The doctor who prescribes movement, not just medicine

If you thought a doctor’s job ends at the clinic door, Dr Fadzil Hamzah is here to jog that notion right out of your mind—quite literally.

Dr Fadzil’s zeal for incorporating movement and exercise into healthcare practice is infectious. You’ll find him at community events and on social media, sharing his passion for wellness and health. As a Senior Staff Physician with the Department of Sport and Exercise Medicine at Changi General Hospital (CGH) and Deputy Director at SingHealth’s Office of Regional Health (Health Promotion Disease Prevention), he goes beyond treating patients - he transforms how we think about health.

Drawing from his experience as a former national dragon boat athlete, Dr Fadzil has dedicated most of his two-decade career at SingHealth to shifting the traditional reactive mindset of approaching healthcare. His journey began with a simple but powerful realisation – “Exercise is medicine,” and he means it. Through his leadership as the Director of Community Programmes in Exercise Is Medicine Singapore, the local chapter of a global initiative by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) that is hosted at CGH, and various community programmes, Dr Fadzil has helped turn movement into a vital sign, just like blood pressure or heart rate in mainstream healthcare.

His vision extends far beyond treadmills and step counts. As a champion of population health, Dr Fadzil looks at the big picture, working to improve community health outcomes by addressing not just medical needs, but also social, economic and environmental factors.

Through his work at SingHealth’s Regional Health System and beyond, Dr Fadzil helps build a healthcare system focuses on prevention. He collaborates with schools, places of worship, grassroots groups and even fitness instructors to weave health into everyday life. From training doctors to prescribe exercise or empowering seniors as community health champions, he makes prevention both personal and powerful.

Embracing innovation, Dr Fadzil explores how artificial intelligence and digital tools can personalise health advice and track progress, making preventive care more accessible and engaging for everyone.

Looking ahead, he hopes to be remembered not just as a doctor, but as someone who bridges medicine and community, policy and people.

“If I’ve helped Singaporeans understand that every movement matters and inspired the next generation of healthcare professionals to see physical activity as essential, then I’ve done my job.”

Dr Fadzil is just one example of how passion meets purpose in SingHealth. We are all here to create a healthier and better Singapore!

Speak up with SORA

“SORA is a reminder to all of us to embrace an environment that is safe for every one of us to speak up.” – Prof Ng Wai Hoe, GCEO, SingHealth

At SingHealth, when one thinks of psychological safety, a cute, cuddly orangutan known as SORA (Speak up the ORAngutan), pops into mind. Instead of an 800-pound domineering gorilla that ignores the feelings of others, SORA’s approachability is a reminder to staff that they can offer their honest opinion without fear of reprisal.

Research has shown that psychological safety is the most crucial factor in promoting good teamwork and building successful teams. SORA’s goal is to foster a culture where open dialogue is encouraged, and diversity of views are respected and embraced so that staff feel respected and heard.

“Staff wellness is about every single one of us being in the optimal physical, mental and emotional state every single day. So that as we come to work, we are in the best possible condition to care for our patients and fellow colleagues,” said Prof Ng.

The doctor who prescribes movement, not just medicine

If you thought a doctor’s job ends at the clinic door, Dr Fadzil Hamzah is here to jog that notion right out of your mind—quite literally.

“If I’ve helped Singaporeans understand that every movement matters and inspired the next generation of healthcare professionals to see physical activity as essential, then I’ve done my job.”

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