Dr. Yoong Boon Koon was a profoundly respected Malaysian hepatobiliary surgeon, known not only for his exceptional surgical skill but for a career defined by tireless dedication, quiet leadership, and transformative impact. Over the course of decades, he served his country with vision and resolve—training future generations of surgeons, building surgical teams, and advancing the field of liver transplant medicine in Malaysia and beyond.
Born and raised in Malaysia, Dr. Yoong’s academic path led him abroad to the University of New South Wales in Australia, where he earned both his MBBS and BScMed degrees in 1996. Determined to further refine his expertise, he returned home to complete a Master of Surgery at the University of Malaya in 2006, followed by a highly specialized hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgical fellowship at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong in 2009. His years of intensive training laid the groundwork for a career that would change the trajectory of surgical care in the region.
In 2009, Dr. Yoong returned to the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) with a singular mission: to re-establish the HPB unit. What began as a slow and determined effort blossomed into a powerful collaborative endeavor, strengthened through international partnerships with institutions like Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and surgical peers in Hong Kong. Under his leadership, his team carried out some of the most complex, life-saving surgeries—often in the face of limited resources and logistical hurdles—delivering hope where it had long been
DR Yoong Boon Koon Profile (2025)
Identity & Status
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: Malaysian
- Status: Dead —tragically passed away recently, with Sunway Medical Centre and his professional peers expressing profound grief
Age & Place of Birth
- Born on July 7, 1971 (verified by Academy of Medicine of Malaysia records listing “07.07.71 – 17.07.2025”)
Academy of Medicine of Malaysia - Place of birth not publicly documented, but Malaysian origin inferred from nationality.
Career & Achievements
- A renowned Consultant Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgeon, later joining Sunway Medical Centre as a leader in robotic-assisted surgery (da Vinci Xi systems)
- Formerly Head of General Surgery and Chair of Liver Transplantation Unit at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
- Pioneered Malaysia’s living donor liver transplant program and led the country’s first deceased-donor liver transplant, saving countless lives despite financial hurdles.
- Actively maintained ties with UMMC, returning occasionally to assist even after transitioning to private practice, most recently for a deceased-donor transplant.
- Past President of the Malaysian Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgeons Society, council member of the Asia-Pacific HPB Association.
Accomplishments & Performance
- Introduced robotic-assisted HPB surgeries, enhancing surgical precision and patient outcomes
Sunway Robotic Surgery - Completed numerous high-profile surgeries, including Whipple procedures, liver transplants, and other complex hepatobiliary interventions
Academy of Medicine of Malaysia - Respected educator and mentor; colleagues highlighted his calm leadership and dedication to training the next generation of surgeons.
Dr Yoong never turned back on public service even after ditching UMMC roughly three years ago for a lucrative private practice gig. He remained deeply entrenched in academia and selflessly came back to help facilitate convoluted procedures and offer sage guidance afterwards. He proudly shared just days before passing that he had recently participated in another deceased donor transplant at UMMC staying true to his word and continuing support for a liver transplant program.
His unshakeable dedication persists remarkably after leaving and speaks reams about character. Dr Yoong was a man steeped deeply in principle and humility yet embodying unshakeable loyalty. His integrity remained steadfast unwaveringly throughout life’s turmoil. He grasped deeply what being a doctor entailed beyond mere technicalities — serving others and building strong bonds with patients. He stayed profoundly linked with his mentors and students and was renowned far and wide as an upright guy embodying sterling qualities of medicine.
Dr. Yoong was a very reserved man behind closed doors. He kept his family life veiled from public scrutiny but people who collaborated intimately with him knew he prized decency above everything else. His personal net worth remains undocumented yet his greatest wealth lay in lives saved and young surgeons mentored under his steady hand. He has garnered esteemed positions including President of Malaysian Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgeons Society and Council Member of Asia-Pacific HPB Association.
Yet far more revealing than his accolades were promises kept resolutely and battles fought with quiet ferocity leaving behind a lasting legacy. Dr. Yoong Boon Koon’s demise constitutes a grievous blow mainly for Malaysian medicine and people venerating altruistic devotion quietly. People acquainted with him in operating theatres or at birthday gatherings will recall a man who earned reverence quietly through sheer integrity. Sorely he will be missed by many people obviously. May his life serve as a sobering reminder of what doctors can truly achieve for those carrying forward the torch lit by him.
