News from NHG: NHG and LKCMedicine Extend Collaboration to 2034

By Group Research and Innovation, National Healthcare Group

The longstanding relationship between the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) and the National Healthcare Group (NHG) is rooted in a shared vision to advance medical education, research, and healthcare innovation in Singapore. This partnership, which formally begun in 2014, has been pivotal in bridging academic learning with clinical practice, and leverages on NHG’s expertise as a leading healthcare provider and LKCMedicine’s innovative medical training. Our joint efforts have helped address critical healthcare challenges, improve public health outcomes, and position Singapore as a hub for medical excellence in the region.

As LKCMedicine’s primary clinical training partner, NHG’s network of hospitals, polyclinics, and national specialty centres provides LKCMedicine students with access to real-world clinical environments. This hands-on exposure is integral to their development as medical professionals, ensuring that they are well-equipped to address Singapore’s evolving healthcare needs.

Our partnership was renewed for another 10 years in September 2024, through the inking of the NHG-Nanyang Technological University (NTU) LKCMedicine Collaborative Framework Agreement (CFA). The CFA focuses on the further development of education, research, innovation and enterprise, talent, and resources to build a more integrated healthcare ecosystem.

NHG Chairman Tan Tee How said the signing of the CFA was a “milestone”, adding that the identified areas of collaboration will form the foundation for the healthcare transformation journey that NHG has embarked on, including its pivotal role as Regional Health Manager for Central and North Singapore.

“They will not just provide better solutions to health issues of the individual, but also improvements to the system that adds years of healthy life. Good healthcare is like a tricycle, with clinical services as its front wheel, and education and research as the back wheels. We need all three wheels to be in tip-top condition for our journey towards the end-goals of good population health to be safe and smooth,” said Mr Tan.

Besides advancing medical education, LKCMedicine and NHG also actively collaborate on research initiatives to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. NHG’s expertise in population health, chronic disease management, and primary care complement LKCMedicine’s emphasis on translational research. Our joint projects often explore topics, including ageing, digital health, and precision medicine.

Academic Health System (AHS)

NHG and LKCMedicine’s decade-long collaboration achieved a new milestone with the joint establishment of the Academic Health System (AHS) in October 2024. The AHS brings together people and resources from LKCMedicine/NTU and NHG, to pursue impactful clinical and population health outcomes. This is done through Academic Clinical Programmes (ACPs), which are specialised programmes built around NHG’s clinical specialties, marrying research, innovation, education and clinical for academic excellence with strong clinical translational focus.

“We are excited to partner NHG in healthcare training, research and innovations in Singapore. LKCMedicine will bring expertise in basic science and clinical research, data science, AI and robotic engineering, social science and health economics, among others to work with NHG clinicians to foster more collaborations in the coming decades,” said Professor Joseph Sung, Dean, LKCMedicine, Senior Vice President (Health & Life Sciences), NTU Singapore, and Co-Chair, AHS.

“The next decade will see big disruptions in how medicine is taught and practised. Digital and biotechnology will change how diseases are detected, managed and monitored. Advanced and personalised therapeutics will allow us to treat the untreatable. Artificial Intelligence will become pervasive and augment patient care. Our partnership with LKCMedicine and NTU helps us to stay relevant and positions us to better understand and adopt new technologies,” said Professor Benjamin Seet, Group Chairman Medical Board (Research), NHG, and Co-Chair, AHS.  

Academy of Clinician Scientists and Innovators (ACSI)

People form the bedrock of research breakthroughs and impactful collaborations. Since its inception in 2023, the Academy of Clinician Scientists and Innovators (ACSI) has fostered a vibrant community across NHG, LKCMedicine and the wider NTU community through collaboration on research mentorship, talent development and other training programmes. By empowering aspiring healthcare professionals to push boundaries and collaborate, the Academy strengthens our shared commitment to advance science and improve care and cultivate a dynamic ecosystem for discovery and innovation.

Over the past one year, the Academy has received nine new national talent development awards from NMRC and presented the NHG-LKCMedicine talent development awards to 12 budding Clinician Scientists & Clinician Innovators.  

Many clinicians and researchers from NHG hold key teaching, research and advisory roles at LKCMedicine. This integration of clinical and research leadership ensures that LKCMedicine’s curriculum is informed by the latest medical practices and that the research efforts are relevant to addressing real-life challenges faced in healthcare delivery.

As NHG turns 25 this year, our philosophy of providing “care that is patient-centered and population-focused” will continue to align with LKCMedicine’s mission to produce clinically competent, and compassionate doctors attuned to community health needs. This alignment will foster a synergistic approach to improving patient outcomes and innovating for a Healthier Tomorrow.