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Monday, 17 Mar, 2025

Family affair: Duke and NUS reunite in Singapore

Board chairs, presidents and deans from Duke, NUS, Duke-NUS and SingHealth pose for a commemorative photo with special guest Ambassador-at-Large Prof Chan Heng Chee (fourth from right).

A gathering of great minds: Board chairs, presidents and deans from Duke, NUS, Duke-NUS and SingHealth pose for a commemorative photo with special guest Ambassador-at-Large Prof Chan Heng Chee (fourth from right).

This marks the first time since 2005 that the School's parent universities—Duke and NUS—met at Duke-NUS.

A family-wide reunion: The School's parent universities, Duke and NUS, meet at Duke-NUS for a highly anticipated reunion.

Partnerships and marriages: Duke-NUS Governing Board Chair Mr Goh Yew Lin likened partnerships to marriages in his welcome remarks, highlighting that "we need to be talking to each other. We need to share our dreams, and we need to be honest about what each party brings to the table". He added that the Duke-NUS partnership has succeeded because it offers "mutual benefits across the dimensions of research, education and increasingly commercialisation"

Navigating global shifts: Duke-NUS Dean Professor Thomas Coffman, who moderated the fireside chat with Prof Chan Heng Chee, noted that as the Duke leadership and board has been discussing the university's global strategies, in particular around the two educational assets in Asia, Duke-NUS in Singapore and Duke Kunshan in China, hosting a fireside chat with Singapore's former ambassador to the US will offer a local perspective on the global geopolitical and geostrategic outlook.

Special guest Prof Chan Heng Chee prefaced her remarks noting that the US enjoys a reservoir of goodwill in Asia that has been filled over the last 70 years.

Asia's place in a shifting world: Special guest Prof Chan Heng Chee prefaced her remarks noting that the US enjoys a reservoir of goodwill in Asia that has been filled over the last 70 years. But with the emergence of China as a global power, the post-war liberal order is being disrupted as China seeks a place in the world. Under a second Trump presidency, Prof Chan said, Asian nations had hoped he would strike a grand bargain with China as the region—and Singapore specifically—doesn't want to choose between either side. Singapore has never seen diplomacy as a zero-sum game and the city-state will remain relevant, resilient and a trusted partner to both powers, she concluded.

Mr Goh Yew Lin (third from right) hosted the leadership of the School's parent universities and academic medicine partner, SingHealth, for the long-overdue reunion.

A view of a world united: Mr Goh Yew Lin (third from right) hosted the leadership of the School's parent universities and academic medicine partner, SingHealth, for the long-overdue reunion.

Strengthening ties: NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye noted that the partnership between NUS and Duke is already a success, but added: "I sincerely invite Duke University to explore how our universities can engage in even more partnerships. We can leverage each other's network and expertise to create impact. There is potential to deepen faculty and student exchanges, strengthen research collaborations, and explore new models of education and innovation." He ended his remarks with a toast "to friendship, to collaboration, to breakthroughs, and to the future of Duke-NUS. Through Duke-NUS, may we continue to push boundaries, transform lives and shape the future of healthcare together".

A toast to the future: Guests raise their glasses in a toast to Duke-NUS, continued friendship and collaboration.

Duke President Professor Vincent Price, pictured here during the reception, noted during his remarks that Duke is proud of the decades of deep partnership with NUS

A century of excellence: Duke President Professor Vincent Price, pictured here during the reception, noted during his remarks that Duke is proud of the decades of deep partnership with NUS, adding: "By all indices, the National University of Singapore and Duke University and SingHealth have exceeded their expectations in this institution. And I have no doubt that as we talk about our expectations for the next decade, we will develop some ambitious plans, and I'm reasonably confident that we will exceed our own expectations."

A global university in action: Duke Board of Trustees Chair Mr Adam Silver addresses the distinguished guests, noting that the Duke-NUS partnership and global collaboration has been a topic at the heart of the board's discussions about Duke as a global university. "The only way we're going to solve the most difficult global problems is by working in collaboration and partnership around the world." He concluded: "We look forward to discussions and meetings over the next two days, so we can cement the future and talk about the next generation of incredible things that we can do together."

Professor Victor Dzau, former Chancellor for Health Affairs at Duke University, in conversation with SingHealth Group CEO Professor Ng Wai Hoe.

A meeting of minds: Professor Victor Dzau, former Chancellor for Health Affairs at Duke University, in conversation with SingHealth Group CEO Professor Ng Wai Hoe.

Duke-NUS Vice-Dean for Education Associate Professor Shiva Sarraf-Yazdi in conversation with members of the visiting Duke delegation.

Catching up with old and new friends: Duke-NUS Vice-Dean for Education Associate Professor Shiva Sarraf-Yazdi in conversation with members of the visiting Duke delegation.

Duke-NUS Governing Board member Mr Lee Ming San, Duke-NUS Vice-Dean for Education Associate Professor Shiva Sarraf-Yazdi, SingHealth Group CEO Professor Ng Wai Hoe and Duke University Vice-President for Government Relations Mr Chris Simmons pose for a photo during the reception in the Duke-NUS Atrium.

Marking a momentous occasion: Duke-NUS Governing Board member Mr Lee Ming San, Duke-NUS Vice-Dean for Education Associate Professor Shiva Sarraf-Yazdi, SingHealth Group CEO Professor Ng Wai Hoe and Duke University Vice-President for Government Relations Mr Chris Simmons pose for a photo during the reception in the Duke-NUS Atrium.

Duke Board of Trustees members with Dave Kennedy, Vice President of Development (second left), mark their visit the Duke-NUS campus.

Commemorating a long-overdue reunion: Duke Board of Trustees members with Dave Kennedy, Vice President of Development (second left), mark their visit the Duke-NUS campus.

Meeting with "in-laws": Duke Board of Trustees and Duke-NUS Governing Board members share stories.

A president and his council: NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye in conversation with Duke-NUS Governing Board members and leadership.

Building bonds, strengthening bridges: Professor Victor Dzau speaks with Duke Board of Trustees member Dr Amy Abernethy.

Duke-NUS Governing Board Chair Mr Goh Yew Lin and NUS Board of Trustees Chair Mr Hsieh Fu Hua in conversation with Duke-NUS Governing Board member Ms Lee Sze Yeng.

Charmed by reunions: Duke-NUS Governing Board Chair Mr Goh Yew Lin and NUS Board of Trustees Chair Mr Hsieh Fu Hua in conversation with Duke-NUS Governing Board member Ms Lee Sze Yeng.

Presidential chatter: The two university presidents in conversation with special guest Prof Chan Heng Chee after the fireside chat.

The strategy whisperers: Duke Board of Trustees Chair Mr Adam Silver in conversation with NUS, Duke-NUS and SingHealth leadership.

Seats of power: Duke Board of Trustees Chair Mr Adam Silver in conversation with Duke-NUS Governing Board Chair Mr Goh Yew Lin.

Casual moments, deep conversations: The presidents of Duke-NUS' two parent universities in casual conversation during dinner.

For one evening on 6 March, the Atrium and Amphitheatre of Duke-NUS transformed into an intimate setting befitting a family gathering. This was no ordinary reunion. It was a momentous occasion that brought together board and leadership members from Duke University and the National University of Singapore, Duke-NUS’ parent universities, along with leadership from the School and its academic medicine partner SingHealth—making the evening, truly, a family affair.

And family metaphors emerged aplenty as board chairs and presidents addressed the esteemed guests during the course of the evening. Like any family reunion, the night’s conversations not only relived key moments of this enduring collaboration but also focused on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the “families” united through the Duke-NUS venture.

Illuminating the geopolitical backdrop against which the future of this partnership will unfold, special guest Ambassador-at-Large Professor Chan Heng Chee joined the distinguished group to share her perspective on how Asia will navigate the Trump 2.0 era.

The free-flowing conversations between the visiting delegation and their hosts, which continued over two days, are testimony to the strong foundations on which the Duke-NUS partnership is built and the many shared interests and priorities that propel it, auguring many more accomplishments as the School strides into its 20 years and beyond.

All photos in this story are copyrighted to Duke-NUS Medical School.

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Family affair: Duke and NUS reunite in Singapore

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