Past Issues
The new year started on an energetic note, kicking off with our biennial Dinner and Dance, followed shortly after by being ranked 13th globally in the Medical and Health subject category in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026.
As proud as we are of past achievements, we remain devoted to addressing forthcoming healthcare challenges by addressing pressing national concerns in areas such as ageing, mental health, cutting edge research and innovation – all driven by our faculty’s incessant drive to push research and students to new heights
The year kicked off with the inaugural Singapore Conference on Ageing Health (SCAH) 2026, hosted by the Centre for Ageing Research and Health (CARE). Themed “Ageing Well in the Community: Exploring New Horizons”, it convened more than 170 presenters from over 15 countries, representing leaders from academia, government and community sectors.
A recurring theme was the importance of designing ageing policies around how older persons live their daily lives, rather than expecting individuals to adapt to rigid systems. Community-based models featured at the conference demonstrated how evidence-informed design can lead to stronger social connections among older adults. Programmes aligned with older persons’ routines, interests and social realities are more effective at fostering meaningful relationships and improving the quality of life for older people.
“As Singapore shifts towards supporting older persons to age well within their homes and communities, it becomes increasingly important to strengthen how active ageing spaces operate on the ground. Our research shows that these spaces work best when they are designed around older persons’ daily routines, relationships and aspirations — not just around programmes or infrastructure. Beyond extending lifespans, we need models that support social connection, psychological well-being and a sense of purpose, so older persons can age with dignity and meaning.”
Executive Director of the Centre for Ageing Research and Education at Duke-NUS Medical School
Another aspect of healthcare that has gained prominence on the national stage is mental health. The Bridging Minds Symposium was held at Duke-NUS from 30–31 March, underscoring the School’s commitment to advancing knowledge in this critical field. The result of a collaboration between Duke-NUS and Harvard Medical School, it convened more than 120 researchers, clinicians, and scholars to share insights, foster collaboration, and explore new frontiers in neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders. The symposium featured a panel discussion between Singapore’s Director-General of Health, Professor Kenneth Mak, Acting Programme Director from the Duke-NUS Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders (NBD) Programme and Assistant Professor of Paediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital Dong Kong, Professor Wang Hongyan, Duke-NUS Dean and Executive Director of PRECISE, Professor Patrick Tan, Bullard Professor of Paediatrics and Neurology at Harvard Medical School and chief of genetics and genomics at the Boston’s Children's Hospital, Professor Christopher Walsh, chief editor of Nature Neuroscience, Dr Shari Wiseman, and, Dean of the Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Professor Shi Donghai.
Another aspect of healthcare that has gained prominence on the national stage is mental health. The Bridging Minds Symposium was held at Duke-NUS from 30–31 March, underscoring the School’s commitment to advancing knowledge in this critical field. The result of a collaboration between Duke-NUS and Harvard Medical School, it convened more than 120 researchers, clinicians, and scholars to share insights, foster collaboration, and explore new frontiers in neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders.
The symposium featured a panel discussion between Singapore’s Director-General of Health, Professor Kenneth Mak, Acting Programme Director from the Duke-NUS Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders (NBD) Programme and Assistant Professor of Paediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital Dong Kong, Professor Wang Hongyan, Duke-NUS Dean and Executive Director of PRECISE, Professor Patrick Tan, Bullard Professor of Paediatrics and Neurology at Harvard Medical School and chief of genetics and genomics at the Boston’s Children's Hospital, Professor Christopher Walsh, chief editor of Nature Neuroscience, Dr Shari Wiseman, and, Dean of the Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Professor Shi Donghai.
“As we develop greater clarity, it allows us to decide how we should be mobilising resources to better support individuals who do have neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions.” Singapore’s Director-General of Health, Prof Mak
“As we develop greater clarity, it allows us to decide how we should be mobilising resources to better support individuals who do have neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions.”
Singapore’s Director-General of Health, Prof Mak
Research is deeply woven into the ethos of Duke-NUS. Curiosity and an insatiable thirst for knowledge permeates every level—not just for researchers, but in students as well. 72 students from the Class of 2027 participated in Research Day 2026, which marked the culmination of nine months of rigorous inquiry aimed at uncovering the heart of academic medicine. They presented their projects to an audience of students, ranging from first-years to graduating seniors, and faculty mentors who guided them along this journey.
The theme of mentorship featured prominently in this year’s edition of Research Day. Keynote speaker and Duke-NUS double alumnus Assistant Professor Ku Chee Wai (MD Class of 2013 and PhD Class of 2024) cited his own journey navigating the demands of clinical practice and research.
“You need more than one mentor to be able to open doors for you and starting to identify with some of them early on in your career is extremely important.”
“The reason that the whole academic medicine culture works, is because we have a series of mentors, faculty who have committed their lives to working with medical students, often well above and beyond the research project.”
Duke-NUS’ Doctor of Medicine (MD) Programme is built around the “Clinician Plus” ethos, which envisions graduates going beyond the practice of medicine, building on other capabilities to become clinician scientists, innovators, educators and leaders. This vision was on full display at D-HIP Dazzle Day 2026. Five competing teams showcased their prototypes crafted under the guidance of clinical and industry mentors to address urgent needs in the clinic and in the industry.
Team UroCLEAR emerged victorious with their winning prototype, BiPass. It was developed to address difficulties in removing kidney stone fragments quickly and completely. BiPass uses irrigation fluid to create a continuous suction flow, enabling continuous clearance of stone fragments during the procedure, reducing the need for multiple or invasive procedures.
“When diverse young minds from diverse disciplines come together to tackle an unmet clinical need, that’s when innovation happens. Our goal is to nurture the next generation of inventors, clinician-innovators and industry partners. In doing so, we are building a pipeline of industry-ready talent and leaders equipped to bridge gaps and drive innovation in the MedTech space.”
Assistant Dean, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Duke-NUS, and Senior Consultant, Division of Surgery and Surgical Oncology at Singapore General Hospital and the National Cancer Centre Singapore, who oversees the D-HIP programme
“At Duke-NUS, innovation is not an extracurricular activity, it is embedded into how we train doctors. Programmes like D-HIP ensure that our graduates understand not only disease, but also how to design solutions that can be implemented in real healthcare systems.”
Vice-Dean, Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Co-chair of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medicine, Innovation Institute
To hone the raw skill and talent of Duke-NUS students, academic clinician faculty diligently and incessantly strive to bring out the best in them. On 26 March, Duke-NUS inducted nine clinicians into the Hall of Master Academic Clinicians, recognizing their contributions to advancing academic medicine across the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC). Launched in 2021, the Hall recognises clinicians who exemplify excellence across clinical practice, education, research and innovation. More importantly, it highlights a model of academic medicine that Duke-NUS seeks to nurture – one that integrates these domains to drive meaningful and sustained impact.
To hone the raw skill and talent of Duke-NUS students, academic clinician faculty diligently and incessantly strive to bring out the best in them. On 26 March, Duke-NUS inducted nine clinicians into the Hall of Master Academic Clinicians, recognizing their contributions to advancing academic medicine across the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC).
Launched in 2021, the Hall recognises clinicians who exemplify excellence across clinical practice, education, research and innovation. More importantly, it highlights a model of academic medicine that Duke-NUS seeks to nurture – one that integrates these domains to drive meaningful and sustained impact.
“I believe our AMC will not be what it is today without heroes like every one of you. Thank you for standing up to be counted, for truly being heroes of our SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC and helping us to define tomorrow’s medicine.” SingHealth Group CEO Professor Ng Wai Hoe
“I believe our AMC will not be what it is today without heroes like every one of you. Thank you for standing up to be counted, for truly being heroes of our SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC and helping us to define tomorrow’s medicine.”
SingHealth Group CEO Professor Ng Wai Hoe
Talent development and support do not stop with the students. On 5 February, the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC came together for a celebratory dinner honouring the clinician-scientists who received the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) clinician-scientist, clinician-innovator and transition awards, reflecting the individual excellence and overall strength of the AMC.
The Centre for Clinician-Scientist Development (CCS+D) was established to build a strong clinician-scientist pipeline across the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC. The Centre has supported over 340 aspiring clinician-scientists through its structured, longitudinal programmes which helps develop career goals, as well as strengths and interests.
“CCS+D is more than a support unit. CCS+D represents our long-term commitment to academic medicine. It exists to support clinician-scientists not just to secure grants, but to grow, persevere and thrive over the course of their careers. We want to continue investing in you, because we believe not just in your capacity, but we believe in you as part of the AMC.”
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