Dr. Otterbeck during his presentation to students attending Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Over 200 students from over 9,000 miles away learn the latest in medications and research advancements
Early this morning, over 200 students, most pursuing medical careers, received an education in the latest medications, treatments and research trends from Richmond University Medical Center’s Chief Medical Officer, Philip Otterbeck, MD. What made today’s lecture different: the students were over 9,200 miles away in Malaysia.
Dr. Otterbeck, who also serves as the Chair of Medicine and Chief of Endocrinology at RUMC was selected by students from Sekretariat Sukarelawan India at Universiti Sains Malaysia after students expressed interest in learning the latest medical advances in diagnosing and treating diabetes. Established 2013, Sekretariat Sukarelawan India is a student-led organization at Universiti Sains Malaysia which has 6 campuses throughout Malaysia and nearly 40,000 enrolled students. One of the campuses, located on the east coast of Malaysia, is dedicated to training future healthcare providers and was established in 1983.
The students selected Dr. Otterbeck from the list of medical providers who are part of RUMC’s Speakers Bureau. Located on the hospital website, organizations can select from one of the many experienced professionals at RUMC who are available through the bureau to speak at no cost about their areas of expertise. Topics range from cardiovascular conditions to healthy nutrition to urologic issues.
“Sharing information with my patients and our community has been my passion since I have been in clinical practice,” Dr. Otterbeck said. “I was so pleased to provide this education internationally, collaborating with young minds to increase access to evidence-based medicine and to encourage healthy lifestyle practices.”
Among the topics Dr. Otterbeck discussed were an overview of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and changes in treatment thanks to the emergence of medications such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Jardiance. “More than ever, we have pharmacotherapies that not only improve glucose, but can help patients lose weight, protect their kidneys, and prevent endpoints such as stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death,” Dr. Otterbeck said during his presentation.
Dr. Otterbeck also shared some sobering statistics with the students. According to the International Diabetes Foundation, 589 million adults aged 20 to 79 years, are living with diabetes globally, which is more than the population of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean combined. He also shared that the estimated number of adults with diabetes is projected to reach over 850 million by 2050, and that 12% of global health expenditure is related to diabetes care.
Dr. Otterbeck also spent time engaged in a question and answer session with the students who asked for his expertise on the future of diabetes care, current medication recommendations being provided in the United States, and early screening initiatives for diabetes.
A native Staten Islander, Dr. Otterbeck is a board-certified endocrinologist who earned his medical degree from SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, where he also completed his residency in internal medicine, and fellowships in diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism.
Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC), is a not-for-profit healthcare provider serving the ethnically diverse community of Staten Island and its neighbors. We provide premier-quality patient care through a full spectrum of emergent, acute, primary, behavioral health and educational services. We do this in an environment that promotes the highest satisfaction among patients, families, physicians and staff. For more information call 1-718-818-1234 or visit www.rumcsi.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
