Foreword from Head of Department

Welcome to the Department of Anaesthesia at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. NUS Anaesthesia was established in 1985 and has a proud tradition of quality research and medical education.

As a member of the National University Health System we are affiliated to the Clinical Departments at the National University Hospital, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, and Alexandra Hospital. In addition we have strong links with NUS departments like the Centre for Healthy Longevity, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, and Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. These relationships enable clinical research; which is led by Dr Will Loh, and mentored by A/Prof Ti Lian Kah. Our clinician researchers have advised medical students and junior doctors embarking on research studies, winning local and international awards for their presentations. The Sing-PAS study, our flagship project launched in 2021; will provide diagnostic, mechanistic and prognostic information to inform and influence outcomes in elderly patients undergoing major surgery.

Our department also runs a translational medicine laboratory under the supervision of Prof Lee Tat Leang. It conducts both animal studies (specialising in animal pain models) and benchside tests (e.g. HPLC, PCR, ELISA, etc). Our work into pain biomarkers investigates metabolites of secretogranin V and their effects on modulation of osteoarthritic pain. With the recent interest in healthy longevity, the lab is now investigating rampamycin's effect on cognitive dysfunction after surgery and anaesthesia.

Our medical school programme is helmed by Dr Loh May-Han and Dr Delice Lee. The core undergraduate posting in Phase IV focuses on the entire perioperative period; from pre-op evaluation and optimisation, to pain management and critical care in the post-op phase. The fundamentals of airway management and resuscitation are systematically taught through theory sessions, human patient simulator (HPS) training, and hands-on skills practice in the operating theatre; to equip future doctors with the ability to respond to emergency situations. In addition, the practice of anaesthesia is introduced, relating it back to the principles of physiology and pharmacology and bringing that knowledge to life. Elective attachments are also available for students who wish to have greater exposure. The team is supported by a dedicated and inspiring group of clinician educators who have achieved numerous teaching awards. In 2021, A/Prof Terry Pan was appointed a Fellow of the NUS teaching Academy; reflecting his outstanding educational practices, and allowing guidance of future academic policies. Terry is passionate about introducing technology into undergraduate education and is developing training modules for electronic medical records, so that our students transition easily into their roles as junior doctors.

Looking to the future, we are committed to advance Anaesthesia teaching; constantly innovating while building on the strong foundation already forged. We are attuned to challenges in the world around us, including climate change and healthcare inequality; and will adapt and rise to meet them. Our research will focus on issues that are important to our country and patients, leveraging on our unique position providing world-class healthcare in an Asian context.