Rain Shafuddin

I was born and raised in Malaysia. I completed Bachelor of Medicine study and my internship years in the UK before moving to Hamilton in 2008 where I carried out most of my post-graduate medical training. After completing my final year of specialist training in Melbourne, I returned to work as a Respiratory Physician at Waikato Hospital in March 2019. Currently I hold a portfolio in bronchiectasis and also report cardiopulmonary exercise tests at the respiratory department.

I have a great interest in research. As an undergraduate, I completed a research study in pulmonary sarcoidosis through the University Hospital Southampton biomedical research unit. I also completed a PhD study on cardiac abnormality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the University of Otago. I have won multiple research awards and have presented at many major international conferences. I am also a regular peer-reviewer for international respiratory journals.

I practise evidence-based and patient-centred medicine as I believe that they are both complementary in improving patient care.

I am well-travelled and enjoy running, tramping, and fine dining.

Area of expertise:

  • Investigations of breathlessness and chronic cough
  • Chronic airways disease – COPD/emphysema, asthma, bronchiectasis
  • Pulmonary sarcoidosis
  • Pleural diseases
  • Lung cancer
  • Interventional bronchoscopy

Current employment:

  • Respiratory Physician at Waikato Hospital

Qualifications:

  • BM (Southampton 2007)
  • PhD (Otago 2016)
  • FRACP (2019)

Training

  • Foundation year training at Basingstoke North Hampshire Hospital and Portsmouth Queen Alexandra Hospital, UK (2007-2008)
  • Physician training at Waikato Hospital (2008-2012)
  • Research Fellowship and PhD (2012-2016)
  • Specialist training in Respiratory Medicine at Waikato Hospital (2013-2017) and Monash Medical Centre (2018-2019)

Research

  • Identifying prognostic markers in acute pulmonary sarcoidosis. American Thoracic Society International Conference (2007)
  • EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal lymph node diagnosis in Waikato Hospital. Asia Pacific Lung Cancer Conference (2014)
  • A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study of roxithromycin and doxycycline combination, roxithromycin alone, or matching placebo for 12 weeks in adults with frequent exacerbations of COPD. Journal of Negative Results in Biomedicine (2015)
  • Cardiac dysfunction during exacerbations of COPD. Lancet Respiratory Medicine (2016)
  • Monoclonal antibody therapy in cystic fibrosis and asthma. Australasian Cystic Fibrosis Conference (2019)
  • MULTI-PHACET - MULTIdimensional clinical phenotyping of hospitalised acute COPD ExacerbaTions. European Respiratory Journal Open Research (2021)
  • The impact of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the cardio-respiratory health of New Zealanders (2021)

Memberships

  • Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
  • Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
  • European Respiratory Society

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