Making a Difference with Assoc Prof Kenny Sin

Amy Weng

Congratulations to Assoc Prof Kenny Sin, Head & Senior Consultant, Cardiothoracic Surgery, NHCS, who has been inducted as a Master Academic Clinician (MAC). This prestigious recognition is awarded to clinicians who have shown exceptional clinical skills, professionalism and excellence in their scholarly activities, which range from education, leadership, research and innovation to patient safety and quality improvement.

When asked about this honour, Assoc Prof Sin humbly shifts the focus away from himself. “An award like this may carry my name, but it really recognises the mentors who guided me along the way, and the lessons I learned from my patients.

”After decades of treating patients with complex heart conditions and training young surgeons, his motivation that continues to guide his career remains simple.

“When I wake up in the morning and feel that I can still make a difference, that’s reason enough to come to work.”

Drawn to Challenges

Long before he entered medical school, stories of medical breakthroughs had already captured his imagination.

Assoc Prof Sin remembers reading about the world’s first heart transplant and the development of mechanical heart valves, feats that once seemed almost impossible.

“At that time, those things felt like landing a man on the moon,” he said. “That sense of possibility was very inspiring.”

His journey through medicine gradually led him towards cardiothoracic surgery, a field known for both its technical complexity and life-saving impact. “Cardiac surgery is one of the most challenging areas in medicine,” he said. “But with that challenge comes the opportunity to make a real difference for patients.”

Over the years, his perspective has been shaped as much by difficult moments as by successful ones.

“The good outcomes encourage you to continue, while the difficult ones teach you humility and resilience. At the end of the day, we are all human. The important thing is to learn from every experience and make sure you do better the next time.”

A Day in the Life

By about 7.30am every morning, Assoc Prof Sin is already preparing for the day ahead as he reviews scans and patient notes at his office. Later in the morning, he either heads to clinic or the operating theatre.

Before a procedure begins, Assoc Prof Sin goes through the patient’s case notes together with his team, discussing the surgical plan in detail and pointing out key considerations. Even during the operation, he continues to teach whenever the opportunity arises, such as sharing brief explanations and observations about the case as the surgery proceeds. For the younger doctors in the room, the operating theatre doubles as a classroom as these shared insights translate to invaluable learnings.

Take for instance, the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), also known as heart bypass operation. CABG is a complex procedure and can take several hours to complete. Under the seasoned and skilful hands of Assoc Prof Sin, the surgical team often find themselves progressing through the operation much more quickly than usual, which speaks volumes of his rich experience in open-heart surgery.Assoc Prof Kenny Sin performing a coronary artery bypass graft in the operating theatre.

Assoc Prof Kenny Sin performing a coronary artery bypass graft in the operating theatre.

At various points of the day, Assoc Prof Sin makes it a point to check in regularly with the multidisciplinary team behind the operating theatre including nurses, perfusionists and various staff members, ensuring that the department runs smoothly.

Training the Next Generation of Surgeons

Beyond the operating theatre, Assoc Prof Sin has devoted much of his career training future cardiothoracic surgeons and shaping the development of the specialty in Singapore.

He previously served as Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery from 2007 to 2016 and later took on broader institutional responsibilities as Deputy Chief Executive Officer, while continuing his clinical work and mentoring younger surgeons.

Today, he is back at the helm of Cardiothoracic Surgery, leading the department while maintaining his commitment to surgery and training.

He also led the cardiothoracic surgery residency programme in its early days, paving the way for a more structured training system that ensures young surgeons gain sufficient experience before completing their training.

Now, residents track their surgical experience through formal logbooks and must complete a minimum number of procedures before graduating, a system designed to maintain consistent standards while safeguarding both trainees and patients.

Inspiring teacher-student duo Dr Zhu Ling and Assoc Prof Kenny Sin (read more here).

Making an Impact

Making an ImpactAssoc Prof Sin is also involved in cardiovascular education beyond our shores. Through NHCS’s fellowship programmes, surgical fellows from across the region gain exposure and experience at NHCS, contributing to broader development of cardiac expertise in Asia Pacific.

“When fellows come to NHCS, it’s a two-way exchange,” he said. “They learn from us, but we also learn from their experiences and perspectives.”

Assoc Prof Sin has also taken part in overseas medical missions where healthcare teams provide treatment and training in less-resourced healthcare settings. Such experiences, he said, broaden doctors’ understanding of medicine.

With decades of clinical practice, teaching and leadership roles behind him, Assoc Prof Sin remains grounded in his original calling. "I still see myself first and foremost as a doctor," he says.

"I have spent many years training and acquiring these skills, and at the end of the day, everything we do, whether it's surgery, teaching, research or administration work, should ultimately benefit patients."

Congratulations once again to Assoc Prof Kenny Sin on his induction as Master Academic Clinician!