripple Effect of Healing.” She highlighted how healing begins long before stepping into a hospital, instead it starts in the classroom, where empathy, compassion, and support cultivate confident healthcare professionals who go on to touch countless lives.
Our alumnus Dr. Vivek Subramaniam, Co-Founder of Disruptive Doctors, challenged the audience to rethink the healthcare ecosystem in “Disrupting the Frame: Redefining Roles, Reimagining Impact.” He emphasized that healthcare should never remain static — to truly serve patients, professionals must continuously evolve, question norms, and embrace technology as a force for progress.
Sarah Emily Bahari, our second-year Medical Biotechnology student, delivered a deeply personal and moving talk on “Healing Beyond the Cure: Living Fully with Chronic Illness.” Sharing her journey with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Sarah reminded everyone that healing isn’t always about being cured — it’s about perseverance, hope, and finding strength within pain.
If the audience had never imagined connecting banks and healing the planet in one sentence, Mr. Chow Sheng Wai, Chief Sustainability Officer at Hong Leong Bank, certainly changed that. In his talk, “Healing Our Planet to Heal Ourselves: A Bank’s Role in a World of Plastic,” he revealed how the bank began with small steps — reducing single-use plastics — and has since expanded into large-scale sustainability initiatives. From upcycling waste into daily-use items to community engagement in recycling education, his message was clear: every institution, no matter the sector, can play a meaningful role in healing our planet.
The day continued with Ir. Ts. Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, Managing Partner of Quantum Partners and former CEO of MGTC, who cleverly asked: “If the Earth were a patient, what would we prescribe?” Through his talk “Panadol for the Planet?”, he encouraged everyone to take small, consistent steps — like carpooling or reducing single-use plastics — as “daily doses” that collectively restore the health of our planet.
Dr. Anthony Wong Wei Bing, Founder and Lead Practitioner at The Xi Group and IMU’s part-time clinical instructor, took the audience on a journey through time with “Thousands of Years Can’t Be Wrong: Inheriting Wisdom, Inspiring the Future.” He demonstrated how Traditional Chinese Medicine remains relevant and powerful even today, bridging ancient knowledge with modern science to offer truly holistic care.
The afternoon concluded with Ms. Karen Teo, Regional Manager at Tesla Malaysia, who gave an electrifying talk on “The Future of Mobility and Sustainability.” She explored how clean energy and artificial intelligence are transforming the way we live, work, and move — and how Malaysia is positioning itself at the forefront of the EV and AI revolution.
Before the speaking sessions began, guests were welcomed by interactive booths from Hong Leong Bank, Fits Air, Tesla, and KoKo Bread, adding a lively, hands-on element to the event. Tesla’s display and test-drive experience were a major highlight, drawing an excited crowd eager to experience innovation up close.
We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to our generous sponsors — ZUS Coffee, High on Pickle, Fits Air, Ha’ritage, and Salad Atelier — whose contributions made the event even more special. A special mention to our alumni, Mr. Alvin Lim (Ha’ritage) and Ms. Wendy Wong (Salad Atelier), for their continued support of IMU initiatives.
The event concluded on a high note with a lucky draw, featuring prizes sponsored by High on Pickle, and the grand prize sponsored by Fits Air, a return ticket to Colombo, Sri Lanka — proudly won by one of our IMU alumnus, Dr Liu Chian Yong.
A sincere thank you also goes to the IMU Debate Club, Student Representative Council (SRC), and Student Services Hub (SSH) for their tremendous support and teamwork in making this event a success.
TEDxIMU 2025: Ideas That Heal was more than a conference — it was a celebration of courage, creativity, and community. It reminded us that healing, in all its forms, begins with an idea worth sharing.