In Focus: New Beginnings, Bold Ambitions

 



By Sanjay Devaraja, Editor, LKCMedicine's Redefine Newsletter



As of October 2024, LKCMedicine has been making significant strides in medical education, research, as well as in student support and corporate services front. One of our recent and key developments is the establishment of Singapore’s first Academic Health System (AHS), in collaboration with the National Healthcare Group (NHG). This system aims to integrate healthcare, education, and research to address major challenges such as chronic diseases and an ageing population.

The AHS brings together interdisciplinary expertise, with initial programmes in rehabilitation medicine and skin health, to enhance patient outcomes and advance medical training. It will focus on multidisciplinary clinical programmes, enhancing medical training and patient care by bringing together expertise from various fields like data sciences, engineering, and social sciences​.

The AHS was officially signed into existence at the most recent Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress 2024, organised by NHG, as witnessed by the Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung. Also at this Congress which LKCMedicine helped to co-organise, the joint NHG-LKCMedicine’s Academy of Clinician Scientists and Innovators (ACSI) was showcased. The ACSI was launched last year to develop research and innovation capabilities of medical students, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.

One of the very first initiatives under the Collaborative Framework Agreement (CFA) that was signed between NHG and LKCMedicine, ACSI aims to develop both clinician scientists and innovators to achieve impactful translational research, especially in the areas of population health, primary care, community health, mental health and infectious disease.

The AHS and ACSI are just two of the several major initiatives on the LKCMedicine Research front in recent months. Against this backdrop, LKCMedicine has grown its faculty and research staff significantly. Alongside this, under the newly appointed Vice-Dean for Research Assoc Prof Sanjay Chotirmall, an evaluation of the School’s Research Strategy was undertaken. After a comprehensive review, two of the School’s horizontal research programmes have been re-branded with effect 22 August 2024. Due to the scientific focus of the new Director towards Genome Stability in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, “Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine” programme has been renamed “Cancer Discovery and Regenerative Medicine.”

On the other hand, the “Data Science” research programme has been expanded into “Data Science & Artificial Intelligence” to better reflect the strength of the current programme faculty where we now have a strong focus on AI especially in the area of Explainable AI (XAI) and medical imaging.

These changes reflect the School's continued efforts to evolve with the times and better align its research focus.

The School has also paved the way for a new centre to bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and their useful applications in medicine to promote artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Through its research endeavours, LKCMedicine is leading the new Centre of AI in Medicine (C-AIM), which seeks to transform patient care and inform public health policies. Its partners are NHG, several schools in NTU, as well as Yale School of Medicine and Olympus.

The Centre will be able to successfully explore and adapt AI solutions into clinical practice, assuring their clinical relevance and usefulness to patients and the wider population, thanks to the combined expertise of these partners and the more than 100 researchers and clinicians working under C-AIM.

On the leadership front, apart front the new Vice-Dean for Research, the School has also appointed several other new Vice-Deans to strengthen academic programmes, and support the development of innovative initiatives aimed at improving student experience and research excellence.

  • Associate Professor Yusuf Ali, Vice-Dean (International Relations)

Assoc Prof Yusuf Ali has been appointed Vice-Dean (International Relations), relinquishing his role as the Programme Director of Nutrition, Metabolism, and Health. During his 11-year tenure at the School, Assoc Prof Ali achieved numerous milestones in research and teaching. In his role as Assistant Dean (External Affairs), he was instrumental in leading the School’s global engagement initiatives.

  • Associate Professor Yasunori Saheki, Vice-Dean (Faculty Affairs)

Assoc Prof Yasunori Saheki has been appointed LKCMedicine Vice-Dean (Faculty Affairs) from August 2024. Previously Assistant Dean (Faculty Affairs). He has bridged the gap between faculty members and the School’s management, providing valuable advice on academic matters and faculty development.

  • Associate Professor Faith Chia, Vice-Dean (Education)

From January 2025, Assoc Prof Faith Chia will be succeeding Prof Jennifer Cleland as LKCMedicine Vice-Dean (Education). Assoc Prof Chia is currently Assistant Dean (Curriculum Lead) and was appointed Associate Professor (Clinical Practice) in April this year.

  • Associate Professor Andrew Tan, Vice-Dean (Innovation and Enterprise)

Also announced from April 2025, Assoc Prof Andrew Tan will assume the role of Vice-Dean (Innovation and Enterprise). Assoc Prof Tan has significantly advanced the School's achievements and growth in faculty affairs and strategy during his tenure as Vice-Dean for Faculty Affairs.

Developments in the Education arena have also been significant. In August 2024, LKCMedicine welcomed its first intake of the NTU MBBS programme that has been recently enhanced to include themes like precision medicine and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with an expanded scope in the medical humanities. This was especially delightful as the School saw its largest cohort admitted in its 12th year of intake.

Concurrently, LKCMedicine recently launched Professional Growth, a new programme that prepares its medical students for the demands of the medical practice by fostering a strong professional identity and mental resilience. This will be done through regular structured discussions, seminars, and clinical transition workshops which will be conducted throughout the five-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) curriculum degree programme.

The content for Professional Growth is curated and aligned with key transition periods for medical students, such as when they embark on their clinical postings or enter the healthcare workforce. The curriculum covers topics including burnout, effective help-seeking strategies, and dealing with grief in the medical profession. The new programme complements national efforts to address issues faced by junior doctors, by equipping its students with the right tools to manage their well-being as doctors.

Aside from studying and clinical practice, one other important aspect in the bustling life of a LKCMedicine student is the School's House System. As the School welcomed its 12th cohort to date at its annual White Coat Ceremony, three new additional Houses were formed on top of the existing five Houses – namely Joseph Lister, Cynthia Goh, and Rosalind Frankin – to accommodate the growing student body.

This brings the total number of Houses to eight under the system, accommodating more than 700 students collectively. These Houses offer students support, guidance, and a sense of belonging throughout their MBBS journey, as camaraderie across different student cohorts is encouraged where senior members mentor juniors to enhance their academic and social integration.

In the endeavour to equip students with the skills they need to excel in medical practice or research, LKCMedicine has also carefully curated new and robust graduate programmes aimed at addressing the evolving needs of healthcare and research. These programmes collectively contribute to LKCMedicine's goal of advancing medical research and healthcare delivery.

Adding to the current graduate programmes which include our PhD by Research programme, we are launching the Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine and the Graduate Diploma in Cardiovascular Medicine to cater to medical professionals looking to enhance their expertise in specific areas like cardiovascular disease or sports-related healthcare, as well as the FlexiMasters in AI in Medicine programme.

As we embrace the last quarter of 2024, a significant event that the School will be hosting is its annual Art & Science of Medicine Festival (ASMF). Open to the public for free, the event will be held for the second time on 19 October 2024, featuring interactive activities, health screenings, and exhibitions designed to promote healthy living.

After the success of last year’s inaugural event, the School is expecting a strong turnout this year at Kampung Admiralty where the whole-day event is to be held. Events such as ASMF provide platforms for the community to learn more about the latest medical advancements and health trends via LKCMedicine faculty, students and our partners.

As LKCMedicine continues to forge ahead with various initiatives and changes, it remains dedicated to fostering strong partnerships, embracing interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting with the community, enhancing student learning and life, and prioritising patient-centered care.

To stay abreast on the latest at LKCMedicine, do follow our various social media platforms (facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube) for the latest happenings and updates.