SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute announces
new leadership appointments
Singapore, 15 January 2025 -The SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) announces key leadership changes, effective today. These new appointments within SDGHI, an institute under the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC), reaffirm the institute's commitment to advancing global health initiatives and fostering international collaborations.
Clinical Associate Professor Tan Hiang Khoon steps down after transformative tenure
Clinical Associate Professor Tan Hiang Khoon concludes his tenure as Director of SDGHI after four impactful years. Since his appointment in 2021, Clin Assoc Prof Tan has steered SDGHI to new heights, significantly amplifying the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC's global health impact through pioneering initiatives and key international partnerships.
Under his visionary leadership, SDGHI achieved significant milestones. A dedicated Global Health Programme Evaluation unit was established to systematically assess the global health programmes within the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC to enable nimbleness in executing SDGHI’s strategies to respond to emerging health challenges and trends. Clin Assoc Prof Tan was instrumental in forging partnerships to foster a collaborative environment to advance SDGHI’s
initiatives. This included the establishment of SDGHI Regional Collaborating Centres in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, with preparations underway for a forthcoming centre in Vietnam, serving as important hubs for regional health collaboration that extend the institute’s reach and impact across Southeast Asia.
Clin Assoc Prof Tan also championed the development of educational programmes to nurture the next generation of global health leaders. These include the Graduate Certificate in Global Health Practice in Asia, now heading into its second year, as well as the Graduate Certificate in Global Health Innovation and the Executive Master in Healthcare Leadership and Management, both of which are set to welcome their inaugural cohorts this year.
His leadership also led to the launch of the Asian Institute for Healthcare Leadership and Management and the Centre for Global Nursing in 2024. Plans are underway to launch similar centres for Allied Health and Pharmacy domains later this year. SDGHI has also fostered partnerships with esteemed institutions such as Duke Global Health Institute, Duke Kunshan University and National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, elevating the institute’s global health standing on the regional and global stages.
Welcoming new leadership: Professor London Lucien Ooi
SDGHI welcomes Professor London Lucien Ooi as its new Director. Prof Ooi, a senior surgical oncologist and respected clinician leader, brings extensive experience in academic medicine and healthcare transformation. During his nine-year tenure as Chair of Surgery at Singapore General Hospital, Prof Ooi established a comprehensive structure that enhanced surgical services and
advanced surgical facilities. His efforts included the development of specialised surgical sub-units, a new operating theatre reception and theatre sterile supplies unit, and enhanced operating theatre systems. These transformations significantly improved patient care and advanced subspecialty research.
Additionally, Prof Ooi has extensive leadership in research and education. He was the inaugural Chair of the Surgery Academic Clinical Programme in the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC and established the Surgical Skills Simulation and Biomechanics Labs, initiatives aimed at nurturing academic and clinical excellence. His contributions have been widely recognised with accolades
such as the SingHealth Visionary Leader Award and the National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award.
In his new role, Prof Ooi will build upon the strong foundation laid by Clin Assoc Prof Tan to advance the institute’s global health initiatives. His leadership will focus on elevating SDGHI as a pivotal force in tackling health challenges and developing the next generation of global health leaders across Asia.
Professor Paul Pronyk steps into the role of Co-Director
Additionally, Professor Paul Michael Pronyk will assume the role of Co-Director, SDGHI. Currently serving as Deputy Director of SDGHI and Director of the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Prof Pronyk has been pivotal in expanding SDGHI’s reach and impact. He played a key role in coordinating the 7th World One Health Congress in 2022, bringing together more
than 2,400 global health practitioners from 74 countries, which significantly raised the global profile of SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC.
His strategic leadership has also been instrumental in fostering collaborations, such as his role as Lead of the Global Health Work Group during the AMC Strategy Retreat in 2023. His efforts facilitated deeper understanding of SDGHI’s mission and initiatives across the AMC. In his new role, Prof Pronyk will draw on his extensive experience in global health to collaborate with Prof Ooi in steering SDGHI’s vision for the future.
With these leadership transitions, SDGHI can remain steadfast in its mission to advance health and wellbeing in Asia and beyond through equity, innovation, and collaboration.
Media Contact:
Ms Stephanie Batot
SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute
Stephanie.j.batot@duke-nus.edu.sg
About SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre
The SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC) draws on the collective strengths of SingHealth and Duke-NUS Medical School to provide our patients and community with the best outcomes and experience.
By leveraging the synergies in clinical care, research and education created through our Academic Clinical Programmes, Disease Centres and Joint Institutes, the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC fosters the exchange of scientific knowledge and clinical perspectives to accelerate innovation and new discoveries, advance the practice of medicine as well as nurture the next generation of healthcare professionals.
SingHealth delivers comprehensive, multi-disciplinary and integrated care across a network of acute hospitals, national specialty centres, polyclinics and community hospitals. Offering over 40 clinical specialties, SingHealth is Singapore’s largest public healthcare cluster.
Duke-NUS, Singapore’s flagship graduate-entry medical school, nurtures ‘Clinician Plus’ graduates to become leaders in the global healthcare and biomedical ecosystem, while scientists from its five Signature Research Programmes and 10 Centres transform medicine and improve lives in Asia and beyond.
For more information, please visit: www.singhealthdukenus.com.sg
About SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute
‘Advancing Health and Wellbeing in Asia and Beyond.’ The SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) is an enabling platform for global health activities across the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical
Centre. Harnessing the strengths and expertise of SingHealth and Duke-NUS Medical School, the institute aims to address current and emerging health challenges across Asia and beyond. Working in collaboration with partners globally, we seek to tackle prevalent health challenges, strengthen health systems, and better insulate countries from pandemics and disease threats.
For more information, please visit: www.duke-nus.edu.sg/sdghi