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The National University Health System (NUHS) honours 77 exceptional individuals and four teams driving transformative change in healthcare

SINGAPORE — The National University Health System (NUHS) is at the forefront of transforming healthcare, driving new models of care that extend beyond hospitals into the community. In recognition of outstanding contributions in patient care, research and education, NUHS will honour 77 healthcare professionals and four teams at the NUHS Tribute Awards Ceremony 2025, attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong.

This year marks a significant milestone as NUHS introduces the prestigious Emeritus Fellow title, which extends honorary recognition to a wider group of distinguished professionals.  In addition, the Master Clinician award category of the NUHS Pinnacle Awards has been expanded to include nurses and allied health professionals, reinforcing NUHS’s commitment to acknowledging excellence across all disciplines and professional groups. 

Honouring lifelong contributions to healthcare

The inaugural Emeritus Fellow title is conferred on four outstanding professionals, whose pioneering efforts in nursing, diagnostics and pharmacy have transformed healthcare delivery and education: 

• Dr Emily Ang, Senior Nurse Advisor at Alexandra Hospital (AH) – A key figure in nursing leadership, Dr Ang has served in the NUHS cluster for nearly two decades, from leading oncology nursing at NCIS, to heading the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (NUS Nursing), as well as serving as Group Chief Nurse of NUHS up till 2022.

• Mrs Lee Siu Yin nee Yong, Senior Nurse Mentor at AH – A transformational leader in nursing, Mrs Lee’s efforts in advanced practice nursing, education and nursing workforce expansion at the National University Hospital (NUH) have left a lasting impact on Singapore’s healthcare system. Today, she continues to mentor the next generation of nurses at AH.

• Dr Tyrone Goh, Advisor to the Allied Health Council at NUHS and Chief Executive Officer of the NUH Referral Laboratory at NUH – A pioneering leader in diagnostics and allied health services, Dr Goh has been instrumental in advancing clinical support services and teleradiology in Singapore.

• Mr Wu Tuck Seng, Advisor to the Departments of Pharmacy at NUH and AH – A pharmacy innovator, Mr Wu spearheaded Asia-Pacific’s first inpatient pharmacy automation system and played a pivotal role in shaping Singapore’s pharmacy education and national strategy.

This year, 62 award recipients will receive the NUHS Pinnacle Awards – across the categories of Master Clinician, Outstanding Mentor, Research Excellence, Excellence, Young Achiever and Team – as well as the Distinguished Senior Clinician Awards. Additionally, 16 long-serving clinicians and professionals with exceptional achievements will be conferred the lifetime honorary titles of Emeritus Consultant and Emeritus Fellow¹.

“The outstanding work and contributions by our people and teams enable NUHS to deliver world-class care for our patients today,” said Professor Yeoh Khay Guan, Chief Executive, NUHS. “Likewise, the passion and commitment to excellence embodied by our 17,000-strong healthcare family is the driving force that propels our transformation into the health system of tomorrow.”

Driving change, transforming care

Since its inception in 2020, the NUHS@Home programme has significantly expanded, ramping up virtual bed capacity and clinical pathways, so that more patients can benefit from hospital-level care in the familiar sanctuary of their homes.

To date, NUHS@Home has treated more than 2,900 patients and saved over 17,000 bed days – 9,710 of which were in 2024 alone. In 2024, NUHS@Home expanded its reach to acutely ill patients in two nursing homes. These achievements have earned the NUHS@Home team the NUHS Pinnacle Team Award. 

In line with a nationwide initiative to support care beyond acute hospitals, the NUHS@Home programme plans to expand its virtual bed capacity from the current 75 to 100 this year, and to 400 by 2030. New clinical pathways, including for patients post hematopoietic stem cell transplants and post total knee replacements, were launched last year, enabling more patients with different conditions to benefit from the programme. 

For Mr Sulaiman, 33, who suffered severe traumatic injuries in a horrific road traffic accident in mid-2024, NUHS@Home provided a crucial lifeline. After nearly two-and-a-half months in NUH, Mr Sulaiman transitioned to the NUHS@Home programme in September 2024. 

With the comprehensive support of NUHS@Home, which provided Mr Sulaiman with daily virtual consultations and regular remote vitals checks, he was able to continue recuperating in the comfort of his home. 

“Every day, the doctor would check in with me during the video calls to ensure that everything was going smoothly at home,” he recalled. “I was given an emergency contact number and guidance on symptoms to watch for, so that gave me peace of mind.”

Another Team Award recipient that has grown from strength to strength is the NCIS On-The-Go programme, which, since its inception in 2017, has expanded its services from initial blood tests to include 19 different treatments. The community-based cancer treatment programme has established three community clinics, with plans for a fourth clinic in the pipeline, to reduce travelling and wait times for more eligible patients. 

Patient visits have multiplied ten-fold since 2017, and the NCIS On-The-Go programme presently decants over 11 per cent of the total cancer treatment workload at National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), increasing overall capacity and maintaining comparable safety standards. 

Accelerating digital transformation admist healthcare challenges

With numerous challenges on the horizon – including a rapidly ageing population, pressing manpower shortage and increasing demand for healthcare services – NUHS is accelerating digitalisation and AI adoption to streamline processes and ensure sustainability.

Under the leadership of Dr Alexander Yip, Clinical Director of Alexandra Hospital’s Healthcare Redesign Department and recipient of the Excellence Award, NUHS is pioneering the development of Singapore’s first fully integrated virtual hospital. The Alexandra Virtual Hospital (AVH) integrates connected health devices, advanced video technology, predictive data management and unified communications systems to provide seamless and comprehensive care both within and beyond the hospital’s walls.

As part of the AVH initiative, Dr Yip and team have successfully implemented Smart Wards and a Living Lab to foster innovation in healthcare delivery. These test beds not only enhance patient care and safety, but also revolutionise clinical and nursing workflows, significantly easing the strain on healthcare resources.

Looking to the future, Dr Yip and his team are poised to expand AVH’s capabilities, particularly in remote patient care. This is projected to enhance operational efficiency and reduce the inpatient nursing workforce requirements. This strategic reduction will alleviate current manpower constraints and allow nursing staff to concentrate on more complex and critical tasks, ultimately enhancing patient care and system efficiency.

As NUHS celebrates these exemplary individuals and pioneering initiatives, the awards highlight a shared commitment to advancing healthcare. From digital health innovations to community-based care models, the awardees exemplify the expertise and leadership shaping the future of healthcare. With this drive for innovation, NUHS continues its mission to build an academic health system that is patient-centric, sustainable and future-ready. 

To download the PDF version of the media release, click here.

¹77 individuals will be honoured in all, as Assistant Prof David Terrence Consigliere is a double award winner with the conferment of Emeritus Consultant and also the Outstanding Mentor Award.