{
  "id": 16692601,
  "title": "Malaysia's 1st SMA patient to complete PhD at single university dies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/malaysias-1st-sma-patient-to-complete-phd-at-single-university-dies",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-27T02:26:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1564431/malaysias-1st-sma-patient-complete-phd-single-university-dies"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Dr Siti Hawa Apandi, Malaysia's first spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patient to complete all levels of higher education at the same university, has passed away at the age of 37. Recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records for her academic achievements, Siti Hawa earned a diploma, bachelor's degree, master's degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). The university expressed its deepest condolences to her family, describing her as an alumna of their Faculty of Computing. Siti Hawa was hospitalized last year due to a bacterial infection, during which she spent approximately 50 days in the intensive care unit at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}