Monash University. Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Firmatic assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monashcaulfield2.jpg)
Monash University. Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Firmatic assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monashcaulfield2.jpg)
Aljafri Abdul Majid is a Malaysian cardiothoracic surgeon, academic, surgical educator, and editor. He developed a minithoracotomy technique for closure of patent ductus arteriosus, served as head of surgery at the University of Malaya from 1993 to 2000, and contributed to postgraduate surgical education and medical publishing.
Background
Aljafri Abdul Majid was born on June 17, 1952, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Abdul Majid Ismail and Khairany Mahyuddin. His father was a pioneering Malaysian orthopedic surgeon and later served as the second director-general of Malaysia's Ministry of Health, placing Aljafri within one of the country's early professional medical families.
He developed his medical career in Malaysia after studying in Australia. His professional life has remained closely associated with Kuala Lumpur, the University of Malaya, and the development of specialist surgical services in Malaysia.
Education
Aljafri studied at Monash University in Melbourne, receiving a Bachelor of Medical Science with honors in 1974 and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in 1976. Monash University, founded in 1958, was one of Australia's newer research-oriented universities and developed a major medical faculty in Melbourne during the period of his education.
His later career connected clinical training with academic surgery. Through the University of Malaya, he worked within one of Malaysia's principal medical teaching institutions and its University Malaya Medical Centre, a major referral and teaching hospital established around the country's post-independence expansion of university medicine.
Aljafri began his specialist career at the University Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, where he worked as a cardiothoracic surgeon from 1984. The centre, formerly known as the University Hospital, serves as a major referral institution and teaching hospital within Malaysia's public university medical system.
He joined the academic staff of the University of Malaya and became a professor in 1992. He served as deputy dean of the Faculty of Medicine and was head of the Department of Surgery from 1993 to 2000. During this period, he helped expand cardiothoracic services and contributed to surgical education, including organization and examination for FRCS and MRCS assessments.
His clinical and research work included the development of a minithoracotomy approach for closure of patent ductus arteriosus. A 1993 paper described closure with a Ligaclip through a subaxillary incision in children and adolescents, while another study examined pain control after thoracotomy using continuous intercostal nerve blockade.
Aljafri also served as a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at the University Malaya Specialist Centre and remained active as an editor and contributor to surgical education. He edited or co-edited textbooks including Fundamentals of Surgical Practice, Principles of Surgical Practice, Advanced Surgical Practice, and Fundamentals of Orthopedics and Traumatology.
Achievements
Developed a minithoracotomy technique for closure of patent ductus arteriosus using Ligaclip closure through a subaxillary incision, a method reported in a clinical series involving children and adolescents.
Contributed to the expansion of cardiothoracic services and postgraduate surgical education at the University of Malaya, including participation in FRCS and MRCS examinations.
Authored and co-edited surgical education texts used in preparation for postgraduate examinations and higher surgical training.
Works
medical textbook
Fundamentals of Orthopedics and Traumatology
(Edited as part of Aljafri Abdul Majid's contribution to s...)
(Edited by Aljafri A. Majid and Andrew N. Kingsnorth, this...)
2002
Membership
Aljafri's professional affiliations include fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in cardiothoracic surgery and participation in the Royal Society of Medicine. His work with the Malaysian Heart Foundation connected his surgical career with organized public and professional efforts relating to cardiovascular health.
He also held examination and educational roles for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, participating in FRCS and MRCS examinations in Malaysia. These activities placed him within the international system of postgraduate surgical assessment and professional standards.
Fellow in cardiothoracic surgery and examiner for FRCS and MRCS examinations.
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
,
United Kingdom
Fellow or member associated with the society's medical professional community.
Royal Society of Medicine
,
United Kingdom
Chairman of the exhibition committee.
Malaysian Heart Foundation
,
Malaysia
1990 - 2000
Chairman.
Yayasan Jantung Malaysia
,
Malaysia
Interests
Performing arts, including vocal performance.
Music & Bands
Opera and vocal performance.
Connections
Aljafri is the son of Abdul Majid Ismail and Khairany Mahyuddin. Abdul Majid Ismail was a Malaysian orthopedic surgeon and senior health administrator.
Aljafri married Azirah Hashim on January 24, 1987. They have three children: Alya Aljafri, Arif Aljafri, and Aida Aljafri.
Father:
Abdul Majid Ismail
Malaysian orthopedic surgeon and former director-general of the Ministry of Health.
Mother:
Khairany Mahyuddin
Spouse:
Azirah Hashim
Married Aljafri Abdul Majid on January 24, 1987.
child:
Arif Aljafri Majid
child:
Aida Aljafri Majid
child:
Alya Aljafri Majid
References
Department of Surgery, University of Malaya
Institutional biography documenting Aljafri's education, cardiothoracic surgical career, leadership in the Department of Surgery, examination work, medal, research, and edited surgical textbooks.
Department of Surgery, University of Malaya
Institutional history identifying Aljafri as head of the Department of Surgery from 1993 to 2000 and describing the department's role within University Malaya Medical Centre.
CHEST Journal
Journal page documenting Aljafri A. Majid's authorship and University of Malaya affiliation in research on pain control after thoracotomy.
1992
OpenAlex
Bibliographic record documenting Aljafri A. Majid's authorship of the minithoracotomy study on closure of patent ductus arteriosus.
1993
Cambridge University Press
Publisher catalogue material documenting Aljafri Abdul Majid's editorial contribution to Principles of Surgical Practice and describing the book's role in postgraduate surgical education.
