Dr Ruth Pec Shian Lim
 Dr Ruth Pec Shian Lim |
Professional Award
Media Profile
“Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of sudden death in Australia and an estimated 940,000 people, approximately 5% of the population, have diabetes. Diabetic patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular complications which is responsible for more than 50% of deaths amongst Type 2 (adult- onset) diabetics.”
Dr Ruth Lim has won a prestigious Fulbright Professional Award to undertake a study in the understanding of cardiac disease in Type 2 diabetics using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at the Radiology Department of the New York University Medical Centre (NYUMC). Dr Lim has served as the Principal Registrar of Radiology at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and is a First Class Honours graduate in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Melbourne.
Dr Lim will undertake a clinical fellowship and research into MRI of the body, particularly with regards to cardiovascular imaging. NYUMC is an acknowledged frontrunner in MRI technology and Dr Lim’s research within the internationally renowned faculty will provide an exciting opportunity to build knowledge and resources that can be applied in Australia.
Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a recognised non-invasive tool for the accurate assessment of cardiac function and injury. Current research in the field of Cardiac MRI is relatively limited in Australia, due to limited access and high costs of MRI scanners. Dr Lim’s study will provide a greater understanding of the factors contributing to heart disease in the diabetic population, with potential implications for management in the future.
Dr Lim plans to use the Fulbright Award to optimise use of current MRI resources for patient care, particularly with regard to cardiac MRI techniques in Australia. The collaborations Dr Lim develops with NYUMC will be beneficial on a professional level, and will allow knowledge sharing between Australia and the United States in the field of Diagnostic Imaging. She hopes to return to a position at a tertiary affiliated public hospital so that her experience can be used to a maximal degree.
During her studies Dr Lim received a wide range of awards and recognition which included her listing on the Dean’s Honours List and more recently she was awarded the CE Eddy Prize for being the top candidate in Australia and New Zealand in her First Part Radiology exams. In between her studies, Dr Lim enjoys singing, and performed at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival as part of the Melbourne Chorale.