2021: A Year in Review

Duke-NUS Medical School
2021: A Year in Review

2021 was the start of the journey to a new normal, as we continue to transform medicine and improve lives through collaborative efforts and innovation. Let us take a look back through 2021 at the amazing milestones we've accomplished together as Duke-NUS!

Master Academic Clinicians

Jan 2021 Duke-NUS inaugurated its virtual Hall of Master Academic Clinicians and inducted the inaugural cohort of eight outstanding clinician faculty at a ceremony held at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium at the Academia. The ceremony was also an opportunity to congratulate 29 promoted and newly appointed senior clinical faculty.

Congratulations to Professor Ooi Eng Eong on the Straits Times Singaporean of the Year Award!

The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2020

Feb 2021 Professor Ooi Eng Eong from the Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases received The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2020 award as part of a group of five selfless COVID-19 front-liners who stepped forward to fight against the pandemic.

Graduate Certificate Programme in Health Services Innovation

Mar 2021 Health Services and Systems Research Programme launched the Graduate Certificate Programme in Health Services Innovation (GCP-HSI) in a joint initiative with SingHealth. The event was attended by about 150 clinician scientists, researchers, policy makers and educators from various organisations and institutes across Singapore, who joined via video link.

The Straits Times' Singapore's Best Employers 2021

Apr 2021 Duke-NUS has been recognised as one of the top 200 employers in Singapore by The Straits Times’ annual ranking. Called Singapore's Best Employers, the ranking was compiled by research firm Statista on behalf of the newspaper.

Family and friends of the graduates joined via zoom

Class of 2020 celebrates graduation with in-person ceremony

Apr 2021 Last year, Class of 2020 marked the official end of their time at Duke-NUS with a Hippocratic Oath ceremony, which was held virtually at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. On April 17, they finally celebrated their achievements at an in-person ceremony.

Celebrating Class of 2021

May 2021 First student with a PhD in Quantitative Biology & Medicine graduates from Class of 2021 to pursue big data research, along with 56 newly minted MD and MD-PhD doctors who join Singapore’s healthcare workforce.

Duke-NUS and SingHealth jointly launch the Academic Medicine Innovation Institute

Launch of Academic Medicine Innovation Institute

Jun 2021 In a further boost to innovators across the Academic Medical Centre (AMC), Duke-NUS and SingHealth announced the establishment of the Academic Medicine Innovation Institute. The new Institute will provide a virtual framework to foster a culture of innovation and facilitate the sharing of best practices at the AMC.

NUS Provost's Chair Professorships

Jul 2021 In recognition of their outstanding research and impactful academic contribution, Professors Lok Shee Mei and Zhang Suchun have received prestigious NUS Provost’s Chair Professorships. They join Professor Wong Tien Yin who has been re-appointed as a Provost’s Chair for the second term.

National Day Awards 2021

Aug 2021 Congratulations to our faculty and staff, as well as individuals from our Academic Medicine partner, SingHealth, who were recognised with some of Singapore’s top honours at the 2021 National Day Awards.

Class of 2025

Sep 2021 Among the 72 new students in the 2021 intake are six graduates from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) who are the first to enter Duke-NUS via the conditional admissions pathways.

Duke-NUS, Xylonix join forces to improve effectiveness of Xylonix cancer drugs

Duke-NUS, Xylonix collaborate to improve effectiveness of Xylonix cancer drugs

Oct 2021 Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School have partnered with Singapore biotechnology company Xylonix to optimise liposome drug formulations and develop companion diagnostics for Xylonix’s novel cancer immunity drug, called 010DS-Zn.

Congratulations to the winners of NMEA 2021

National Medical Excellence Awards 2021

Nov 2021 The COVID-19 Research Workgroup, comprising scientists and clinicians from Duke-NUS, A*STAR and the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, as well as Duke-NUS Associate Dean of Residency Education Professor Tan Hak Koon were among four recipients from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre who were honoured at the 2021 National Medical Excellence Awards.

National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Awards 2021

Dec 2021 Our heartiest congratulations to our SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre 's latest winners of the NMRC awards, fellowships and scholarships. 67 winners were recognised at the NMRC awards ceremony.

President’s Science and Technology Awards 2021

Dec 2021 At the hybrid ceremony, Singapore President Madam Halimah Yacob presented SingHealth Group CEO and Duke-NUS Governing Board member, Professor Ivy Ng and Professor Wang Linfa from the Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme at Duke-NUS with the President’s Science and Technology Medal and the President’s Science Award, respectively.