Singapore, 27 December 2017 – SingHealth today announced key leadership changes at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre and National Cancer Centre Singapore. Professor Soo Khee Chee, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (Research & Education), SingHealth; Director, National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and Academic Chair, SingHealth Duke-NUS Oncology Academic Clinical Programme; will retire from SingHealth on 31 December 2017. He relinquished the appointment as Director of NCCS, with effect from 26 November 2017.
As SingHealth’s Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (Research & Education), Professor Soo built a strong academic culture, laid a strong research foundation and steered numerous collaborations with industry partners that catalysed research in the public healthcare sector that translated to improvements in clinical care.
Professor Soo was one of the prime movers whose tireless efforts culminated in SingHealth partnering Duke University and bringing Duke-NUS Medical School to SGH Campus and Singapore. In partnership with Duke-NUS, he led the establishment of Academic Clinical Programmes and numerous joint institutes including the Academic Medicine Education Institute and Academic Medicine Research Institute, which have facilitated learning and exchange.
The founding Director of NCCS since 1998, Professor Soo led its growth and development to be a leading cancer institution renowned both locally and internationally. Under his leadership, NCCS introduced a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to cancer management. For its commitment to excellence in patient care, research and education, NCCS was awarded the Singapore Service Excellence Medallion in 2015.
With a passion for nurturing the next generation, Professor Soo has personally mentored and inspired generations of successful clinicians. On the research front, clinician scientists under Professor Soo’s guidance have achieved numerous breakthroughs through their research pursuits, translating basic findings into clinical applications. As a result, NCCS is widely recognised for its research in lymphoma, head and neck, nasopharyngeal, liver and lung cancers.
In recognition of his many contributions to medicine, research and education, Professor Soo received several prestigious awards, including the National Day Award Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2003, National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award in 2008 and President’s Science and Technology Medal in 2011. He also holds the distinction of being the first recipient to be conferred the Duke-NUS Medical School Benjamin Sheares Professorship in Academic Medicine in 2011.
Professor Soo was also instrumental in attracting major philanthropic gifts, including the gift of $50 million from the Goh Foundation to set up the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre at the new NCCS building, which is targeted to be ready by 2022.
“Khee Chee’s distinguished career in public healthcare has earned him respect as a visionary clinician-leader, outstanding surgeon and researcher. His foresight and mastery in building a sustainable research ecosystem and gaining philanthropic support has enabled the growth of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre. His passion for advancing medicine, developing people and most of all, patient care, is inspirational. We are pleased that he will continue to practice at NCCS and share his wealth of experience with us,” said Professor Ivy Ng, Group Chief Executive Officer, SingHealth.
Professor Soo will continue to contribute as Senior Visiting Consultant at NCCS and SingHealth, and remain as Lead Principal Investigator in the Tan Chin Tuan Laboratory of Optical Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer, NCCS.
"I am grateful to my colleagues, patients, well-wishers and donors who have supported me during my time at NCCS and SingHealth. I am pleased to continue to be associated with both organisations after my retirement and look forward to contributing to clinical and research work, education as well as philanthropy work," said Professor Soo.
Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (Research & Education), SingHealth
(with effect from 1 January 2018)
Professor Wong Tien Yin will be appointed Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (Research & Education), SingHealth with effect from 1 January 2018. A highly respected clinician leader with a strong leadership track record, Professor Wong is also Medical Director of Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and Academic Chair, SingHealth Duke-NUS Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme. He has previously served as Group Director, Research, SingHealth as well as Executive Director of the
Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), where he continues to chair the Board.
An internationally renowned ophthalmologist specialising in retinal diseases, in particular diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, Professor Wong’s academic and research work has been recognised with numerous awards. He is a two-time recipient of the Singapore Translational Research (STaR) Investigator Award in 2008 and 2014. In 2010, he received the National Outstanding Clinician Scientist Award and the President’s Science Award. In addition, he was selected for the 2013 Eisenhower Fellowship to the USA and received the President’s Technology Award in 2014.
Medical Director, National Cancer Centre Singapore
(effective from 26 November 2017)
Associate Professor William Hwang Ying Khee was appointed Medical Director of NCCS and Academic Chair, SingHealth Duke-NUS Oncology Academic Clinical Programme, effective from 26 November 2017.
A respected clinician leader, Associate Prof Hwang has a strong track record of multiple leadership portfolios having previously served as Director, SingHealth Transplant; Head, SingHealth Duke-NUS Blood Cancer Centre; Head, Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital, Medical Director, Singapore Cord Blood Bank and President of the World Marrow Donor Association.
He is an avid researcher recognised for his expertise in haematological malignancies, especially in the areas of Haemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation. He currently chairs the Chapter of Haematologists, Singapore and the Workgroup on Biobanking for the Ministry of Health. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee for the Centre for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and an Executive Board member of the Asia Pacific Blood and Marrow Transplant Group (APBMT).