Mr Lim Hng Kiang

Minister for Trade and Industry

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Minister for Education

Dr Ng Eng Hen

Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Education

Dr Balaji Sadasivan

Senior Minister of State for Health and

   Information, Communications and the Arts

Professor Shih Choon Fong

President, National University of Singapore

Dr Victor Dzau

Chancellor for Health Affairs &

President and CEO, Duke University Health System

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am pleased to be here this morning to witness the signing of the agreement between the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Duke University School of Medicine to set up the NUS Graduate Medical School (GMS).

The Singapore Government is fully committed to this GMS project, given the GMS’ strategic benefits to Singapore. I am pleased to note that Duke is equally committed to helping Singapore set up its second medical school. Let me take this opportunity to thank Duke for its commitment and dedication to the GMS.

100 Years of Medical Education in Singapore

The signing of the agreement between NUS and Duke University to establish the GMS marks a new and exciting phase in the development of medical education in Singapore.

I am sure that many of you will feel a tinge of nostalgia, as we are gathered today at what may be considered NUS’ birthplace. It was in July 1905 that NUS’ founding institution, Singapore’s first medical school was established at Sepoy Lines which was located in the vicinity of the building we are in now – the College of Medicine Building. The Medical School, then known as The Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School started with 23 students. The school was later renamed as the King Edward VII College of Medicine in 1921, as it moved into the imposing College of Medicine Building, reminiscent of classical Greek architecture.

Today, the Faculty of Medicine at NUS offers one of the finest undergraduate medical programmes in the Asia-Pacific region, and commands international recognition and respect. Over the years, it has produced many excellent doctors. It is indeed a propitious occasion that, a century later, we are all here to witness the birth of Singapore’s second medical school at the very birthplace of NUS’ Medical School at the Outram campus.

Establishment of the Graduate Medical School

The GMS is set up under very different times and circumstances. It is established with the strategic intent to realise Singapore’s vision to be a centre of excellence in medical education, clinical research and healthcare delivery, and contribute to Singapore’s continued growth.

The GMS will provide further opportunities in medical education for more Singaporeans. The target intake group will be mature graduate students who have already experienced the rigours of tertiary education and know better what they want for their careers.

Besides providing an alternative model to medical education, the GMS will also conduct a significant portion of research in strategic areas, which I am confident, will be of world-class quality and impact that will be welcomed by the research community here.

Singapore as a Medical Hub

As a small country with a population of just over 4 million people, and no natural resources other than a strategic location, Singapore has made enormous advances since our independence in 1965. Today, Singapore has a well-established healthcare system with an excellent reputation for quality medicine, well-regulated health environment, availability of highly skilled medical professionals, the latest medical infrastructure and technology - all the solid fundamentals of a regional medical hub. 

Our future growth will depend on our ability to explore and exploit new opportunities. We know that NUS’ Faculty of Medicine has already established a good reputation and foundation. We want to build on this foundation to scale new heights. We can achieve this not by doing more of the same, but by collaborating with the best in class to develop peaks of excellence. 

The presence of Duke University and the GMS will further differentiate our medical sector from those in the region. The transfer of Duke’s ethos and culture into the new medical school will diversify our medical education, strengthen our research focus and help Singapore move up the value chain.  

I am also delighted that with its siting on the campus of the Singapore General Hospital, the GMS can work closely with the hospital and specialty centres in Outram to further medical research and bring new medical technologies and treatments to the benefit of the patients. This will foster and spur more translational and patient-oriented research that is essential for our healthcare system. I believe the GMS can offer our aspiring clinicians the exciting opportunities to undertake research and this will become a significant pull factor to attract and retain high quality medical staff in the public healthcare system.

Singapore’s Biomedical Sciences Initiative

Over the past few years, Singapore has steadily become a key player in Biomedical R&D in this part of the world. We have made significant progress in developing world-class capabilities from basic research, clinical development, product and process development, manufacturing to healthcare services.    

Our heavy investment in the Biomedical Science initiatives must increase the wealth of our country, improve the lives of Singaporeans and provide more jobs and opportunities for Singapore at the end of the day. I am glad that these efforts have contributed to the growth of the Biomedical Sciences industry’s manufacturing output to S$15.8 billion in 2004, a 33.2% increase from 2003.

We are now training more postgraduates and post-doctorates for the highly knowledge-intensive biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. We have also seen talents from the world gather here to conduct world-class research work and high-value downstream activities such as healthcare delivery and production of pharmaceutical products for the global market. The GMS is thus well positioned to derive synergy and harness from the biomedical thrust we have already built up in Singapore.

Together with Minister Ng Eng Hen, I visited Duke University Medical Centre in April 2002 and was impressed with the unique characteristics of the Duke medical curriculum, renowned for its rigorous and innovative medical education programme with a distinctive focus on research. I understand that one out of five medical alumni pursues a career focused on research and teaching - one of the highest rates in the US and a clear measure of Duke's impact on academic medicine. The heavy emphasis on research is aligned with our objective of developing more research manpower for the life sciences. I believe Duke’s expertise in medical education and clinical research will be a critical ingredient to help start a second medical school to produce a new breed of doctors, who are also trained as clinician-scientists.

With Duke’s research-intensive third year of a four-year MD programme, the GMS offers a platform in training and producing clinician-scientists who understand both medical challenges and the potential of basic research in searching for scientific solutions. This is a positive step towards the attainment of excellence in Biomedical R&D as it will help Singapore produce a steady pipeline of clinician-scientists with the distinctive ability to bridge basic sciences and clinical medicine. Furthermore, the continued presence of the Duke teaching and research faculty in Singapore will add to the vibrancy of the research community at the Biopolis.

I am pleased to know that we have taken positive steps to recognise the research accomplishments and potential of our outstanding clinician-scientists, and support these doctors as they pursue their dual-tracked careers in Medicine and in Science. Just a week ago, 8 of our medical doctors were selected as the first recipients of the inaugural BMRC-NMRC Clinician-Scientist Investigator (CSI) Award. This is a testimony of Singapore’s commitment to support clinicians who are keen to pursue translational research that could ultimately make a difference in patient outcomes, improve healthcare and save lives.

Collaboration with Duke University

With Duke’s commitment toward excellence in medical education and research, it is no surprise that, in 2004, the US News and World Report ranked the Duke School of Medicine among the top four medical schools in the US, and Duke University Medical Centre among the top six of 6,012 American hospitals. We are indeed glad to have one of the finest medical schools in the US as our partner to set up the GMS.

I am delighted to know that Duke will be sending Dr R Sanders Williams to assume the GMS deanship concurrently with his deanship at Duke School of Medicine. Dr Williams will play a critical role to oversee the establishment of the GMS in the areas of start-up expertise, advice on curriculum design, student recruitment, building infrastructure and facilities, as well as recruitment and appointment of faculty. I am also pleased to hear that that Singapore and Duke have agreed to work together towards the goal of a joint NUS-Duke M.D. degree for graduates of the GMS.

I am confident that Duke's involvement will transform our medical education and research in the same way MIT transformed engineering education and research for NUS and NTU in the Singapore-MIT Alliance. I am also confident that the collaboration will play a key role in strengthening the link between Singapore and North Carolina Research Triangle Park, especially since both are growing significant biomedical industries.

Conclusion

This year, NUS proudly celebrates its Centennial year for the university and for medical education in Singapore. I am heartened to learn that 2005 marks the 75^th Anniversary of Duke University School of Medicine as Duke celebrates its achievement going from an isolated medical outpost in the American South to a world renowned institution with a global reach. 

Despite their long history, both partner universities are constantly seeking new ways to reinvent themselves to meet the global challenges in the new economy. This synergistic partnership underscores the global aspirations and the forward-looking vision of NUS and Duke as both commemorate and celebrate their historic milestone achievements. I am confident that the GMS will provide the opportunities for interaction among the best intellectual minds and further our collaborative mission of fostering world-class education and research beneficial to maintaining the economic vitality of both nations.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Dr Victor Dzau, Dr Sanders Williams and their colleagues from Duke, as well as the GMS Protem Committee chaired by Prof Soo Khee Chee, Director, National Cancer Centre of SingHealth, for their vision and hard work in getting this enterprise off the ground. I would also like to express my appreciation to Dr Ralph Snyderman, the former Chancellor for Health Affairs & President and CEO, Duke University Health System and currently the Chancellor Emeritus at Duke. I met Dr Snyderman in 2002 when we first explored the idea of a possible collaboration between Singapore and Duke in establishing a new medical school. Although Dr Snyderman is unable to be with us this morning, I am sure that he would be pleased that the idea we discussed three years ago has borne fruit.

I wish NUS and Duke University an enduring partnership, and the GMS every success.

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