Dr. Lawaniah Sandran
M.D, GCFM, DipIBLM
Lifestyle Medicine Physician | Certified Happiness Coach | Digital Wellbeing Advocate
Affectionately known as Dr. Lawa, Dr. Lawaniah Sandran is a visionary Lifestyle Medicine Physician and certified workplace happiness specialist dedicated to transforming health and wellbeing in personal and professional spaces. A firm believer in the power of prevention, she champions the philosophy that everyone deserves to be empowered with the tools to take charge of their own health.
Graduating from Crimean State Medical University and holding a Graduate Certificate in Family Medicine from the Academy of Family Physicians Malaysia, she is among Malaysia’s pioneering Diplomates of the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Her early medical career was rooted in rehabilitation medicine, treating complications of chronic diseases such as stroke and diabetic foot ulcers. This experience inspired her to shift focus “upstream” — from managing disease to preventing it — leading her into the field of lifestyle medicine.
Dr. Lawa is the founder of Laisha Wellness, Malaysia’s first Employee Lifestyle Programme (ELP) solution provider, offering evidence-based wellness strategies that integrate physical, mental, and emotional health. Through Laisha Wellness, she has worked with a wide array of local and international organizations, including Sime Darby, Shell Sarawak, RHB, Hilton, Petronas, Western Digital, and many others — delivering impactful wellness programs and corporate training.
She is also a Certified Happiness Coach and Workplace Happiness Specialist, trained by the Berkeley Institute of Well-being and Happiitude. Her workshops focus on stress management, emotional wellbeing, resilience, and cultivating happiness in the workplace — helping teams build positive culture and sustainable wellness habits.
Recognizing the growing challenges posed by digital overload and constant connectivity, Dr. Lawa has more recently taken a leading role in promoting Digital Wellbeing. She runs interactive digital detox workshops and campaigns aimed at helping individuals and employees reclaim focus, reduce burnout, and restore healthier digital habits. Her programs on digital wellbeing emphasize practical strategies to manage screen time, regain attention span, and build mindful technology use — a growing need in today’s always-on work culture.
As an HRDF-certified trainer and a sought-after speaker, Dr. Lawaniah continues to bridge the gap between science, medicine, and real-life wellbeing. Her sessions are known for being both informative and deeply inspiring, empowering individuals and organizations to thrive with purpose, positivity, and resilience.
