Tel: (65) 6772 3258
Email kerkan@nus.edu.sg

As both surgeon and health services researcher, Ker Kan’s primary research interests span the entire spectrum of the colorectal cancer journey – from screening and prevention, to diagnosis and treatment, and the experiences of specific subpopulations such as those with stoma or metastatic disease. His ongoing projects involve a broad range of key topics. These include understanding barriers and facilitators to colorectal screening, longitudinal quality-of-life of patients and spouses as they experience the treatment process. Apart from colorectal cancer, Ker Kan’s interests also extend to the use of telemedicine and other new models of care in health promotion and health services delivery.

• NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (Joint)
• NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (Primary)
• National University Hospital
• National University Health System

• Colorectal Cancer
• Cancer & Chronic Disease Screening
• Health Services Research
• Behavioural Health

• Colorectal Cancer Prevention & Treatment
• Health Services Research

• PhD (Public Health), Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUS
• FRCS (Edin)
• MMed (Surg)
• MBBS, National University of Singapore

• NMRC Clinical Scientist Award (2019)

• Senior Consultant, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital (2018 – Present)
• Consultant, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital (2013 – 2018)
• Associate Consultant, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital (2011 – 2013)

• Head, Division of Colorectal Surgery, University Surgical Cluster, National University Hospital
• Head, Division of Surgical Oncology (Colorectal Surgery), National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS)
• Head, Research Integrity & Compliance Unit, Research Office, National University Health System
• Head, Grants Unit, NUHS Research Office, National University Health System
• Vice Chairman, Medical Board (Research), National University Hospital
• Assistant Dean (Research Integrity and Compliance), NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

• Pang NQ, Lau J, Fong SY, Wong CY, Tan KK. Telemedicine Acceptance Among Older Adult Patients With Cancer: Scoping Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2022 Mar 29;24(3):e28724.
• Khoo AM, Lau J, Loh XS, Ng CW, Griva K, Tan KK. Understanding the psychosocial impact of colorectal cancer on young‐onset patients: A scoping review. Cancer Medicine. 2022 Apr 1.
• Burkill S, Tan CS, Lau J, Koh GC, Tan KK. Colorectal cancer incidence in a multi-ethnic population: Age-period-cohort analysis of trends in Singapore. Cancer Epidemiology. 2021 Dec 1;75.
• Lim TZ, Lau J, Wong GJ, Tan LY, Chang YJ, Natarajan K, Yi H, Wong ML, Tan KK. Factors predicting improved compliance towards colonoscopy in individuals with positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT). Cancer Medicine. 2021 Nov;10(21):7735-46.
• Lim TZ, Lau J, Wong GJ, Tan KK. Colorectal cancer in patients with single versus double positive faecal immunochemical test results: A retrospective cohort study from a public tertiary hospital. PLOS ONE. 2021 Jun 4;16(6):e0250460.
• Lau J, Khoo AM, Ho AH, Tan KK. Psychological resilience among palliative patients with advanced cancer: A systematic review of definitions and associated factors. Psycho‐ 2021 Jul;30(7):1029-40.
• Lau J, Tan DH, Wong GJ, Lew YJ, Chua YX, Low LL, Koh GC, Kwek TS, Toh SA, Tan KK. The impact of COVID-19 on private and public primary care physicians: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Infection and Public Health. 2021 Mar 1;14(3):285-9.
• Lau J, Lim TZ, Wong GJ, Tan KK. The health belief model and colorectal cancer screening in the general population: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2020 Dec 1;20:101223.
• Tan KK, Lim TZ, Chew E, Chow WM, Koh GC. Colorectal cancer patients can be advocates for colorectal cancer screening for their siblings: a study on siblings’ perspectives. Psycho‐ 2020 Dec;29(12):2028-32.
• Tan KK, Moran BJ, Solomon MJ. Avoiding collateral mortality in a pandemic—time to change our mindset in surgical oncology. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology. 2020 Jul;17(7):383-5.