Cover Professor Dr Woo Yin Ling (Photo: Aaron Lee/Lensworks Production)
Professor Dr Woo Yin Ling (Photo: Aaron Lee/Lensworks Production)
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The co-founder and trustee of the award-winning Rose Foundation won this honour by Tatler, which recognises a person whose contribution to society has had a significant impact on local communities
When we think of the individuals championing the fight against cervical cancer in Malaysia, Professor Dr Woo Yin Ling from the University of Malaya is one of those extraordinary figures who comes to mind.
A professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Malaya and a consultant gynaecological oncologist at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Woo has played an instrumental role in revolutionising cervical cancer screenings via a program known as Program ROSE, which promotes an innovative HPV PCR (polymerase chain reaction) self-sampling approach that’s efficient, fast and painless in comparison to a conventional pap smear. In 2019, she co-founded Malaysia’s award-winning ROSE Foundation, a female-led non-profit organisation that aims to eliminate cervical cancer in Malaysia through this novel screening method as well as education and treatment.
Read more: Tatler Ball 2023: Rose Foundation and more charitable initiatives to support
I hope that with this, we can do better work in the region and also have an impact globally.
To date, Program Rose has screened over 25,000 women across 12 states in Malaysia, from high density urban areas to remote villages. This is no small feat for an organisation helmed by a core team of 12 women, including notable names like renowned infectious diseases expert Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, who is chair of the foundation. So successful is Program Rose's pioneering approach that it has inspired global non-profit organisation Find, towards ways of replicating the screening programme in other countries.
Woo and her team's dedication to the Rose Foundation has garnered both local and international attention. In April, Woo became the first Southeast Asian to be awarded the 2023 Rachel Pearline Award, an annual honour which recognises outstanding professionals and their contribution to cancer research and practice in low- and middle-income countries. In the same year, the Rose Foundation was honoured with the Univants of Healthcare Excellence award, a global prize celebrating teams that demonstrate healthcare excellence; it is the only Southeast Asian organisation to date to have earned this distinction.
Royal Selangor pewter trophy for Tatler's Impact Award 2023 (Photo: All is Amazing)
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For her incredible efforts, Woo was honoured with Tatler’s Impact Award at Tatler Ball 2023 and gifted with a stunning custom-made pewter trophy by Royal Selangor and an N3 FOLD smartphone by Oppo.
Click here to see Woo’s profile among Tatler Asia’s Most Influential 2023 cohort in Malaysia.
Tatler Ball 2023 is proudly sponsored by Chopard, Oppo, BMW Malaysia, The St Regis Kuala Lumpur, The Exchange TRX, Bacha Coffee, Rituals Malaysia, Pavilion Collection, Beauty & Co., Armani Beauty, Hennessy, Moet, Minuty, Royal Selangor, Heritouch Gallery, and The Datai Langkawi.
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Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
