For more than 15 years, Professor Paul Michael Yen has been a guiding presence at Duke-NUS Medical School—known not just for his groundbreaking research on thyroid hormones, but for countless students, colleagues and collaborators he’s inspired along the way.
Since relocating from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to join Duke-NUS in 2009, Prof Yen has become a central figure in the School’s growth.
In 2025, his scientific achievements were internationally recognised when he received the John Stanbury Thyroid Pathophysiology Medal from the American Thyroid Association, honouring his contributions to thyroid hormone research and the development of therapeutics for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
But it was Prof Yen’s influence beyond the confines of the lab that took centre stage on 26 June, when the Duke-NUS community came together to celebrate Prof Yen’s next chapter.
Elaborating on Prof Yen’s impact, Dean Professor Thomas Coffman said in his opening address: “Paul has really developed this group of scientists that emanated from this programme—all outstanding scientists who know how to conduct rigorous experiments and with a translational focus. So that’s another way that Paul has contributed, not only to the School, but to scientists and to science in Singapore and beyond.”
Dean Coffman (left) thanks Prof Paul Yen (right) for his invaluable contributions to the School // Credit: Duke-NUS
Dean-designate Professor Patrick Tan echoed this, adding: “His pathway led to many other faculty members coming in—and ultimately led to the diversity that we see, and that we now recognise as Duke-NUS.”
Many of Prof Yen’s current and former colleagues, and mentees spoke at length about the support and guidance he provided, some of whom—like Dr Rohit Sinha, Dr Eveline Bruinstroop and Dr Kenji Ohba—shared recorded tributes from overseas.
Alumnus Dr Tan Hong Chang, who was inspired to become a clinician-scientist after crossing paths with Prof Yen thanked his research mentor for being an “unwavering source of encouragement, wisdom and inspiration”.
“I want to express my special appreciation for Paul, for all the encouragement for us to pursue side projects as a way for us to also find something close to our hearts. Under Paul’s mentorship, the younger generation grows,” added Dr Zhou Jin, who had joined the Laboratory of Hormonal Regulation led by Prof Yen in the Programme as a research fellow and is now a principal research scientist.
Perhaps Dr Madhulika Tripathi, one of Prof Yen’s former post-doctoral fellows, put it most poignantly when she said: “As the saying goes, a good teacher is like a candle—it consumes itself to light the way for others.”
“I think many of us, especially the people whom he has trained, would agree with that, that Paul has done the same for us. Beyond the lab, his calm demeanour and his quick, quiet integrity, he has recreated a space where science could thrive and where people could grow.”
Reflected Prof Yen: “What I found most rewarding was being a mentor to students and research fellows. My goal is to help them achieve their personal dreams, and in whatever way I can support that, I really am very happy to do so.”
Beyond his role as a nurturing mentor at the Programme, Prof Yen was also College Master for the Benjamin Sheares College at the School, as well as the College Master-at-large for Duke-NUS students in Durham, where he made a point to reconnect with students who went to Duke University for their third year of research.
Prof Yen’s collection of group photos with his lab, which he affectionately calls his “family” portraits // Credit: Courtesy of Paul Yen
Prof Yen’s impact also shone through in his volunteer and advocacy work.
He has been a regular participant of Project DOVE (Duke-NUS Overseas Volunteering Expedition), a medical student-led overseas mission that aims to provide essential healthcare to underserved communities globally.
Prof Yen, who attended 10 out of the 11 Project DOVE trips, was “always the first to volunteer when we were looking for faculty members to join the trip,” said Dr Lim Gim Hui (Class of 2020), one of Prof Yen’s former students in the MD Programme and participant of Project Dove 2019. That year, the volunteers worked with the local community in Vietnam to fund and build a toilet at a school, with Prof Yen helping to lay the foundational brickwork.
As college master, Prof Yen supported students throughout their time at Duke-NUS, meeting them once a week and celebrating their Valediction and graduation milestones // Credit: Courtesy of Paul Yen
Prof Yen on one of the Project DOVE trips // Credit: Courtesy of Dr Lim Gim Hui
“Having a mentor down there who is willing to go through these steps in detail, highlighting some of the key things and running through some of these key decision points, as well as the clinical findings, I think it’s very defining and it’s very touching as a medical student. It’s not just my comment, but it’s also about all the many other medical students that Prof Paul has mentored over the years,” added Dr Lim.
During his time at Duke-NUS, Prof Yen has also led and participated in initiatives and symposiums championing autism awareness.
Summing up Prof Yen’s contributions, Professor Wang Yibin, Director of the Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders (CVMD) Programme said: “There’s so much you have given to our organisation, and you’ve made it what we are. From this institution, we’ve made everybody else part of this family and part of this journey. Again, I’m just so grateful and so immensely honoured to be part of CVMD when you were our colleague.”
“This is not a closure. It’s a graduation ceremony,” he added.
Prof Wang Yibin (left) presents Prof Yen with a certificate and token of appreciation // Credit: Duke-NUS
Prof Yen looks back on his time with Duke-NUS, sharing how he was inspired by the many possibilities at the School // Credit: Duke-NUS
As the evening drew to a close, Prof Yen stood to address the room one final time—not with a farewell, but with thoughtful reflection.
“The people here and the experiences I’ve had will always be near and dear to my heart. When I think about Duke-NUS and my experience here, the word transformation comes up and I can say I witnessed an amazing transformation.
“Maybe it’s providence, but whether by chance or by providence, I found the right place, the right opportunity, the right time, the right people, the right community, the right circumstances, the right support and the right resources here at Duke-NUS.”
Prof Yen shares a photo with his wife (centre) and senior executive from the Programme, Ms Joei Chua Sze Yin (left) // Credit: Duke-NUS