EDUCATION
The Signature Program in Health Services & Systems Research is established as a center of academic excellence for research and education on the organization, funding, and delivery of health services. Our focus is on public health and clinical service innovation in an increasingly complex and connected world.
The aim of our Program is to bridge theory and practice in a way that advances the state of scientific theory and is sufficiently pragmatic to actually improve health care practices. Our strategy for achieving this aim is to establish 'flagship' projects that are of practical importance for Singapore, engage multiple HSR participants (government entities, practice groups, medical schools, other Signature Programs), involve a 'systems' perspective (i.e., considers all potential points of leverage) and provide insights applicable to other countries.
One initial focus for a flagship activity is the serious and growing problem in Singapore and worldwide - how to provide care for older individuals (aged over 60 years) with cognitive impairments in effective, humane and sustainable ways. To address the complex dynamics of the relevant issues and the wide variety of stakeholders, we will be using methods of system modeling. A long-term objective is to extend this work to a variety of content areas and to establish the intellectual foundations of this work in a way that will guide other researchers in the field. A related objective is to build capacity through advanced education programs.
Another of the program’s flagship project is the Lien Center for Palliative Care, Asia’s first research center for palliative care in Singapore. The Lien Center is a collaboration between Duke-NUS and the Lien Foundation, with active involvement and support from the National Cancer Center Singapore and SingHealth. The mission of the center is to train a strong pool of palliative healthcare professionals through research and education, with the ultimate aim of formulating better-informed healthcare policies and medical practices.
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