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The Ngee Ann Kongsi gifts $6M to Duke-NUS Medical School to foster tomorrow’s healthcare leaders

The funding will be used to support medical students, healthcare professionals in their education journey, advancing medical education and quality of care

 

23 October 2023, Singapore – The Ngee Ann Kongsi today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Duke-NUS Medical School with a pledge of up to $6 million to advance education in healthcare and nurture the next generation of healthcare leaders and professionals. The MOU signing ceremony which took place during The Ngee Ann Kongsi Members' Gala Night, was attended by Guest-of-Honour Acting Minister for Transport, Senior Minister of State for Finance Chee Hong Tat. Held at the Chui Huay Lim Club, the event saw the attendance of more than three hundred guests, comprising of members of The Ngee Ann Kongsi, and leaders and members of 10 Teochew clans and associations – including Teochew Federation (Singapore), Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan, Teo Ann Huay Kuan, and Singapore Kityang Huay Kwan.

The $6 million funding will go towards The Ngee Ann Kongsi Distinguished Scholars Programme that was first established in 2009 to support deserving students from the Duke-NUS’ Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme through scholarships and awards. Today’s MOU extends the reach of The Ngee Ann Kongsi Distinguished Scholars Programme beyond Duke-NUS students, to benefit clinical, nursing, and allied health professionals and educators from the Academic Medicine Education Institute (AMEI) under the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre. Collectively, the funding will help Duke-NUS and AMEI to further nurture a pipeline of future-ready doctors and healthcare professionals in Singapore through enhanced educational excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration and learning.

Since the 1930s, The Ngee Ann Kongsi has been actively contributing to various philanthropic causes in Singapore in the areas of education, welfare, and the arts. The Ngee Ann Kongsi has also been broadening their philanthropic support over the last two years to encompass healthcare causes. This includes supporting initiatives in healthcare education and research, with a particular focus on those that positively impact and benefit society.

Dr Wu Chiaw Ching, President of The Ngee Ann Kongsi, said, “The Ngee Ann Kongsi firmly believes transformative power of education and its pivotal role in shaping a brighter future for society. This partnership with Duke-NUS aligns with our longstanding commitment to advancing education and going beyond the Teochew community to benefit the wider Singapore society. We are proud to join hands with Duke-NUS to support and nurture healthcare professionals across all health domains, empowering them in their education to enhance the quality of care and benefit society.”

Professor Thomas Coffman, Duke-NUS Dean, said, "We are very grateful to The Ngee Ann Kongsi for its transformative $6 million pledge that will enhance The Ngee Ann Kongsi Distinguished Scholars Programme, which has been empowering our MD students since 2009. I am delighted that the additional support will also benefit a diverse community of healthcare professionals and educators across the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre. With this visionary partnership, we are poised to cultivate a cohort of versatile, forward-thinking medical practitioners and allied health experts, bolstering Singapore's future healthcare landscape."