Dr Ong Kong Wee

MBBS, MRCS (Ed), PhD (Bistrol), FAMS

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About

Education and Training

Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships

Awards

Publications

About

Dr Ong Kong Wee is the Head of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Breast Centre, which is the largest centre in Singapore treating the full spectrum of breast conditions. The Centre serves its patients at 3 key SingHealth institutions, namely, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore General Hospital, and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Annually, the Centre manages over 1000 breast cancers patients, offering optimal treatment using the latest surgical techniques and cutting edge equipment. His interests include novel techniques in breast cancer surgery, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, as well as Intra-Operative Radiotherapy.

Dr Ong has a keen interest in breast cancer research. He has over a dozen publications in top journals such as Nature Genetics, Lancet Oncology and Clinical Cancer Research. He currently leads a large clinical research team investigating a diverse range of topics related to breast cancer treatment. He also actively contributes to projects involving research scientists and industrial partners. In 2012, Dr Ong was appointed the Director of Resident and Student Mentorship at the Academic Clinical Program (ACP) Surgery in Singhealth to promote research in young aspiring surgeons.

Dr Ong is actively involved in medical education and training. He is Adjunct Assistant Professor at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, and Duke-NUS Medical School. He is also a Clinical Physician Faculty for the SingHealth General Surgery Residency Program. In recognition of his contributions, Dr Ong has been awarded the Outstanding Faculty Award in 2014.

Dr Ong graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1997. During medical school, he was on the Dean’s List every year and won several medals and book prizes, including the Academy of Medicine Bronze Medal, the Beecham Book Prize for being the best student in Anatomy, and the Nestle Book Prize for the best student in Paediatric Clinical Clerkship.Upon graduation, he pursued his interest in translational science at the University of Bristol, graduating with a PhD in Immunology in 2003. He has been a Fellow in General Surgery at the Academy of Medicine, Singapore since 2007.

Patient care is of paramount importance to Dr Ong. He strongly believes that despite his many academic and administrative roles, he can continue to offer good clinical service to his patients to achieve the best clinical outcome. His efforts have not gone unnoticed, and he was given a Special Mention in Customer Service (Healthcare) category at the Singapore Experience Awards in 2009.

Education and Training

MBBS (S’pore)
FRCSEd
PhD

Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships

Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
Fellow, Academy of Medicine, Singapore

Awards

Singapore Experience Awards: Customer Service – Healthcare Special Mention, 2009
Singhealth Human Manpower Development Program Award - Clinical Research and Advanced Surgical Training in Breast Cancer, 2008
Singapore General Hospital Oral Papers - Winner (Medicine), 2005
Medical Research Fellowship, National Medical Research Council, Singapore, 1st Aug 1999 – 31st Dec 2002
Best Houseman Award, Department of Oncology and Urogynaecology Kandang Kerbau Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, 1st Sep 1997 – 31st Dec 1997
Nestle Book Prize for Best Student in Paediatrics Clinical Clerkship, National University of Singapore, Final Professional Examination, 1996-7
Dean’s List, National University of Singapore, Final Professional Examination, 1996-7
Dean’s List, National University of Singapore, Third Professional Examination, 1995-6
Dean’s List, National University of Singapore, Second Professional Examination, 1994-5
Academy of Medicine Bronze Medal, National University of Singapore, First Professional Examination, 1993-4
Beecham Book Prize (Anatomy), National University of Singapore, First Professional Examination, 1993-4

Publications

First/Corresponding Author

1.Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in an Asian population: a single institution review. Sim Y R, Tan V K M, Ho G H, Wong C Y, Madhukumar P, Tan B K T, Yong W S, Ng Y Y R, Ong K W. The Breast. 2014; 23: 56-62. JIF 1.831
2.Expression of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent antigens, mTOR and tumor suppression genes in EBV positive smooth muscle tumors: clinical and therapeutic implications. Ong K W, Teo M, Lee V, Ong D, Lee A, Tan C S, Vathsala A, Toh H C. Clinical Cancer Research. 2009; 15: 5350-5358. JIF 7.742
3.The B-subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin enhances CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte killing of Epstein-Barr virus-infected cell lines. Ong K W, Wilson AD, Hirst T R, Morgan A J. Journal of Virology. 2003; 77: 4298-4305. JIF 5.402

Co-Author

Exome sequencing identifies highly recurrent MED12 somatic muations in breast fibroadenoma. Lim W K, Ong C K, Tan J, Thike A A , Ng C C Y, Rajasegaran V, Myint S S, Nagarajan S, Nasir N D M, McPherson J R, Cutcutache I, Poore G, Tay S T, Ooi W S, Tan V M T, Hartman M, Ong K W, Tan B K T, Rozen S G, Tan P H, Tan P, The B T. Nature Genetics. 2014; 46: 877-880. JIF 35.509
Sentinel lymph nodes with isolated tumour cells and micrometastases in breast cancer: clinical relevance and prognostic significance. Ahmed S S, Thike A A, Iqbal J, Yong W S, Tan B, Madhukumar P, Ong K W, Ho G H, Wong C Y, Tan P H. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2013; 10.1136/jclinpath-2013-201771. JIF 2.306
Predicting the likelihood of additional lymph node metastasis in sentinel lymph node positive breast cancer: validation of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC) nomogram. Chue K M, Yong W S, Thike A A, Ahmed S S, Li H H, Wong C Y, Ho G H, Madhukumar P, Tan B K T, Ong K W, Tan P H. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2013; doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2013-201524. JIF 2.306
ALDH1 expression is enriched in breast cancers arising in young women but does not predict outcome. Tan E Y, Thike A A, Ho G H, Yong W S, Wong C Y, Tan B, Ong K W, Madhukumar P, Tan P H. British Journal of Cancer. 2013; 109: 109-113. JIF 5.082
Association of common genetic variants with breast cancer risk and clinicopathological characteristics in a Chinese population. Chan M, Ji S M, Liaw C S, Yap Y S, Haw H Y, Yoon C S, Wong C Y, Yong W S, Wong N S, Ng R, Ong K W, Madhukumar P, Oey C L, Tan P H, Li H H, Ang P, Ho G H, Lee A S G. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 2012; 136(1): 209-20. JIF 4.469
Predicting clinical behaviour of breast phyllodes tumours: a normogram based on histological criteria and surgical margins. Tan P H, Thike A A, Tan W J, Thu M M, Busmanis I, Li H, Chay W Y, Tan M H, Tan B, Wong C Y, Ong K W, Yong W S, Ho G H, Ooi W S, Teh B T. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2012; 65(1): 69-76. JIF 2.306
An unusual case of recurrent obstructive jaundice. Heng L Z, Ong K W, Chow P K H. Gastroenterology. 2011; 140(5): 1401. JIF 11.68
Immune response against angiosarcoma following lower fluence rate clinical photodynamic therapy. Thong P S P, Malini O, Kho K W, Ramaswamy B, Chin W W L, Ong K W, Soo K C. Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology. 2008; 27: 43-50. JIF 1.07
Photodynamic therapy-activated immune response against distant untreated lesions in recurrent angiosarcomas. Thong P S P, Ong K W, Goh N S G, Kho K W, Manivasager V, Bhuvaneswari R, Olivio M, Soo K C. Lancet Oncology. 2007; 8: 950-952. JIF 22.59
Use of sirolimus for Epstein-Barr virus-positive smooth-muscle tumour. Toh H C, Teo M, Ong K W, Lee V, Chan E, Lee A S G, Vathsala A. Lancet Oncology. 2006; 7: 955-957. JIF 22.59
Healthcare worker seroconversion in SARS outbreak. Chow P K H, Ooi E E, H K Tan H K, Ong K W, Sil B K, Teo M, Ng T, Soo K C. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2004; 10: 240-250. JIF 6.16