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Friday, 18 Aug, 2023

Duke-NUS faculty appreciation event celebrates long service, promotions, and appointments

Waves of applause could be heard from the amphitheatre as Duke-NUS celebrated the promotion or new appointment of 22 senior faculty members at the Faculty Recognition event on Friday, 18 August 2023. At the same event, the School also recognised 59 clinicians, who had served 10 years or more with long service awards.

Speaking at the start of the celebrations, Duke-NUS Dean Professor Thomas Coffman said, “This event is one of a series of initiatives organised through the Office of Academic Medicine to highlight the value and contributions of our clinical faculty—who are really the lifeblood of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre.”

He added: “Today… we have expanded the scope of this event to also recognise and celebrate faculty with primary appointments at Duke-NUS and in this regard, I am delighted that we will be recognising newly appointed and recently promoted Adjunct Associate Professors in the Duke-NUS Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, alongside our clinical faculty. Going forward, we plan to extend these recognitions even further so we can appreciate and celebrate our faculty across the board.”

Following Prof Coffman’s welcome remarks, the newly appointed and promoted senior faculty were called forward to receive their plaques.

“I am thankful for the opportunity given to me not only by the School, but also by my department to pursue my academic endeavours—I really enjoy teaching the medical students and seeing the next generation of doctors come through,” said newly promoted Clinical Associate Professor Leow Wei Qiang from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Pathology Academic Clinical Programme.

Duke-NUS faculty appreciation event celebrates long service, promotions, and appointments

Joined by leaders from Duke-NUS and across the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, the newly promoted or appointed faculty and long service award recipients pose for a group photo in the Duke-NUS amphitheatre.

Prof Thomas Coffman delivers his welcome remarks

Newly appointed adjunct Associate Professor Alok Mishra, who joined the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, hopes to guide students in focusing on patient access and clinical needs as the starting point for innovation.

“I look forward to the exciting journey ahead in an area where I have a great passion for, with an amazing environment and a highly qualified team,” added Assoc Prof Mishra, who is the CEO of consulting firm Value Addition.

He was among 22 senior faculty who were promoted or appointed to associate and full professors, the two highest academic ranks, at the event.

Stepping into the spotlight next, the recipients of the long service award accepted their awards from Prof Coffman. This year, a total of 59 clinical faculty from 12 academic clinical programmes (ACPs) were honoured for serving the School for 10 years or more.

Assoc Prof Leow Wei Qiang, receives his plaque from Prof Thomas Coffman

Assoc Prof Mishra, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and medtech industry, is among the 22 promoted or newly appointed senior faculty

Clin Prof Chong Tze Tec receives his plaque from Prof Thomas Coffman before stepping up again to receive his long service award

For Clinical Professor Chong Tze Tec from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Surgery ACP, it was double the joy as the long service award recipient was also promoted to clinical professor.

“I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the many talented individuals who are recognised today,” said Clin Prof Chong who feels that initiatives like today’s event help to encourage junior clinicians to pursue academic medicine.

Bringing the event to a close, Vice-Dean for Academic Medicine Clinical Associate Professor Chow Wan Cheng emphasised that collaboration is essential to nurture the next generation of clinicians who will make a difference: “This is another occasion to celebrate academia together.”

Clin Assoc Prof Chow Wan Cheng delivers her closing remarks

The newly promoted or appointed faculty pose for a photo with Clin Assoc Prof Chow Wan Cheng (seated first from left); Ms Karen Chang, Senior Vice-Dean for Corporate Services (seated second from left); Prof Thomas Coffman (seated centre); SingHealth GCEO Prof Ivy Ng (seated second from right); and Assoc Prof Christopher Laing, Vice-Dean for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (seated first from right) to mark their milestone.

The long service award recipients pose for a photo with Clin Assoc Prof Chow Wan Cheng (seated first from left); Ms Karen Chang (seated second from left); Prof Thomas Coffman (seated centre); Prof Ivy Ng (seated second from right); and Assoc Prof Christopher Laing (seated first from right) to mark their milestone.