Dr Mark Cheong is currently the Deputy Head of School (Education) at the School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia. His research work centres on public health approaches for people with serious illnesses and complex needs, and the role pharmacists play in improving healthcare systems. His research has been funded by organizations such as the Malaysian government and the World Health Organization.

Mark obtained his PhD in Public Health from Monash University. He also obtained an MPharm and an MBA from the University of Strathclyde, and a Masters of Arts (Health Research - Public Health) from the University of Lancaster.

Mark is an advocate for public health issues and access to medicines and has collaborated with organizations such as the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), People's Health Forum, and the Third World Network on projects that raise public awareness as well as provide training to grassroots activists.

Mark is currently a Visiting Fellow at the United Nations University - International Institute for Global Health, and a Visiting Scholar at the Maybank ASEAN Research Center at the Asia School of Business. He is also currently a member of the National Palliative Care Services Development Committee within the Ministry of Health Malaysia.  He was previously a founding member of the Asian Young Pharmacist Group, a former Chairperson of the Malaysian Young Pharmacist Chapter, and a council member of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society.

Prior to joining academia, he worked in healthcare management, leading teams to design, develop, and deliver quality healthcare services in Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region. Mark also worked on the project management and delivery of private-public partnerships, joint ventures and ETP projects enabled by agencies such as Ministry of Education, InvestKL and PEMANDU.

• Public health systems, policies, and services for noncommunicable diseases and palliative care
• Complex needs of people living with noncommunicable diseases 
• Equitable access to healthcare and medicines

Currently accepting PhD students who are interested to pursue research in public health, palliative care, or healthcare services research that focuses on the needs of people living with noncommunicable diseases.

Please get in touch via email for preliminary discussions on potential PhD projects.