Assoc Prof Chew Li-Ching

Li-Ching is both a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, and Royal College of Physicians, London. She is currently serving as Chairman for the Chapter of Rheumatologists. She completed her specialist training at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath, UK, and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, respectively. She was awarded a 9-month MOH scholarship to pursue a fellowship in musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) and inflammatory arthritis, at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia. She set up the department's US service and training, and served as Director since its inception; launching several new initiatives, e.g. fast-track GCA scanning and other MSK interventions.

Her subspecialty is in the use of ultrasound imaging to aid in the management of various rheumatic diseases. As a pioneer in rheumatology ultrasound in Singapore and regionally, she has vast experience in the clinical application for rheumatic diseases. She is a teaching faculty for APLAR SIG and was the organising chair for APLAR Pre-Congress US Workshops in Singapore, regional course convener, and is involved in research projects as PI. She leads the national education and training initiatives, as examiner, for the accreditation of local rheumatologists, development of Chapter's training curriculum, and has contributed to the training and credentialing guidelines for SGH as subgroup lead.

Other past national and hospital level administrative committees: Chairman, Chapter of Rheumatologists (2003-current); Vice-Chair, Chapter of Rheumatologists (2001-2003); EXCO member, Singapore Society of Rheumatology (past); COVID-19 Workgroup for Chapter of Rheumatologists; Task Force for T2T Biologics and screening for latent TB in AIRD; Organising Committee, SGH Quality Improvement Conventions; Programme Director for the Rheumatology Monitoring Clinic (RMC) and Virtual Monitoring Clinic (VMC), SGH.

• ​F.R.C.P., Fellow, Royal College of Physicians (London), United Kingdom 2016 
• F.A.M.S. (Rheumatology), Fellow, Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2005 
  
• M.R.C.P., Member, Royal College of Physicians (London), United Kingdom 2000 
  
• B.M.B.S., University of Nottingham, United Kingdom 1997 
  
• B. Med, Sci. (Hons), University of Nottingham, United Kingdom 1995
  

• Chairman, Chapter of Rheumatologists, College of Physicians, Academy of Medicine, Singapore
• Committee Member, Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Curriculum and Training for Credentialing of Specialist-Registered Rheumatologists, Chapter of Rheumatologists, College of Physicians, Singapore
• SGH Ultrasound Workgroup, Subgroup Lead for Credentialing and Training 
• President, Targeted Ultrasound Initiative (TUI), Singapore

• SingHealth Doctors and Dentists Long Service Award (20-year), 2023
• COVID-19 Resilience Medal, 2023
• SARS Star Courage Award, 2003
• Service with A Heart Award, 2007/2009/2010/2015
• Star Award, Singapore Health Quality Service Award, Excellent Service Award, 2009/2010
• Gold Award, Singapore Health Quality Service Award, Excellent Service Award, 2012/2013/2014/2015
• Silver Award, Singapore Health Quality Service Award, Excellent Service Award, 2007/2009
• HMDP (Health Manpower Development Programme) Fellowship Award, 2010
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

• Li-Ching Chew, Cassandra Hong, Bhaskar Dasgupta. An innovative hybrid training method for ultrasound in giant cell arteritis, PMR and large vessel vasculitis. AJUM 2025; Vol. 28(1):e12417. 
• A Lee, KO Kong, L-C Chew, K Ikeda, A Abogamal, P Balint, G Harifi, M Khurshid, K-L Lai, K-W G Lee, R Wakefield, B Dasgupta. Enhancing Rheumatology Training: The POCRUS Model for Integrating Ultrasound into Clinical Practice (from APLAR Imaging SIG). Int J Rheum Dis 2024 Jun;27(6):e15225. 
• Law AHN, Chuah TY, WX Lee, Teng GG, Lian TY, Saffari SE, Chew LC. Diffuse Alveolar Haemorrhage in SLE : a multicentre retrospective study in Singapore. Lupus June 2023. Vol. 0(0) 1-12. 
• M. Ma, A Santosa, W Fong, LC Chew, et al. Post-mRNA Vaccine Flares in Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases: Results from the COronavirus National Vaccine registry for ImmuNe diseases SINGapore (CONVIN-SING). Journal of Autoimmunity Volume 134, January 2023, 102959. 
• C Xu, M Lahiri, A Santosa, LC Chew, et al. Recommendations for Enhanced Primary Series (third dose) COVID-19 Vaccination for People with Rheumatic Diseases: Chapter of Rheumatologists, College of Physicians. SMJ-2022-070, July 27, 2023. 
• W Fong, TH Woon, LC Chew, et al. Prevalance and factors associated with flares following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in patients with RA, psoriatic arthritis and spondylarthritis: a national cohort study. Adv Rheumatol 63, 38 (2023).
• Wen Hao Tan, Li-Ching Chew. Acute infective endocarditis presenting with polyarthritis post-turbinoplasty. Singapore Medical Journal 2023 64(2):149-51.
• Mona Manghani, Peter P. Cheung, Sreenivasulu Reddy Mogali, Ashutosh Prakash, Li-Ching Chew. An evaluation of the effectiveness of teaching anatomy to rheumatologists through combined musculoskeletal sonoanatomy and human cadaveric dissection. Rheumatology Advances in Practice 2020 4(1):1–5 doi:10.1093/rap/rkaa010.
• Chew LC, Yeo SI, Thumboo J. The Impact of the Off-site Monitoring Clinic (Virtual Monitoring Clinic) on the Practice of Outpatient Rheumatology in a Tertiary Centre during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2020 49(11):905-908.
• York Kiat Tan, Rajesh Babu Moorakonda, John Carson Allen Jr, Li-Ching Chew, Julian Thumboo. Back to the basics: Understanding joint swelling and tenderness at the wrist in rheumatoid arthritis through the use of ultrasonography. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2019 21;22(1):68-72.
• Li‐Ching Chew, Xiaohui Xin, Hui Yang, Julian Thumboo. An evaluation of the Virtual Monitoring Clinic, a novel nurse-led service for monitoring patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2019 Apr;22(4):619-625.
• Tan YK, Chew LC, Allen JC Jr, Lye WK, Htay LL, Hassan A, Conaghan PG, Thumboo J. Utility of ultrasonography in guiding modification of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and steroid therapy for inflammatory arthritis in routine clinical practice. Int J Rheum Dis. 2018 19;21(1):155-160.
• Allen, J. C., Thumboo, J., Lye, W. K., Conaghan, P. G., Chew, L.-C., Tan, Y. K. Novel joint selection methods can reduce sample size for rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials with ultrasound endpoints. Int J Rheum Dis. 2018 3;21(3):693-698.
• York Kiat Tan, John C. Allen Jr, Weng Kit Lye, Li-Ching Chew, Julian Thumboo. Greater rheumatoid arthritis joint improvement with more subjects achieving response across improvement categories using novel versus existing ultrasound methods. Rheumatol Int 2018 20;38(5):795-799.
• LC Chew, CW Tong, C Bryant, F Joshua. Recognising the clinical triad and dural calcification in adult hypophosphatasia. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2017 56(6):868.
• Tan YK, Allen JC Jr, Lye WK, Conaghan PG, Chew LC, J Thumboo. Dichotomous versus semi-quantitative scoring of ultrasound joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis using novel individualized joint selection methods. Clin Rheumatol 2017 36(5):1137–1141.
• Li-Ching Chew, P Chandra Mohan, Lai Peng Chan, Kok Yong Fong, Julian Thumboo. The Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Detecting Subclinical Synovitis in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Correlation of Imaging Findings with Interleukin-18 levels. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, 2016 19(8):790-798.
• Tan YK, Allen JC Jr, Lye WK, Conaghan PG, D'Agostino MA, Chew LC, J Thumboo. Novel Ultrasound Joint Selection Methods Using a Reduced Joint Number Demonstrate Inflammatory Improvement when Compared to Existing Methods and Disease Activity Score at 28 Joints. J Rheumatol. 2016 1;43(1):34-7.
• Li-Ching Chew, Liza Maceda-Galang, York Kiat Tan, Bibhas Chakraborty, Julian Thumboo. Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Patients with Autoimmune Disease on High Dose Glucocorticoid. J Clin Rheumatol 2015, 21(2):72-5.
• Peter Cheung, Kok Ooi Kong, Li-Ching Chew, Faith L. Chia, Weng Giap Law, Tsui Yee Lian, York Kiat Tan,Yew Kuang Cheng. Achieving consensus in ultrasonography synovitis scoring in rheumatoid arthritis. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2014 13;17(7),776-78.
• Teng GG1, Cheung PP, Lahiri M, Clayton JA, Chew LC, Koh ET, Koh WH, Lau TC, Ng SC, Thong BY, Vasudevan AR, Yoong JK, Leong KH. Singapore Chapter of Rheumatologists Consensus Statement on the Eligibility for Government Subsidy of Biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Agents for Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Ann Acad Med Singapore 2014 43(8):400-11.
• Chew LC, Yee SL. The Rheumatology Monitoring Clinic (RMC) in Singapore – a novel advanced practice nurse-/pharmacist-led clinic. Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare 2013 22(1):48-55.
• Ng XY, Low A, Chew LC, Chong YY, Fong KY, Lui NL, Sim E, Tan YK, Yoong J, Thumboo J. Disease patterns of Rheumatology outpatients seen in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2013 17;16(3):273-8.
• ET Koh, J Tan,.. TTSH RA Study Group (LC Chew, et al.). Major trends in the manifestations and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in a multiethnic cohort in Singapore. Rheumatology International 2013; 33(7):1693-1703.
• Law HN, Chew LC. Nail Patella Syndrome: A case report. Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare 2013 22(1):301-5.
• S Jayaweera, LC Chew, R Shnier, J Bertouch, A Katrib, F Joshua. A cross-sectional correlation of enthesitis of the elbow and Achilles in Ankylosing Spondylitis with ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Internal Medicine Journal 2012 42:9-35.
• Chew LC, Lim TG, Loy KL, Kong MC, Chang WT, Tan SB, et al. A Questionnaire Survey of Patient Experience with the Rheumatology Monitoring Clinic in Singapore. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2012 29;15(4):390–398.
• Yoong KC, Chew LC, Quek R, Lim CH, Zai J, Fong KY, Thumboo J. Cardiac lymphoma in primary Sjogren's syndrome: A novel case established by targeted imaging and pericardial window. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2007 134(2):513-4.
• M Tjeuw, LC Chew, F Joshua, A Katrib, J Bertouch. Inter-machine reliability for detection of power doppler signal in RA. Internal Medicine Journal 2011 4:20-21.
• KP Leong, EYY Chong, KO Kong, SP Chan, BYH Thong, TY Lian, HH Chng, ET Koh, CL Teh, TC Lau, WG Law, YK Cheng, H Badsha, LC Chew, WH Yong, HS Howe. Discordant assessment of lupus activity between patients and their physicians: The Singapore experience. Lupus 2010 19(1):100-6.
• KP Leong, EYY Chong, KO Kong, SP Chan, BYH Thong, TY Lian, HH Chng, ET Koh, CL Teh, TC Lau, WG Law, YK Cheng, H Badsha, LC Chew, WH Yong, HS Howe. Discordant assessment of lupus activity between patients and their physicians: The Singapore experience. Lupus 2010 19(1):100-6.
• Yoong KC, Chew LC, Quek R, Lim CH, Zai J, Fong KY, Thumboo J. Cardiac lymphoma in primary Sjogren's syndrome: A novel case established by targeted imaging and pericardial window. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2007 134(2):513-4.
• Koh ET, Leong KP, Tsou IYY, Lim VH, Pong LY, Chong SY, Seow A, Kong KO, Thong BYH, Law WG, Lian TY, Cheng YK, Chng HH, Teh CL, Chew LC, Lau TC, Howe HS, Yong WH. The reliability, validity and sensitivity to change of the Chinese version of SF-36 in oriental patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2006;45(8):1023-1028.
• Chew LC. Septic Monoarthritis and Osteomyelitis in an Elderly Man Following Klebsiella pneumoniae Genitourinary Infection: A Case Report. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2006 35(2):100-3.
• Leong KP, Kong KO, Thong BYH, Koh ET, Lian TY, Teh CL, Cheng YK, Chng HH, Badsha H, Law WG, Lau TC, Chew LC, Ho HJ, Pong LY, Hoi LS, Sangeetha N, Chan SP, Howe HS. Development and preliminary validation of a systemic lupus erythematosus-specific quality-of-life instrument (SLEQOL). Rheumatology (Oxford). 2005 44(10):1267-76.
• Patent: A novel SLE-specific instrument for measurement of quality of life, called SLEQOL obtained approval of USA patent via A*STAR Copyright
• Leong KP, Kong KO, Thong BY, Koh ET, Lian TY, The CL, Cheng YK, Chng HH, Badsha H, Law WG, Lau TC, Chew LC, Ho HJ, Pong LY, Hoi LS, Nagarajan S, Chan SP, Howe HS. Psychometric properties of new systemic lupus erythematosus-specific quality-of-life instrument (SLEQOL). Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2004 Sep 33:35-7.