Health Humanities Festival 2025: Heart, Hands, Hope
Published: 23 Jan 2026
With the support of the Health Humanities Hub at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE) in NUS Medicine, and funding from the GENESIS grant, the inaugural NUS Health Humanities Festival was held on 14 November 2025. This festival brought together a diverse community of art practitioners, students, chaplains, spiritual leaders, and health professionals for an evening of shared perspectives and creative exploration.
Welcome and introduction by Prof Angus Dawson, co-lead of the Health Humanities Hub at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE) in NUS Medicine
Welcome address by Adjunct Prof Lau Tang Ching, Vice-Dean (Education), NUS Medicine
The event opened with a welcome and introduction by Professor Angus Dawson, Co-Lead of the Health Humanities Hub at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE) in NUS Medicine, followed by a welcome address from Adjunct Professor Lau Tang Ching, Vice-Dean (Education), NUS Medicine. Together, they set the tone for an evening centred on the intersections between healthcare, the humanities, and self-care.
Justinian Guan (Phase II NUS Medicine student) on about the musical perspectives of illnesses
Julian Low (Physical Theatre Practitioner) who shared his perspectives on Theatre in Medicine
Highlights of the programme included Justinian Guan, a Phase II NUS Medicine student, who spoke about musical perspectives on illness, and Julian Low, a physical theatre practitioner who explored the role of theatre in medicine. Participants were also invited to engage in embodied reflection through an improvisational movement session led by dance movement psychotherapist Cerise Tean.
Cerise Tean (Dance Movement Psychotherapist) touched on improvisational movement
Panel discussion on cultural beliefs around death and dying
The evening featured a thoughtful panel discussion on cultural beliefs around death and dying with insights from Irene Lee (Spiritual care counsellor, HCA Hospice), Chung Kwang Tong (President, Quan Zhen Cultural Society and Secretary-General, Daoist Care Foundation), Dr Komal Tewani (Senior consultant, Department of Gynecological Oncology, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital) and Nur Hamizah Bte Mohd Salim (Assistant Nurse Manager, Oasis@Outram, HCA Hospice). The subsequent segment of the evening provided opportunities to interact and experience various art forms including photography, visual art, dance, theatre improvisation, poetry and film.
Photography showcase by Joel Seah (PhD student, CBmE)
Appreciation of artwork by Heike Blakley
Through multiple art forms and open dialogue, the festival created space to reflect on vulnerability, meaning, and care, underscoring how humanities can deepen understanding, empathy, and resilience in healthcare practice. The Health Humanities Festival 2025: Heart, Hands, Hope marked an important milestone in nurturing conversations that bridge medicine, art, and humanity, and laid the foundation for future initiatives in this growing field.
Sincere appreciation is due to the following individuals, without whom this event would not have been possible:
- Professor Angus Dawson (CBmE)
- A/Prof Michael Charles Dunn (CBmE)
- Dr Neeta Satku (CBmE)
- Dr Ann Toh (CBmE, HCA Hospice)
- Dr Ong Yun Ting (CBmE)
- Marcus Teo CBmE)
- Karen Teo (CBmE)
