• Induction into the Hall of Master Academic Clinicians is the highest accolade for clinical faculty at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre
  • Exemplary clinical faculty members are selected by a special committee for their subject matter mastery, academic excellence and exceptional mentoring for Duke-NUS students

Singapore, 25 February 2022 – Eight exceptional clinicians were inducted today into Duke-NUS Medical School’s prestigious Hall of Master Academic Clinicians—the School’s highest recognition for outstanding clinical faculty—at a hybrid event held at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium at the Academia on the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) campus.

The eight inductees are practising clinicians from SingHealth institutions and represent seven of the 15 SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Clinical Programmes (ACPs), which were established for each clinical specialty to facilitate residency training for Duke-NUS students upon graduation. The inductees come from SGH, Sengkang General Hospital, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, National Dental Centre Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, and SingHealth Polyclinics.

“Clinicians are the lifeblood of any AMC,” said Professor Thomas M Coffman, Dean of Duke-NUS Medical School. “We are proud of the many accomplishments of our clinical faculty and committed to recognising their invaluable contributions to the success of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre.”

Established in 2021, the Hall of Master Academic Clinicians celebrates outstanding clinicians who train and mentor medical students and young clinicians, and pursue academic excellence to improve the lives of patients in Singapore and beyond. The Hall is one of several ways in which Duke-NUS recognises its clinical faculty. At the same ceremony, 30 senior clinical faculty members were also appointed or promoted to the ranks of associate or full professor. These clinicians attained excellent academic achievements in their fields and are outstanding mentors to medical students as well as their junior colleagues and peers.

Prof Coffman added, “Through our Hall, we have created a thriving legacy that celebrates everyday stories of improving patients’ lives, inspiring students and elevating the standards of medicine.”

The ceremony was also attended by Mr Goh Yew Lin, Chairman of the Governing Board, Duke-NUS Medical School; Mr Cheng Wai Keung, Chairman of the Board of Directors, SingHealth; and senior leaders of both Duke-NUS and SingHealth.

This is the second cohort of clinical faculty to be inducted into the Hall. The inaugural cohort of eight outstanding clinicians was inducted in a memorable and touching ceremony in January 2021.

Hall of Master Academic Clinicians 2022 cohort

Master Academic Clinicians are nominated by their Academic Clinical Programme Chairs and selected by a panel of leaders from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre following a rigorous and competitive selection process.

Clinical Professor Cheng Wai Sam, Christopher

Senior Advisor, SingHealth
Senior Consultant, Urology, Singapore General Hospital and Sengkang General Hospital

“Clinical Professor Cheng is a prominent and well-respected urologist who enjoys a strong professional standing in the Singapore and international medical communities. A fervent advocate of patient safety and quality care, he works tirelessly to ensure patients receive the highest standard of care. He is a firm believer in leveraging advances in technology and medical innovation to transform the delivery of healthcare to better meet patients’ needs.” - Clinical Associate Professor Tan Hiang Khoon, Academic Chair, Surgery ACP

 

Associate Professor Ding Zee Pin

Senior Consultant, Cardiology, National Heart Centre Singapore

“Associate Professor Ding believes in nurturing the next generation through proper guidance with her vast experience in clinical medicine. She spent considerable time and effort in teaching and mentoring our future doctors. She is truly a dedicated clinician, teacher and has contributed enormously to the field of academic medicine in Singapore, serving as an inspiration to many generations of doctors and allied health professionals.” - Clinical Professor Chua Siang Jin Terrance, Academic Chair, Cardiovascular Sciences ACP

 

Clinical Associate Professor Goh Bee Tin

Deputy Director (Research and Education) and Senior Consultant (Head), Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, National Dental Centre Singapore

“As a clinician leader, scientist, innovator and educator, CIinical Associate Professor Goh exemplifies not only excellence in her work as a clinician but helps improve the practice of dentistry in every aspect of her work. She was pivotal in the development and successful launch of the National Dental Research Institute Singapore (NDRIS), which is the only national institute in the Asia-Pacific region to focus on oral health research.” - Clinical Associate Professor Poon Choy Yoke, Academic Chair, Oral Health ACP

 

Professor Ho Lai Yun

Emeritus Consultant, Neonatal & Developmental Medicine, Singapore General Hospital,
Senior Consultant and Advisory Board Director, Department of Child Development, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
  

“Professor Ho is eminently recognised as a master clinician in the medical community who has held key positions in various academic organisations, and nurtured generations of neonatologists and paediatricians. Through his long, illustrious career, he has shaped Singapore’s early childhood development landscape and contributed significantly to healthcare policies, medical education, child advocacy and the community.” - Clinical Associate Professor Chan Yoke Hwee, Academic Chair, Paediatrics ACP

 

Clinical Professor Phua Kong Boo

Emeritus Consultant, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition Service, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital

“Clinical Professor Phua is a true role model of an exemplary clinician with outstanding contributions to medical research, education and the community. He is a well sought-after speaker for topics in gastroenterology and Hepatology, such as gastroenteritis, obstructive jaundice and biliary atresia. His sharing at the Initiative for Vaccine Research's Global Vaccine Research Forum by the World Health Organization was instrumental in expediting the availability of a rotavirus vaccine to millions of children today.” - Clinical Associate Professor Chan Yoke Hwee, Academic Chair, Paediatrics ACP

 

Clinical Professor Tan Bien Soo

Senior Consultant, Vascular & Interventional Radiology, Singapore General Hospital

“Clinical Professor Tan has great foresight and has the ability to see ahead of the curve. He is a key opinion leader and is well respected nationally and around the world. He is very passionate and committed to providing the best care to patients. He has introduced many patient safety and quality improvement initiatives, standardised workflows and protocols, placed heavy emphasis on clinical patient care and audit as well as on education and research.” - Clinical Associate Professor Tan Gee Seng Andrew, Academic Chair, Radiological Sciences ACP

 

Clinical Associate Professor Tan Ngiap Chuan

Director (Research), Senior Consultant and Family Physician, SingHealth Polyclinics

“Clinical Associate Professor Tan has single-handedly sown the seed for Family Medicine research from the early years and nurtured its progressive development, both in scale, capacity and capability. He is always on the lookout to identify aspiring medical students and junior doctors as future family physicians and is especially passionate to nurture them to be future generations of family physicians who are not only competent clinicians but also excel in research and innovation.” - Clinical Assistant Professor Ee Guan Liang Adrian, Inaugural Academic Chair, Family Medicine ACP

 

Professor Julian Thumboo

Director, Research Office, and Senior Consultant, Rheumatology & Immunology, Singapore General Hospital

"Professor Thumboo had served on several national committees and helmed various leadership positions. He has brought together the SGH research community to strategically identify research peaks and enablers which would help the institution achieve an envisioned future for research. He is passionate about teaching and regards it as a personal mission to impart not only knowledge but the need to instill compassion, commitment, integrity and a passion to learn.” - Associate Professor Loo Chian Min, Academic Chair, Medicine ACP