"Trauma Surgery often involves helping the most vulnerable in our community, at the time of their greatest need. Quick decision making, leading a large multidisciplinary team, and rapid effective surgery to save a life is challenging. When we are able to, we are able to return a patient at the verge of losing their life, back to their loved ones and go on to live a full life. This is a privileged reward for me and my team. My other twin passion of Vascular Surgery also serves a group of patients with many challenges and complex medical problems. It makes me a better trauma surgeon and a better doctor."
Dr Raj Menon completed his undergraduate training at the National University of Singapore and embarked on specialist training in General Surgery with the Department of Surgery, NUH. He completed his fellowship exams with the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh and further trained in Trauma and Vascular Surgery.
He was awarded the Academic Medicine Development Award and completed a fellowship with the Royal London Hospital in Advanced Trauma and Vascular Surgery in 2018. He completed a Masters in Trauma Science with the Queen Mary University of London in 2018.
Leading Trauma and Surgical Care
Dr Raj's main clinical interests lie with the management of complex polytrauma patients and the use of novel endovascular techniques in their management. He is also interested in the development of national and regional trauma systems, trauma epidemiology and the psychosocial effects of trauma. He is the current head of the Trauma Service in NUH, and also leads the National University Centre for Trauma. He is also the director of the Surgical High Dependency Unit, a multi-specialty critical care unit focusing on acutely ill surgical patients.
He is also interested in the development of national and regional trauma systems, trauma epidemiology and the psychosocial effects of trauma. He is currently also the Clinical Director of the National Trauma Unit, with the Ministry of Health and was appointed Vice President of the Asian Collaboration of Trauma, a society of Asia's trauma fraternity in 2022.
Dr Raj is the current Clinical Director with the Department of Surgery, providing policy level governance and execution of clinical services for the Department.
Leading and educating the next generation
In his younger days, Dr Menon was a graduate of the pioneer cohort of the Singapore Chief Residency Programme run by the Healthcare Leadership College. His interest in mentoring and grooming the next generation of physician leaders has led to him taking on the role of the Director of the NUHS Residency Leadership Development Program (RLDP) in 2020.
He is also been actively involved in undergraduate education, holding roles as a Phase Director for Undergraduate Surgery as well as actively participating and developing new curricula and programs in undergraduate surgical education.
He was previously the Associate Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program in NUHS, and now contributes as the core faculty for the program.