To spearhead School’s overall medical education strategies 

SINGAPORE, September 4, 2017 - Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) in Singapore announced today that it is appointing Professor Ian Edward Curran as its Vice Dean of Education.

Professor Curran, who joins Duke-NUS from the UK General Medical Council (GMC), will spearhead Duke-NUS’ overall medical education strategies, including the strengthening of curriculum and implementing a fresh strategic vision to advance the School’s educational goals, and initiatives to produce a range of educational programmes that incorporate the latest technologies. A multi-award winning and internationally-recognised clinician and academic, Professor Curran is also a Harvard Macy Scholar and visiting member of faculty of the Harvard Macy Institute.   

As the Vice Dean of Education, Professor Curran will work closely with the faculty and Duke-NUS Curriculum Committee with regards to development of the School’s teaching and learning strategy, while at the same time, align them with Duke University School of Medicine’s curriculum content. His key priorities will be on enhancing the student’s clinical experience, instilling them with academic-based training and a commitment to clinical excellence. He will also work closely with key partners including SingHealth, ensuring that the best possible mutual benefits are derived from the medical educational remit of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre.

“Professor Curran is an eminent clinician, a dedicated educator, an innovator, a compelling advocate for patient safety, and a person of remarkable leadership qualities,” said Thomas Coffman, M.D., Dean of Duke-NUS, in announcing the appointment. “From his works in medical education and continuing professional development, to his leadership role in promoting professional excellence, innovation and technology-enhanced learning, he brings to all that he does an energetic and imaginative commitment to advancing medical education and transforming medicine for maximal patient and societal benefit. I’m delighted to welcome Professor Curran and I’m confident that his forward-looking strategies focusing on excellence in clinical education and professional development will fittingly complement the School’s quest to generate new knowledge and train future-ready clinical leaders.”

Professor Curran has a distinguished track record in medical school leadership and is recognised as an expert in the field of medical education. His most recent appoint was an Assistant Director of Education and Professional Standards at GMC, responsible for education policy, regulatory and quality assurance work in postgraduate medical education and training. His achievements at GMC include the development of the innovative Generic Professional Capabilities Framework, revision of the GMC Curriculum Standards and Assessment Systems ‘Excellence by Design’, and development of the ‘Promoting excellence’ Education Standards for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Education and Training for the UK. He has been a Professor at Queen Mary University of London and is a visiting Professor at King’s College London and the Cass Business School in London.

Professor Curran has extensive experience as a clinical teacher, examiner and curriculum developer. Over the last 20 years, he has been extensively involved in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and training, as well as continuing professional development, regulation and commissioning across the spectrum of the medical profession. He has served as a Senior Lecturer and Reader at the Barts Medical School, Associate Dean for Postgraduate Medicine, Director of Education at Barts, Head of Innovation and Postgraduate Dean of Educational Excellence for NHS London. He was conferred Professor of Innovation and Excellence in Healthcare Education by Barts School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2014.

Looking forward to his full-time stint in Singapore, Professor Curran said, “I am excited to embark on this new challenge where there will be a wealth of opportunities for developing and nurturing innovative programmes of learning, progressive clinical cultures and innovative clinical leaders. This is a time of incredible innovation in education, when new techniques and technologies can link learners worldwide and deliver engaging content across many new platforms. I am thrilled to help Duke-NUS to develop and lead in this area. I also look forward to meeting and working with my new colleagues and welcome ideas from all members of our community.”

He has also held a wide range of leadership roles locally in the UK and internationally, and helped to shape and manage the implementation of regulatory reforms to UK professional education standards and to high stake professional assessments including medical school finals and fellowships in education and medical leadership. Among such distinguished achievements, Professor Curran was instrumental in developing and leading London’s multi-award winning Simulation and Technology enhanced Learning Initiative. This initiative was awarded the BMJ Award for ‘Excellence in Healthcare Education’ in 2011 and the HSJ Award for Patient Safety in 2009.

Prof Curran’s name in Chinese is- 伊恩. 科仁