First Singaporean elected to US medical academy

Prof Tan has been elected as a member of the influential US National Academy of Medicine

NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan has been elected as a member of the prestigious National Academy of Medicine (NAM) in the US, the first Singaporean to join the influential body.

Regarded as one of the highest honours in the fields of health and medicine, the lifelong membership recognises individuals who have shown outstanding professional achievements and commitment to service. They are elected on the basis of their distinguished and continuing achievements in a relevant field, as well as for their willingness to contribute without compensation in conducting significant health-related studies and activities.

NAM President Dr Victor J Dzau highlighted that the newly elected members represent the brightest, most influential and passionate people in health, science and medicine. "The expertise they bring to the organisation will help us respond to today's most pressing health-related challenges and inform the future of health, science and medicine, he said.

Prof Tan, who is also the Chairman of the National University Health System and Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, expressed his appreciation for the honour. He said, "To be elected into this illustrious group of distinguished scholars who have made such an impact on the information and policies we have today in the world of biomedicine, medicine and health is an incredible privilege.

"It is a strong recognition of the contributions made by Singapore and the National University of Singapore to the study of medicine and health in Asia, and particularly meaningful in the 50th year of Singapore's independence and 110th year of the University's founding as a modest medical school, he added.

Established in 1970 as the Institute of Medicine, NAM is an independent organisation that provides authoritative information on medical and health issues. It serves alongside the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering as adviser to the US and the global community.

Read the press release.