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In the field of infectious diseases management and public health training, one name shines brightly in Singapore's history: Dr Ivan Polunin. As dedicated physician and tireless educator, the late Dr Polunin spent most of his working life preparing healthcare professionals for the challenges of the modern world and researching disease patterns in tribal peoples in Malaya. He was an esteemed faculty member of the School during our early days as a Dept of Social Medicine and Public Health where he started his tenure as medical lecturer in 1952, retired as associate professor in 1980, and passed on in 2010.

Please join us in extending our warmest congratulations to A/Prof Adeline Seow on being conferred The Public Administration Medal (Bronze) at the National Day Awards 2023. The Awards, celebrated annually on August 9th, is a means of recognising various forms of merit and service to the nation. Instituted in 1963, The Public Administration Medal is awarded to distinguished individuals for outstanding efficiency, competence and industry in their respective fields.

It is with great joy and pride that we extend our warmest congratulations to A/P Jeannette Lee, Vice Dean (Academic Affairs), on being conferred the Long Service Medal at the National Day Awards 2023. The Awards, celebrated annually on August 9th, is a means of recognising various forms of merit and service to the nation. The Long Service Medal was instituted in 1962 and is awarded to any person who is of irreproachable character, whom the President is satisfied, and has completed at least 25 years of service.

Singapore, like most ageing countries, is facing a swell in chronic disease burden and in turn accelerating healthcare expenditure. In July 2023, Singapore has begun rolling out Healthier SG, a major reform of the health system centering on primary care. This commentary highlights three critical areas for this reform to be successful.

I am currently pursuing a major in Pharmacy and a minor in Public Health at the National University of Singapore. Pharmacy is a professional degree and typically leads to immediate employment as a pharmacist after graduation. I wanted to gain a broader understanding of Singapore’s healthcare system and so undertook an internship at the Practice Office in the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Practice Office places an emphasis on translational work which really appealed to me. This is a crucial but often overlooked aspect of integrating theoretical researchRead more

The highly anticipated Precision Public Health Asia 2023 Conference (PPHA 2023) kicked off with a resounding focus on digital health technologies and their role in transforming population health from 13 to 14 July 2023 at the Centre for Healthcare Innovation. Co-organized by the School and Precision Public Health Asia Society, the event brought together over 500 distinguished speakers and delegates from more than 19 countries in the region. It was a vibrant platform for stakeholders from both public and private sectors to discuss best practices on how precision public health interventions are being developed, implemented and financed today, and explore the gaps in these areas.

The health of people is central to all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but these are encountering major challenges and roadblocks because of the recent pandemic, crowded global health infrastructure, poor health governance, inertia and inaction by governments and partners, with people around the world confronted with the prospect of health inequities and continued systemic poverty. Catch the replay of the NUS Distinguished Speaker Series by Dr Margaret Chan as she shared her insights on opportunities in public health to build a healthier, fairer, inclusive and sustainable world.

There are still numerous countries in South and South-east Asia that are struggling to cope with the burden from the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. In today's interconnected world, contributing to the health of other countries is an important part of active global citizenship.

At the inaugural Commencement ceremony held on 6 July 2023, the School’s freshly minted graduates celebrated their new milestone in the presence of fellow school mates, faculty, and distinguished guests.The ceremony marked not only the completion of their academic journey but also the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, one filled with endless opportunities to make a positive impact on public health. NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye congratulated the graduates, “I am confident that our graduates have the skills, knowledge, and training, and possess the qualities ofRead more

The National University of Singapore (NUS) today conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science on Dr Margaret Chan, Emeritus Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Founding Dean of Vanke School of Public Health at Tsinghua University, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to strengthening public health systems and exemplary leadership in addressing global health emergencies. The President of the Republic of Singapore and NUS Chancellor, Madam Halimah Yacob, presented the honorary degree to Dr Chan at a special conferment ceremony held at the University Cultural Centre, NUSRead more

More than 150 graduands, alumni, and faculty came together on 5th July for a joyous evening of celebration and reunion at the AlumNite 2023 Pre-Commencement Celebrations held at Amara Singapore. On this special occasion, our graduands celebrated a key milestone surrounded by their loved ones as they embark on the next chapter of their public health journeys. We were honoured to have Dr Margaret Chan, Emeritus Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Founding Dean of Vanke School of Public Health at Tsinghua University, grace the event as anRead more

Interested in participating in healthy brain ageing study? We are looking for people who are: 1) Aged 45 to 85; 2) Of Chinese, Malay or Indian ethnicity; 3) Without physical disability; 4) Without existing dementia or other significant neurological diseases; 5) Without other serious medical conditions. In the study, you will take following assessments once a year for 3 times: 1) Comprehensive neuropsychological test; 2) Questionnaire of lifestyle and physical examination; 3) Blood biomarkers related to dementia. And an MRI scan on the brain will be provided if you meetRead more