During a fellowship at the University of Maryland in 1996, I was given the opportunity to learn more about tinnitus – a condition where patients hear ringing in the ears. Upon returning to Singapore in 1997, I heeded the call to specialise in the condition even though my primary interest at that time was surgery.

It was tough because nobody was doing tinnitus work at that time. I had to pick up a lot of things on my own and learn from other countries. Our clinic was swamped for the first six months. And after a while, I just couldn’t bear to leave my patients.

Having practised medicine for the past 30 years, my focus remains clear – to provide the best care possible for my patients. I am grateful to all my mentors for helping me to become the doctor I am today. I believe in paying it forward by mentoring medical students, ENT residents and physiotherapists in clinical care and research.

Dr Chan Yew Meng
Senior Consultant
Department of Otolaryngology
Singapore General Hospital

Winner of the Superstar–Clinician Award, Singapore Health Quality Service Awards 2018.