Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Yip Cheng Har is Malaysia’s foremost breast cancer surgeon and a trailblazer for women in medicine. Her career spans over four decades of surgical excellence, academic leadership, and global advocacy.

Born in Kampar, Perak, Dr Yip was the second daughter of a schoolteacher and homemaker. She became the first in her family to pursue medicine, earning her MBBS from the University of Malaya.

After obtaining her FRCS from Glasgow, she initially trained in general and pediatric surgery before specializing in breast surgery. Her decision was driven by empathy, recognizing that many women preferred female surgeons for breast-related conditions.

Dr Yip’s contributions to breast cancer care are vast. She has performed thousands of procedures including mastectomies, breast lump excisions, and sentinel lymph node biopsies, and has helped shape national protocols for breast cancer management.

She retired as a professor from the University of Malaya in 2012 but continues to serve as a Consultant Breast Surgeon at Hospital Picaso, mentoring young doctors and advocating for early detection and patient-centered care.

Prof Yip’s legacy is not just in her surgical skill, but in her unwavering commitment to equity, education, and compassion. She remains a role model for aspiring women surgeons and a champion for breast cancer awareness across Malaysia and beyond.