ANNUAL REPORT 2008 ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE Chapter of Emergency Physicians Chapter of Pathologists Chapter of Psychiatrists Chapter of Public Health & Occupational Physicians College of Anaesthesiologists, Singapore College of Dental Surgeons, Singapore College of College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Singapore College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Singapore College of Physicians, Singapore College of Radiologists, Singapore College of Surgeons, Singapore Academy of Medicine, Singapore Annual Report 2008 Contents Masters’ Message 1 Council (2008 – 2009) 2 Standing Committees of the Academy 3-4 Year in Review 5 Sponsorship, Grants and Awards 6 Education and Training 7 -8 Membership 9 Events 10 Professional Affairs 11 Publication 12 AMS Financial Statements 2008 13-14 Staff Directory 37 Organisation Chart 38 List of Past Masters and Honorary Fellows 39 Chapters and Colleges of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore Chapter of Emergency Physicians 15 Chapter of Pathologists 16-17 Chapter of Psychiatrists 18 Chapter of Public Health & Occupational Physicians 19-20 College of Anaesthesiologists, Singapore 21 College of Dental Surgeons, Singapore 22 College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Singapore 23-24 College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Singapore 25-26 College of Physicians, Singapore 27-29 College of Radiologists, Singapore 30-32 College of Surgeons, Singapore 33-36 Master’s Message In 2008, the Academy continued to play an important role in providing post-graduate training and continuing professional development for the medical specialists in Singapore. During the year, the Academy successfully developed 14 Staff Registrar Scheme for the temporary registered doctors in the public institutions. Out of the 14 approved programmes, ten courses were launched with a total enrolment of 45 candidates at year end. As an independent professional body of specialists, the Academy also played a leadership role in maintaining the highest standards of competency and ethical integrity of the medical profession and promoting the highest standard of healthcare delivery to patients. The Academy continued to provide professional information and advice to the Ministry of Health on various topics ranging from Control of Mercury Clinical Thermometers in Singapore to determination of Minimum Standards for Provision of Pediatric ENT Services. Additionally, the Academy also worked jointly with the College of Family Physicians, Singapore and the Singapore Medical Council to develop the Guidelines on aesthetic practice which was adopted by SMC in October. In 2008, the number of Fellows admitted increased 28% over 2007. As at 31 December 2008, the total number of active Fellows was 2329. During the year, Fellows participated actively in the CME activities conducted by the specialties colleges and chapters. 2008 also marks a new milestone for the Academy when we moved into our fifth home at the NKF Centre. Occupying the 11 th and 12 th floor of the centre, it will be the Academy’s home for the next 18 years. The new premises, twice the size of our previous home at 142 Neil Road, provides for more conducive working environment not only for both the staff of AMS and JCST, more importantly, it has several meeting rooms where exams, seminars and meetings can be held. Members can look forward to more activities held at the Academy’s new premises. New initiatives In our continuous efforts to improve and enhance our membership benefits, the Academy has embarked on a few initiatives during the year to be implemented in the first quarter of 2009. AMS membership card The card is one of our efforts to go paperless and enhance the benefits of our Fellows. With the card, members no longer need to sign on the forms for CME points at ALL AMS events and conferences. The information will be contained in the card and members only need to produce the card for scanning. New AMS website The current AMS website is undergoing a revamp. Members can look forward to a more contemporary look and friendly website with an on-line forum to allow members to share their views on topical matters. New membership management system To allow AMS to be more dynamic and reacts to business model changes and challenges more quickly and better serve our members, a new membership management system will be implemented in 2009. The new membership management system is more cost-effective, increase work efficiency with quick access to accurate reports and improves the overall efficiency of AMS membership management. 1st AMM-AMS-HKAM Tripartite Congress in 2010 The Academy of Medicine, Singapore and Academy of Medicine, Malaysia, and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine have decided to consolidate and strengthen links among the three organizations. To kick-start the collaboration, the three academies will sign a Memorandum of Understanding which will provide the platform in promoting greater collaboration and exchanges in post-graduate training and continuing professional development in the region. The first tripartite congress will be held in 2010 in Hong Kong. Internal Medicine In-Training Examination 2009 All Internal Medicine BST trainees are required to undergo the in-training examination by the American College of Physicians (ACP) annually from 2009. The Academy is pleased to be appointed by the Ministry of Health to provide administrative services to run the In-training examination for Internal-medicine scheduled in October 2009. More information on the activities of the Academy and it’s Colleges during the year is outlined in the pages that follow. Finally, I would like to thank all Fellows, Council members, standing committees and the AMS administrative team for the commitment, contributions and encouragement. MASTER’S MESSAGE Prof Fock Kwong Ming Master Academy of Medicine, Singapore AMS1 COUNCIL (2008—2009) Patron: Mr S R Nathan, President of the Republic of Singapore Elected Council Members Dr Fock Kwong Ming Dr Ho Lai Yun Master Immediate Past Master Dr Lim Shih Hui Dr Tan Kok Chai Assistant Master Scribe Dr Anthony Heng Dr Ng Boon Keng Bursar Assistant Bursar Dr Lee Kok Onn Dr Chan Heng Thye Censor-in-Chief Censor Dr Chan Yew Weng Dr Edward Pang Chee Ping Censor Censor Dr George Yeo Seow Heong Dr Ikshuvanam Swaminathan Censor Censor Dr Sarveselan RE Sayampanathan Censor Appointed Council Members Dr Venkataraman Anantharaman Dr Cuthbert Teo Eng Swee Chair, Chapter of Emergency Physicians Chair, Chapter of Pathologists Dr Yap Hwa Ling Dr Derrick Heng Mok Kwee Chair, Chapter of Psychiatrists Chair, Chapter of Public Health & Occupational Physicians Dr George Lim Dr Andrew Aw President, College of Anaesthesiologists President, College of Dental Surgeons Dr Ng Keng Yeen Dr Lee Bee Wah President, College of Physicians President, College of Paediatrics and Child Health Dr Vijay K Sethi Dr Chan Heng Thye President, College of Radiologists President, College of Surgeons Dr Chang Tou Choong President, College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Ex-Officio Dr Vernon Oh Min Sen, Editor of Annals, AMS COUNCIL(2008—2009) Standing (from left): Dr Cuthbert Teo Eng Swee, Dr Venkataraman Anantharaman, Dr Ng Keng Yeen, Dr Ikshuvanam Swaminathan, Dr Vijay Sethi, Dr Andrew Aw, Dr Derrick Heng Mok Kwee, Dr George Lim Seated (from left): Dr Anthony Heng, Dr Ho Lai Yun, Dr Fock Kwong Ming, Dr Lim Shih Hui, Dr Yap Hwa Ling, Dr Ng Boon Keng Not in photo: Dr Tan Kok Chai, Dr Lee Kok Onn, Dr Chan Heng Thye, Dr Chan Yew Weng, Dr Edward Pang Chee Ping, Dr George Yeo Seow Heong, Dr Sarveselan RE Sayampanathan, Dr Chang Tou Choong, Dr Lee Bee Wah, Dr Vernon Oh Min Sen AMS2 Standing Committees of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore The Council is supported by 12 standing committees established under the AMS by-laws. Standing Committees on Membership Chairman Dr Lee Kok Onn The Standing Committee on Membership is responsible for setting policies Members Dr Chan Kin Ming and procedures governing membership matters; election of new fellows Dr Huang Shoou Chyuan and appeal process; subscriptions by fellows; disciplinary action and Dr Lai Fook Onn termination of membership; growing of membership relations; obtains and Dr Sim Kang reviews nominations/recommendation/endorsement of distinguished aca- Dr Tan Ai Ling demician, visiting academician and visiting lecturer and makes Dr Vijay K Sethi recommendations to the Council. Ex-Officio Dr Chan Heng Thye Dr Yeo Seow Heong, George Standing Committee on Professional Affairs Chairman Dr Ho Lai Yun The Standing Committee on Professional Affairs sets the policies and Members Dr Boey Wah Keong procedures for professional affair matters; provide advice on clinical Dr Christopher Cheng practice guidelines, medical professional bodies on new technologies and Dr Cuthbert Teo Eng Swee the development of specialties and subspecialties; provides recommenda- Dr Ng Li-Ling tions to MOH on the associated policies and procedures governing the Dr Peter George Manning adoption of new technologies and the practice of new specialties and Dr Thomas Chee Swee Guan subspecialties; generate and disseminate information and knowledge to Dr Wong Kok Seng the public on matters related to health; independent medical expert Ex-Officio Dr Ikshuvanam Swaminathan reports; verification of foreign visiting experts. Dr Selan Sayampanathan Standing Committee on Specialist Training and Examination Chairmen Dr Lee Kok Onn The Standing Committee on Specialist Training and Examination Dr Tan Kok Chai nominates the representatives of AMS to JCST, subject to approval by Members Dr Chan Yew Weng Council; influences the policies and procedures for postgraduate specialist Dr Cheah Wei Keat training and examination matters as well as oversees the postgraduate Dr Fong Kok Yong medical education and postgraduate examination board. Dr Ikshuvanam Swaminathan Dr Lucien London Ooi Dr Ng Keng Yeen Dr Suresh s/o Anandan Sahadevan Dr Teo Eng Kiong Dr Wong Wai Keong Ex-Officio Dr Fock Kwong Ming Standing Committee on Joint Committee on Specialists Training Co-Chairman: Dr Fock Kwong Ming (JCST) The Academy participates actively with the Division of Graduate Medical Studies, National University of Singapore in training programmes for specialist trainees in all specialities.