Professor John Wong
Deputy Chief Executive, National University Health System, Singapore
Prof. John Wong is currently Deputy Chief Executive of the National University Health System, Dean of the National University Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Director of the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore.
Prof. Wong is a champion of research and education for improving patient care. He is a strong advocate of multi-disciplinary teams involving healthcare professionals and scientists working together on problems seen in daily clinical practice, and appreciates the benefits of bringing observations gained in patient care to developing safer, more cost-effective, and more efficacious treatment through world class research.
From 1994-2000, Professor Wong headed the Department of Medical Oncology and contributed to the expansion of adult Haematology/Oncology as a specialty in NUH. He also assisted in the development of the radiation oncology facility at NUH.
In 1997, Prof. Wong formed the Cancer Therapeutics Research Group (CTRG), involving the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, the National Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins International Medical Center in Singapore, as well as leading university cancer centers in Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan to develop better therapies for cancers common in the region.
During the SARS crisis in 2003, Prof. Wong integrated clinical epidemiology and research to stem the spread of SARS. He was appointed to the chair of the Singapore SARS consortium of local laboratories and researchers from various fields, which eventually developed and validated SARS diagnostic kits.
Prof. Wong has been a passionate advocate of teaching of undergraduate students and training of postgraduate doctors, believing in the importance of investing in the next generation healthcare providers. As Dean of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine since 2003, he appreciates the challenges less privileged medical students face in having to cope with their studies parting addition to part-time work. Hence, his recent efforts to tap into philanthropy have focused on needy medical students.
In recent years, Prof. Wong has played a leading role in the integration of the NUS medical and dental schools and NUH into an academic health system, combining excellence in clinical practice, education and research to deliver the best possible healthcare to Singaporeans.
