Directory

Duke-NUS Medical School
Directory

Ho Lai Yun

Professor

Master Academic Clinician, Duke-NUS Medical School

Emeritus Consultant, Singapore General Hospital; Paediatrician and Neonatologist, Clinician Mentor, Department of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine.

Senior Consultant and Advisor, Department of Child Development, KK Women's and Children's Hospital

Bio Research Publications

Education Qualifications: MBBS, M.Med (Paediatrics), FAMS, FAAP, FRCPCH, FACP, FRCP (London, Edinburgh, Ireland), FRACP

Professor Ho Lai Yun is the Founding Head of the Department of Neonatology (1986-2004) and is currently Emeritus Consultant, Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Clinician Mentor to Department of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine. He pioneered and established many multidisciplinary perinatal programmes in Singapore. He also initiated congenital hypothyroidism screening and universal newborn hearing screening in 1990s, which have become national programmes since then.

Prof Ho is also the Founding Head of the then Child Development Unit (CDU), KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) (1997-2008) and is presently Senior Consultant and Advisor of the Department of Child Development, KKH. Prof Ho started the CDU as the Development Assessment Clinic at SGH in 1991. He has been the Director, the cross-clusters Child Development Programme, Ministry of Health, since 2002.

Prof Ho is an eminent Professor of the Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, and is currently the Advisor, SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Clinical Program (Paediatric Medicine). He is also Clinical Professor of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (YLL-SoM NUS), and was the Associate Dean, SGH and Outram Campus, YLL-SoM, from 2004 to 2012.

Prof Ho is recognised locally, regionally and internationally as a strong advocate of child welfare and protection, early childhood education and intervention. He has been actively involved in various community projects that addressed social and educational issues, such as child abuse and neglect, bullying in schools, parenting attitudes, pre-school education, and children with special needs. He plays a leading role in building an inclusive, family-focused and community-based early childhood intervention ecosystem in Singapore. He received awards for his works in improving child life and health in the region.

Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships:

• Associate Dean SGH and Outram Campus (2004-2012)
• Chairman, SingHealth Pharmacy and Therapeutics Council
• Member, SGH and Sengkang Hospital Bioethics Committee
• Member, Hospital Organ Transplant Ethics Committee
• Chairman, SingHealth Centralised Institutional Review Board Subcommittee
• Director, Child Development Programme, MOH
• Member, Specialists Accreditation Board and Specialists Accreditation Committee, MOH
• Co-Chairman, Joint Committee on Specialist Training (JCST), MOH (2006-2008)
• Chairman, Residency Advisory Committee (Paediatrics), MOH (since 2013)
• Chairman, Subspecialties Training Committee (Paediatric Medicine, MOH (since 2016)
• Senior Consultant, Manpower Standards and Development, MOH (since 2006)
• National Examiner for Paediatrics, MOH and American Board of Medical Specialists (since 2012)
• M.Med (Paediatrics) Committee, Division of Graduate Medical Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS (since 2005)
• Member, Drug Advisory Committee, MOH (2006-2017)
• Chairman, Sale of Infant Foods Ethics Committee (SIFECS), MOH (1993-2018)
• Inter-Ministerial Workgroup and Advisor on Management of Child Abuse and Neglect (since 1997)
• Consultant and Advisor, Prevention of Childhood Injuries, World Health Organisation (WHO) 1999
• Board Member, Singapore Medical Council (SMC) (2006-2012)
• Chairman, Aesthetic Practices Oversight Committee, SMC (since 2008)
• Panel of Disciplinary Tribunal Chairmen, SMC (since 2012)
• Continuing Medical Education Coordination Committee, SMC (since 2003)
• Chairman, Schools Committee, SMC (2006-2010)
• Master, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (2006-2008)
• Advisory Board, Academy of Medicine Deanery (since 2016)
• Executive Board Member, Academy of Chinese Medicine, Singapore (since 2015)
• Member, Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (2019-2022)
• Advisory Board, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (2011-2017)
• Board Member, National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) (since 2018)
• Chairman, Advisory Panel, Early Intervention Programmes for Infants and Children, Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) (since 2012)
• Member, Standing Committee on Disability, MSF (since 2007)
• Member, Enabling Master Plans, MSF (2007-2021)
• Deputy Registrar of Marriages and Licensed Solemniser, MSF (since 2009)
• Board Member, National Council of Social Service (NCSS) (2004-2010)
• Service Advisors, Special Education and Early Intervention, NCSS (2002-06), Disability (since 2006)
• Co-Chairman, Voluntary Welfare Organisations and Charities Capability Fund (VCF), NCSS (since 2008)
• Social Service Institute, Advisory Committee, NCSS (2012-2015)
• Board of Visiting Justices/Board of Inspection, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) (since 2010)
• Deputy Chairman, Board of Visitors, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force Detention Barrack, MHA (since 2016)
• Medical Advisory Panel, Singapore Prison Service, MHA (since 2016)
• Executive Board Member and Life-Member, Singapore Children’s Society (since 1988)
• Vice Chairman, Singapore Children’s Society (since 2002)
• Life Member, SPD (Former Society for the Physically Disabled), Board Member and Service Committee Chairman, SPD (since 2013)
• President, Singapore Paediatric Society (1987-1991)
• President, Perinatal Society of Singapore, President (1991/92, 1995/96, 2001)
• Life Member, Singapore Medical Association (since 2007)
• Life Member, Singapore Medical Alumni Association (since 2009)
• President, Children’s Charities Association, (2001-2002, 2013-2014)
• Member, Singapore Totalisator Board, Member, Social Sub-Committee (since 2018)
• Advisory Board, Club Rainbow, Singapore (since 2001)
• Life Member, Autism Association of Singapore (since 2010)

Awards:

• SingHealth Excellence Award: Distinguished Life-time Achievement Award 2019
• Singapore Medical Association Credit Award for significant contributions to the medical profession and the advancement of medical education in Singapore, 2017
• National Outstanding Volunteer Award, Ministry of Social and Family Development, 2016
• Emeritus Consultant, Singapore General Hospital 2014
• National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award, Ministry of Health, 2010
• The Public Service Star (Bintang Bakti Masyarakat, BBM), National Day Award, 2010
• Outstanding Faculty for Advocacy Award, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 2010
• Justice of the Peace, Republic of Singapore, 2008
• Distinguished Career Award, International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN), 2008
• The Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat PBM) National Day Award, 2006
• SingHealth Group CEO Employee Excellence Awards, 2006
• Outstanding Paediatrician in Asia Award, Asia-Pacific Pediatric Association, 2003
• Ruth Wong Award, Singapore Children’s Society, 2002

Leadership positions / roles in Education:

• Associate Dean, SGH and Outram Campus, YLL-SoM NUS 2004-2012.
• Advisor, SingHealth Duke NUS Academic Clinical Programme ACP (Paediatrics).
• Chairman, Residency Advisory Committee (Paediatrics) MOH
• Chairman, Paediatric Subspecialties Training Committee, MOH
• National Examiner in Paediatrics, MOH ABMS.
• M.Med (Paedaitrics) Committee, Division of Graduate Medical Studies, YLL-SoM NUS.
• Former Co-Chairman (2006-2008) and Member, Joint Committee on Specialists Training (JCST) (since 2006), MOH
• Advisory Board, Academy of Medicine, Singapore Deanery.
• Board Member, National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC), Nanyang Technology University

Research Interests: Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine; Developmental-Behavioural Paediatrics; Child Protection; Early Childhood Education and Intervention; Social and Community Issues on Child Health and Development.

Selected Publications:

Building an Inclusive Early Childhood Intervention Ecosystem in Singapore 1988-2017. 16th Haridas Memorial Lecture, Singapore Paediatric Society 2018. ISBN 978-981-11-7843-6, OCN 104475263.

Follow-up Care and Outcome Evaluation of High-Risk Preterm Infants – a Life-Course Commitment. Ann Acad Med Singapore, 2018;47(2):1-5,Signposts in Singapore. In “Signposts for Building Better Behaviour” 2017

From “Mission Im’Possible” to Development Support Programme. In “The Road Map Towards a more Conducive Preschool Setting for Children with Developmental Needs”. 2016 ISBN 978-981-11-1121-1

Towards a New Vison and Meritocracy in Singapore. In “Schools and the Social Divide: an Examination of Children’s Self-Concept and Aspirations in Singapore”. Singapore Children’s Society Research Monograph No.11 2016 ISBN 078-981—11-0283-7

Doing our Part in Protecting our Children in Singapore. In “Changing Public Perceptions of Child Abuse and Neglect in Singapore”. Singapore Children’s Society Research Monograph No.10 2015. ISBN 978-981-09-7036-0

Mediated Learning Experience: From Theory to Practice in Singapore. In “On a Thinking Journey: A Practical Framework for Mediating Learning”. 2015 ISBN 978-981-09-6888-5

Breastfeeding: Preserving a Human Instinct (Editorial) Ann Acad Med Singapore 2012; 41(8):323-4

Raising Children in Singapore. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2009;38(2):158-62.

Child Development Programme in Singapore. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2007;36:898

Neonatology: Then and Now. Paediatrics, Child and Adolescent Health. 2006;46(2)86-8

The Science of Early Childhood Development and its Implications on Early Interventions. Social Service Journal. 2006;16:2-5

Protection of Children in Singapore: An Overview. KK Hospital Review 2005;34:301-6

Perinatal care at the Threshold of Viability: from Principles to Practice. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2003;32:362-75

Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2002;17:10-13

Counseling of Birth Defects in the Perinatal Period. Journal of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2002;28:20-9

Changing Trends in Follow-up of High Risk Neonates. Journal of Clinical Pediatrics 2002;20:16-8

Tissue-limited Mosaicism in Pallister-Killian Sundrome. J Perinatol 2002;22:420-3.

Two-Year Outcome of Normal-Birth-Weight Infants admitted to a Singapore Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2002;31:199-205.

The Development of Neonatal Care in Singapore. Singapore Paediatric Journal 2002;44:122-4

Does Professional and Public Opinion in Child Abuse Differ? An Issue of Cross-Cultural Policy Implementation. Child Abuse Review 2002;11:359-79

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Chronic Lung Disease of Infancy: Strategies for Prevention and Management. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2002;31:119-31

Effects of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin on Transfusion Needs in Preterm Infants. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 2001;37:352-8

Feeding of Preterm Infants: Breastfeeding. Medical Progress 2001;28:7-10

Feeding of Preterm Infants: The Use of Human Milk. Medical Progress 2001;28:13-21