Dr Mark Wing Loong Cheong is a public health & palliative care researcher, and the current Deputy Head of School (Education) at the School of Pharmacy.

Mark's research focuses on improving the quality of life and relieving the suffering of people living and dying of serious illnesses, and creating equitable and compassionate systems that support everyone involved in the care of the seriously ill.

Mark has previously collaborated with and has been a consultant for numerous local and international civil society organizations such as the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative and the World Health Organization on projects on palliative care, access to medicines and healthcare, and health inequalities. He is currently Visiting Fellow at the United Nations University - International Institute for Global Health, Visiting Scholar at the Maybank ASEAN Research Center at the Asia School of Business, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health. He is also a member of the National Palliative Care Services Development Committee within the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

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. Mark is a registered pharmacist by profession.

Public health, palliative care, health equity

Research interests currently include:

1. Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities for Persons with Life-Limiting Illnesses

This theme explores how various social, economic, and environmental factors impact health outcomes across different populations, with a focus on people with life-limiting illnesses. We investigate the root causes of health disparities among the seriously ill and at the end-of-life, such as income inequality, education levels, housing conditions, and environmental exposures, and their impact on quality of life and health outcomes. The goal is to develop targeted interventions that address these determinants, ultimately reducing health disparities and promoting equitable health outcomes.

2. Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)

CBPR emphasizes the active involvement of community members in the research process, with a focus on developing community-based care. We focus on building partnerships between researchers, pharmacists, and community stakeholders to co-create and implement health interventions that are culturally relevant and tailored to the community's needs. By fostering mutual respect and collaboration, CBPR aims to empower communities, enhance the relevance and impact of research, and ensure that interventions are sustainable and effective.

3. Access to Primary Health and Palliative Care Services

This theme examines the barriers that prevent individuals from accessing primary health and palliative care services, including geographic, financial, and systemic obstacles. We analyze factors such as transportation, insurance coverage, availability of health care providers, and cultural competence of health services. The objective is to design and evaluate strategies that improve access to quality primary health care and palliative care services for underserved and marginalized populations, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to achieve optimal health. The focus is on creating universally accessible and equitable health services.

4. Health Policy and Advocacy

This theme focuses on the analysis and advocacy of health policies that impact health equity and justice. We study the effects of existing policies on health outcomes and identify gaps that contribute to inequities in access to supportive and palliative care services. We also advocate for policy changes that promote equitable access to health care and medications, address systemic inequities, and support the social determinants of health. By influencing policy at local, national, and global levels, this theme aims to create a more just and equitable health care system.

Currently accepting PhD students who are interested to pursue research in either one of the following research themes described under 'Research Interests' above, namely:

1. Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities for Persons with Life-Limiting Illnesses

2. Community-Based Participatory Research

3. Access to Primary Health and Palliative Care Services

4. Health Policy and Advocacy

Please get in touch via email for preliminary discussions on potential PhD projects. Successful candidates will be enrolled in a Doctor of Philosophy (Public Health) or Doctor of Philosophy (Health Policy) program at the School of Pharmacy.