CCG Newsletter Spotlight: Dr. Kurudeven Tamil Chelvan, CCG Coordinator, Malaysia

We are delighted to shine a spotlight on Dr. Kurudeven Tamil Chelvan, a pivotal member of the JLN Country Core Group (CCG) Coordinator Team for Malaysia. Dr. Chelvan’s dedication to healthcare reform and his insightful contributions have significantly strengthened Malaysia’s engagement with global knowledge and local practice. A Journey Rooted in Service and Vision Dr. Chelvan currently serves as a dental officer at the Health Transformation Office (HTO), Ministry of Health Malaysia, building on invaluable experiences from the National Health Financing Section and frontline service in the Pahang State Health Department. These early experiences provided him with a profound understanding of the challenges faced by healthcare implementers and underserved communities. His passion has evolved towards health policy, behavioural change, and enhancing healthcare access for marginalized populations. Dr. Chelvan firmly believes in the power of strategic reform to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable healthcare system. His current national-level work consistently deepens his understanding of the critical interplay between planning, policy implementation, and system transformation. Beyond his professional life, Dr. Chelvan finds rejuvenation in nature, whether hiking or exploring quiet trails. He also possesses a creative flair, drawn to music, visual storytelling, and design. He views the arts not only as a refreshing pursuit but also as a means to cultivate empathy and critical thinking—qualities he deems essential for both healthcare quality improvement and public policy. Bridging Global Insights with Local Practice as a JLN Institutional Coordinator As a CCG Coordinator for Malaysia, Dr. Chelvan plays a crucial role in facilitating internal discussions for new collaboratives, cross-divisional meetings, and technical engagement sessions. He is also instrumental in disseminating JLN knowledge products to a wider audience through internal platforms and the Ministry’s postmaster system, enhancing awareness among healthcare personnel nationwide. This coordination role effectively positions him as a vital link between global knowledge and local application, ensuring that valuable insights are not just shared, but meaningfully applied to Malaysia’s health priorities. Key Lessons in Driving Meaningful Reform Dr. Chelvan emphasizes that meaningful reform necessitates both strategic direction and operational flexibility. He highlights that effective change is driven by strong leadership commitment coupled with the empowerment of implementation-level officers to experiment, adapt, and reflect. His team has found that integrating peer learning and cross-country experiences into local contexts is most impactful when diverse perspectives are engaged early, procedural rigidity is reduced, and open channels for dialogue across units are maintained. A Memorable Highlight: Enhancing Visibility and Engagement A significant achievement for Dr. Chelvan was the successful enhancement of internal visibility for the JLN knowledge platform. By strategically promoting resources during key planning periods and sharing them via the Ministry’s internal communications, there was a notable increase in interest and engagement across divisions. This experience underscored the power of structured dissemination in fostering broader institutional uptake. It also reinforced his conviction that achieving person-centred care requires integrating often-overlooked areas, such as oral health, into broader health system reforms. Despite the challenge of balancing competing operational priorities, Dr. Chelvan’s steady coordination and receptiveness to feedback have successfully maintained momentum and promoted the enduring value of collective learning. Thank you for your dedication, expertise, and advocacy, Dr. Chelvan! Your work is making a significant impact on global health security.