Round-up of Duke-NUS’ latest people news
October may only be the beginning of the festive season but at Duke-NUS, we have had many reasons to celebrate: our clinical and research faculty and their work continue to be recognised by their peers, including the ASEAN Neurological Association, the European Association for Palliative Care and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Their commitment to improving lives was also recognised at the National Medical Excellence Awards, where they clinched awards in four out of five categories. In addition, or their contributions to healthcare and medicine, more than 70 clinical and research faculty and staff received honours at the 2023 National Day Awards for their contributions to healthcare and medicine. We continued to champion innovation on our AMC campus with the launch of the Alice Lee Centre of Excellence at the biennial SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress.
Closer to home, the prestigious National University of Singapore Research Recognition Award went to Professor Patrick Tan, and distinguished clinicians from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC) received prestigious professorships. We also celebrated the commitment and contributions of its long-serving clinical faculty, while the School’s Medical Alumni association marked its 10th anniversary as our alumni gathered for the latest Duke-NUS Dialogue that centred on the philosophy of choosing a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.
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New innovation centre unveiled at 2023 SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress
At the SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress, a highlight among more than 38 symposia and plenary talks was the launch of the new Alice Lee Centre of Excellence (A.L.I.C.E) @ SGH Campus on 22 September. The new Centre will unite clinician-innovators and researchers under one roof to accelerate new breakthroughs in healthcare. The SGH campus-based centre is the first of several innovation centres that will be opened across the AMC campuses.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Congress, which was themed “Advancing Frontiers in Population Health through Academic Medicine”, Guest-of-Honour Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, called for a “more data-driven, patient-centric and technology-based healthcare approach.”
Duke-NUS researchers and clinician-scientists present their latest innovation--aiTriageTM(left) and Guest-of-Honour Dr Tan See Leng tours the newly opened Centre (right)// Credit: SingHealth
The newly launched Centre is supported by a generous gift of $50 million from the Lee Foundation and was named after Mrs Alice Lee, wife of the Lee Foundation’s founder, the late Lee Kong Chian.
Three distinguished faculty members received recognition at the 2023 National Medical Excellence Awards
Professors William Hwang and Julian Thumboo, and Associate Professor Nigel Tan were honoured with individual accolades at the 2023 National Medical Excellence Awards on 31 August. They received the National Outstanding Clinician Award, the National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award and the National Outstanding Clinician Educator Award respectively.
Hwang was recognised for his contributions to haemato-oncology and stem cell transplantation, advancing clinical service and research in the field and his dedication to his patients.
Thumboo’s mentoring philosophy of “no success without successor” earned him the National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award, while Tan was conferred the top educator award for his contributions to advancing the education and training of clinicians here, including at Duke-NUS, and abroad.
Joining the trio, a team from Changi General Hospital and St Andrew’s Community Hospital received the team excellence award, rounding out the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC’s representation in four out of five categories.
Professor Patrick Tan honoured with the prestigious Research Recognition Award
At the National University of Singapore (NUS) University Award ceremony on 8 September, Duke-NUS Senior Vice-Dean for Research Professor Patrick Tan accepted the Research Recognition Award, which honours his many achievements over the years, such as shedding light on the molecular and clinical diversity of gastric cancer.
“[The award] represents a ‘homecoming’ of sorts—it is always extra-special to be recognised by one’s peers and close colleagues. I also feel the award is an acknowledgement of the importance of team science.”
Prof Patrick Tan
Tan’s ‘team science’ approach puts collaboration at the forefront of research advancement, bringing together clinician-scientists, biostatisticians and researchers from across various institutions in Singapore.
Duke-NUS celebrates long-service faculty members and newly appointed individuals
On 18 August, Duke-NUS celebrated the promotion or appointment of 22 senior faculty members, as well as the long service of 59 clinicians who had served for 10 or more years. Marking this milestone at the Faculty Recognition event, the clinical and research faculty members were joined by leaders from Duke-NUS and the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, including Dean Professor Thomas Coffman and SingHealth Group CEO Professor Ivy Ng.
“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.”
Newly promoted Clinical Associate Professor Leow Wei Qiang, from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Pathology Academic Clinical Programme (pictured right, receiving his plaque from Duke-NUS Dean Coffman)
Professor Lim Shih Hui’s career achievements lauded
Professor Lim Shih-Hui, Senior Associate Dean of the Academic Development Department, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the ASEAN Neurological Association during its 15th Biennial Convention that ran from 10 to 13 August in Danang, Vietnam.
The award acknowledges Lim’s many contributions to neurology and medicine as a clinician and educator, such as spearheading epilepsy surgery evaluation at the National Neuroscience Institute, and training the next generation of neurology residents and fellows from across the region. He is a founding member of the Association and later served as the Association’s chairman and president.
“We cannot be successful in anything unless we are passionate about something. And by passionate, I mean consistently passionate, not only during good times but most importantly, during the not-so-good times, when passionate actions, including passionate leadership, are needed the most.”
Prof Lim Shih-Hui
American Academy of Ophthalmology bestows Associate Professor Liu Nan the Secretariat Award
Associate Professor Liu Nan from Duke-NUS Health Services and Systems Research Programme was conferred the Secretariat Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which recognises the valuable contributions he has made to both the Academy and to the field of ophthalmology, as well as his dedication to lifelong learning.
“This award reminds me of the importance of pushing boundaries and venturing into unfamiliar areas. I aspire to further leverage my technical expertise to make meaningful contributions to health and medicine, with the potential to impact patient care, shape clinical practices and advance medical research.”
Assoc Prof Liu Nan
The Academy is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons and strives for innovation in delivering the highest-quality eye care, supporting research and setting standards for ophthalmic education.
National Day honours for SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC faculty and staff
More than 70 individuals with joint appointments at Duke-NUS and SingHealth received National Day honours for their contributions to the public service sector.
Among them are Mr Ng Kok Eng, Assistant Dean for Resource Management & Operations and HR Director with the Office of Corporate Services who received the Public Administration Medal (Bronze); Associate Professor Angelique Chan, Executive Director of the Duke-NUS Centre for Ageing Research and Education who received the Long Service Award; and Ms Chung Sook Kuan, Senior Accountant with the Finance Department, who received the Efficiency Medal.
Lien Centre for Palliative Care’s ‘Quality of Death and Dying’ index most popular post on EU palliative care blog in 2022
The Lien Centre for Palliative Care’s ‘What matters most to patients and families at the end of life: Findings from Quality of Death and Dying index’ was the most-viewed publication on the European Association for Palliative Care blog in 2022. That year, the blog attracted readers from 186 countries around the world, with more than 89,000 views.
Distinguished professorships conferred on two clinician-scientists from the AMC
On 7 September, two National Cancer Centre Singapore research luminaries were conferred SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC Distinguished Professorships by SingHealth Group CEO Professor Ivy Ng and Duke-NUS Dean Professor Thomas Coffman.
Professor Teh Bin Tean, the Centre’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Research was conferred the Tan Yew Oo Professorship in Pathology for his wealth of expertise in translational cancer research. With the support of the professorships, he is well-placed to advance understanding of cancer pathology and put Singapore on the world map in the field of pathology research, said Professor Lim Soon Thye, SingHealth’s Deputy Group CEO for Research and Education, in his citation.
Associate Professor Iain Tan, Division Director of Research and Senior Consultant, Division of Medical Oncology at the Centre, was conferred the Goh Hak Su Professorship in Colorectal Surgery. The professorship is an endorsement of Tan’s outstanding and significant track record in research, education and leadership, which he will bring to advance colorectal cancer care and research and mentor the next generation of colorectal surgeons, said Dr Emile Tan, who heads the Division of Surgery and Surgical Oncology at the Centre, in his citation.
Duke-NUS Medical Alumni association celebrates 10 years at 10th Dialogue
The Duke-NUS Medical Alumni association held its 10th Dialogue event on 6 October. Hosted by Mr Tony Chew, the founding chairman of the Duke-NUS Governing Board at his residence, alumni from all cohorts were joined by students and leaders from Duke-NUS and SingHealth as well as special guest Singapore’s former president Dr Tony Tan. The 10th Dialogue centred on “choosing a job you love and you will never have to work a day”, with distinguished speaker Professor Ivy Ng, Group CEO of SingHealth, sharing her journey and love for medicine and research. The event was not only the 10th edition of the Dialogue series but also coincided with the association’s 10th anniversary year.
“I am so proud to witness how we have grown as a community, and how our alumni so generously give back to our alma mater in various capacities. My hope for the Duke-NUS Medical Alumni as an association is to be a voice for our alumni and School, provide career guidance and professional development opportunities for our alumni, and find means for our alumni to give back to our alma mater.”
Dr Anu Pandey (MD Class of 2015), president of the Duke-NUS Medical Alumni association