Dear Reader,

We are introducing EnvisioningHealth—Changing Lives One Idea at a Time, our latest publication to keep our partners, patients and the broader community informed about our latest innovations and happenings.

EnvisioningHealth symbolises our unwavering commitment to transformative healthcare and celebrates our cherished legacy. Our roots trace back to 1905 with the establishment of what’s now the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. Many of our departments have their origins from the medical school. 

EnvisioningHealth is more than a newsletter. It’s a vibrant tapestry, intricately woven with the stories of our people, their work, and the achievements and breakthroughs that have shaped our institution.

In 1970, Professor Chan Kong Thoe, head of the then University of Singapore’s Professorial Surgical Unit, led the first deceased donor kidney transplant in the country, and in 1989, Emeritus Professor Prabhakaran Krishnan performed a ground-breaking child liver transplant. This tradition of innovation continues as we care for patients like Madam Sapiah Isnin. She now leads a fulfilling life after her successful kidney transplant, aided by hypothermic machine perfusion, which ensures optimal organ preservation.

In another success story, Madam Nur Fadilah was battling end-stage kidney failure, and her dreams of motherhood seemed out of reach. Undeterred by the challenges, our multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses embarked on a mission to ensure her triumph over adversity to deliver a healthy baby.

In 2019, Associate Professor Allen Yeoh and team worked closely with NUS researchers to save the life of Oscar Saxelby-Lee using an experimental chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell immunotherapy. Oscar, a young British boy, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and given only months to live. Defying the odds, Oscar continues to enjoy a cancer-free life today. At NUH, we remain steadfast in making crucial strides towards more targeted and patient-friendly leukaemia treatments, transforming how we treat the disease.

Embodying our innovative spirit in healthcare, we’re harnessing cutting-edge technology to enhance patient care. We’ve adopted artificial intelligence for faster stroke detection and mixed reality enabled by 5G for expedited ultrasound scans. These advancements epitomise our commitment to blending technology with healthcare—continually redefining the future of quality patient care. 

We invite you to subscribe to EnvisioningHealth, stay connected, and join us on this exciting journey of transforming lives—one idea at a time!