Tan Hiang Khoon

Chief Executive Officer at Singapore General Hospital

Speaker

Clinical Associate Professor Tan Hiang Khoon is a dynamic clinician leader who is currently serving as the CEO Singapore General Hospital. His career trajectory includes several key leadership roles within SingHealth. From 2021 to 2024, he served concurrently as Group Director of the International Collaboration Office (ICO) at SingHealth and Director of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI). Additionally, he took on the role of Deputy CEO (Future Health System), SGH from 2022 to 2024. Prior to these appointments, Dr Tan was the Chair of Surgery from 2015 to 2022.

With a distinguished career in head and neck surgery and surgical oncology, Dr Tan has made significant strides in healthcare leadership. He spearheaded the creation of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Head and Neck Disease Centre in 2013. As Chair of surgery, he led the integration of the Division of Surgery at Singapore General Hospital with the Division of Surgical Oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore to optimise care of surgical patients. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he established a 3,700-bed Community Care Facility, ensuring hospital capacities were maintained.

Dr Tan is dedicated to global health equity; he founded the Global Surgery Programme and initiated the Asian Surgical Leaders Network, which addresses the pandemic's impact on surgical health systems in Asia and develops strategies for health system resilience. His commitment to cost-conscious innovation led to a partnership with Duke University, resulting in a low-cost portable flexible nasopharyngoscope, enhancing diagnostic access in lower-resourced settings.

Dr Tan holds a medical degree from the National University of Singapore, a Ph.D. from the University of Bristol, and advanced training in head and neck surgical oncology from the Institute Gustave Roussy in Paris. He also earned an Executive Master in Business Administration from the National University of Singapore