Highlighting the importance of philanthropic support, Duke-NUS Dean Professor Thomas Coffman said: “More than 85 per cent of our students require financial assistance for their education. Accordingly, the many scholarships and bursaries supported by our donors are immensely beneficial and allow our students to focus on studying to be doctors without having to worry so much about their financial circumstances.”
He also emphasised the impact of donations on the School’s research:
“These philanthropic gifts provide essential and complementary support for areas not usually targeted by government-based funding.”
A major highlight of the evening was the announcement of a S$ 5.5 million donation from the Estate of Khoo Teck Puat.
This included a S$2 million top-up to the original research fund established through the Estate’s S$80 million gift in 2007, as well as S$3.5 million to create the Khoo Teck Puat Translational Research Fund, which will support promising research on the cusp of becoming usable medical therapies.
Expressing his gratitude and rallying continued support, Mr Goh added:
“However, we continue to need funds to support both groundbreaking research and our students’ education, and I invite you to consider increasing your commitment as we seek to provide innovative education and impactful research that transforms lives and the practice of medicine in Singapore and beyond.”
The evening’s theme of “Medicine. Mind. Music.” came to life during a fireside chat moderated by SingHealth Duke-NUS Medical Humanities Institute Director Associate Professor Devanand Anantham, and featuring sleep scientist Associate Professor Joshua Gooley, Duke-NUS medical student Mr Joson Ng and musical duo TwoSet Violin, also known as Brett Yang and Eddy Chen. Together, they explored the many connections between music, medicine and the mind, and how these can forge deeper understanding.