PROFESSOR Dr April Camilla Roslani, a prominent surgeon for colorectal cancer, has been removed as dean of Universiti Malaya’s faculty of medicine.

April, who was appointed to the position in December 2020, was relieved of her duties last month.

The Malaysian Insight understands that her removal did not go through due process.

When contacted, the UM corporate communications centre declined to comment. 

The oldest and highest ranking Malaysian institution of higher education, UM had agreed to make a statement on the affair.  However, it later said there would be “no statement” for now. 

April is the only woman to receive the prestigious American College of Surgeons (ACS) fellowship. The ACS is the largest organisation of surgeons in the world, with more than 82,000 members globally.

On the UM website, the university has stated that Dr April’s leadership credentials “are undisputed”.

Her areas of expertise include surgery for colorectal cancer, proctology, surgical training and professionalism. 

In 2007, she established Universiti Malaya Medical Centre’s colorectal surgery unit, which is now the largest in the country, and a key stakeholder in colorectal training and services in the region

She also set up the first cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy service in Malaysia in UMM.

She graduated from the University of Wales College of Medicine in 1995 and was awarded the UM Master of Surgery in 2003.

The UM website stated that April “works towards advancing surgical standards, and fairness in the workplace”. 

In her personal LinkedIn post, April said her “raison d’être has been the improvement of surgical healthcare delivery in Malaysia”.

“As the current Dean, faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, I have the opportunity to widen my sphere of influence even further, impacting clinical and non-clinical arenas.”

The Malaysian Insight is attempting to reach April for comment. – April 1, 2024.