He spent decades fixing broken hearts.
Then he asked a bigger question:
What if we stopped letting them break in the first place?
This isn’t just a doctor’s story.
It’s a mindset shift.
A healthcare revolution built in Malaysia, for the world.
When Saving Lives Wasn’t Enough
In the operating theatre, Dr. David was elite.
Trained at IJN. Sharpened at the Mayo Clinic.
A cardiac surgeon trusted with life-or-death decisions.
But somewhere between bypass surgeries and endless hospital nights, a hard truth hit him.
He wasn’t practicing healthcare.
He was practicing sick care.
Patients arrived when it was already too late.
Arteries wrecked. Damage done.
Lifestyle choices catching up fast.
You can fix a heart.
But fixing a system? That takes courage.
And Dr. David had a bigger vision.
The Moment That Changed Everything 30,000 Feet in the Air
The turning point didn’t happen in a boardroom.
It happened mid-flight.
Economy class. Exhausted. Disappointed after failed fundraising attempts.
Then chaos.
An elderly woman collapsed. Cardiac arrest.
No hesitation.
Dr. David jumped in. CPR. Calm commands.
The plane diverted. A pulse returned.
She lived.
That moment wasn’t just heroic, it was clarity.
A reminder that purpose always finds you when you’re ready to listen.
Weeks later, the funding came through.
The idea finally had wings.
Building iHeal: Not a Hospital, an Ecosystem
Dr. David didn’t want another building with beds.
He wanted a movement.
So he built iHeal brick by brick.
At its core is a simple but powerful belief:
Your health is your responsibility.
The iHeal model runs on five pillars:
Purpose – Help people live longer, better lives
Problem – Healthcare that’s reactive, inaccessible, and late
Product – Diagnostics, telemedicine, nutrition, population health
People – Specialists who believe in the mission
Plan – Long-term growth, not quick wins
No shortcuts. No hype.
Just precision like surgery.
Scaling Care Without Losing the Human Touch
Today, iHeal is no small player.
Over RM350 million in revenue.
A growing digital health ecosystem.
AI-powered tools like Pocket Doc making care affordable and accessible.
But the ambition goes further.
Southeast Asia. South China.
A total market of 870 million people.
The mission?
Not just a longer life but a better life.
Longevity. Wellness. Prevention. Empowerment.
And yes an IPO on the horizon.
The Real Legacy
iHeal isn’t named for branding flair.
It stands for:
“I’m responsible for my own health and life.”
That message is different today.
In a world obsessed with quick fixes, Dr. David chose prevention.
In a system built on reaction, he built foresight.
This is Malaysian innovation at its best.
Quiet confidence. Global impact.
And a reminder that sometimes, the bravest move
isn’t picking up the scalpel
It’s putting it down,
and reimagining the entire system.
Your health isn’t just personal.
It’s powerful.
And this story?
It’s just getting started.
