Dr Oon Chiew Seng, an outstanding NUS Medicine alumna, passed away on 31 March 2022 at the age of 106. She was a tireless and steadfast champion of humanitarian efforts to serve the vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, and embodied the spirit of public service and dedication through her life’s work. In particular, Dr Oon made seminal contributions to the advancement of dementia care and research in Singapore.
Dr Oon co-founded Singapore’s first nursing home for dementia residents, the Apex Harmony Lodge, after travelling around the world to study homes for elderly Alzheimer and dementia patients while she was in her 80’s. The many accolades she received in her life include being conferred Honorary Fellow by the Royal College of Obstetrics and; Honorary Fellowship of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore; Distinguished Alumni Service Award by the National University of Singapore; the Public Service Medal and the Public Service Star; Her World Woman of the Year Special Award 2010; Hospital Management Asia (HMA) Lifetime Achievement Award by Ministry of Health 2011; and President’s Special Recognition Award , President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards 2013. Last year in 2021, NUS conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters on Dr Oon, which is one of the University’s highest forms of recognition for outstanding individuals who have rendered distinguished service and created significant impact in Singapore and beyond.
Her passionately held beliefs in the advancement of research and education in ageing and dementia care continue to live on in two funds that Dr Oon and our generous donors have established: the Oon Chiew Seng Distinguished Visitor Programme, as well as the Oon Chiew Seng Professorship in Medicine, Healthy Ageing and Dementia Research.
Join us in remembering Dr Oon with your generous contribution to these funds. Your gift will continue her extraordinary legacy and benefit individuals and communities for generations to come.
Read more about Dr Oon’s inspiring life story here: https://news.nus.edu.sg/dr-oon-chiew-seng-overcoming-adversity-and-seizing-opportunity/
Oon Chiew Seng Professorship in Medicine, Healthy Ageing and Dementia Research
The chaired endowed professorship fund was made possible by Dr Oon Chiew Seng and generous individuals donors and foundations.
The professorship greatly enhances NUS Medicine’s efforts to provide quality medical education and undertake translational research in the fields of ageing and dementia. Students, faculty, healthcare professionals, industry players and patients will greatly benefit from the talents that the professorship will attract. These talents in their turn, will drive the strong, transformative research and education programmes important to informing the thinking and work of policy makers, and the efforts by community service organisations. Candidates for the Professorship will be selected according to prevailing NUS policies and procedures at the relevant time.
Oon Chiew Seng Distinguished Visitor Programme
This programme supports the development of pre-clinical and clinical neuroscience, neuro-nutritional science, and architectural design of aged care. Distinguished visitors are invited to share their knowledge and expertise through lectures aimed to benefit the academic community, as well as members of the public. Distinguished visitors are also engaged in intellectual discussions on potential collaborations and improvement of research in the School.
