PUTRAJAYA: Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Associate Professor Datin Dr. Norkiah Arsat
(pic) has been named the National Nursing Education Icon 2026 in conjunction with the National Nurses Day Celebration 2026 held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), Tuesday.
The prestigious award was presented by Deputy Health Minister Hanifah Taib during the event organised by the Malaysian Nurses Association, which gathered members of the nursing community from across the country.
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The recognition has further elevated the name of UMS and Sabah at the national level through Dr. Norkiah’s significant contributions to nursing education.
With more than 30 years of experience in the nursing profession covering clinical services, midwifery, public health, nursing education, psychology and counselling, Dr. Norkiah began her career under the Ministry of Health Malaysia before continuing her contributions in academia at UMS.
Throughout her service, she had served at several healthcare facilities including Hospital Queen Elizabeth and Hospital Duchess of Kent, as well as health training institutions and nursing colleges.
At UMS, Dr. Norkiah has played a key role in the development of nursing education through teaching, research and student supervision, while also serving several terms as Head of the Nursing Department.
Beyond her academic excellence, she is also regarded as one of the individuals who paved the way for Sabah nurses to pursue higher education at a time when academic opportunities in the field were still limited.
Dr. Norkiah further expanded her expertise in counselling psychology and research, becoming an inspiration to many nurses to pursue higher education as a platform to elevate the nursing profession.
She also played an important role in the growth of professional nursing organisations in Sabah as the founding figure behind the establishment of the Malaysian Nurses Association Sabah Branch, and later led the branch as chairperson from 2019 to 2023.
Chairperson of the Malaysian Nurses Association Sabah Branch, Deena Clare Thomas, described the recognition as a great honour for the nursing community in Sabah, particularly nurse educators who have contributed significantly to the nation’s healthcare system.
