NUS medical school names new professorship after George and Jennifer Yeo
Published: 31 Aug 2023
From left to right: Dr Raja Kamal, Senior Director of NUS Medicine International Council at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), Mrs Jennifer Yeo, Mr George Yeo, and Professor Chong Yap Seng, Dean of NUS Medicine.
Inaugurated on 30 August, the George and Jennifer Yeo Professorship in Paediatric Oncology will be vested at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) and ultimately help to bring about better cure rates for children with cancer in Singapore and beyond.
The George and Jennifer Yeo Professorship in Paediatric Oncology honours Mr and Mrs George and Jennifer Yeo’s individual, separate, visionary, dogged labour in their respective areas which invigorated Singapore’ international diplomacy and vastly expanded its trading horizons, and brought renewed hope to parents and their cancer-stricken children. The Professorship that bears their names is a testament to their enduring, visionary spirit, transforming what is imagined and possible into enduring reality.
The latest in a series launched to recognise outstanding Singaporeans, the Professorship will recognise leaders in Medicine and public health policy, and catalyse the formation of partnerships with experts from various disciplines to address cancer and other healthcare challenges of the day. At the same time, the Professorship will help to train the next generation of leaders in paediatric oncology to forge partnerships with experts from various disciplines to comprehensively tackle unique challenges in this area.
The George and Jennifer Yeo Professorship in Paediatric Oncology honours Mr and Mrs George and Jennifer Yeo’s efforts in their enduring dedication to address cancer and other healthcare challenges of the day.
“I hope this professorship will help NUS build up its capability in paediatric oncology and help VIVA Foundation do more for children with cancer in Singapore and ASEAN,” said Mr George Yeo.
“I am very honoured, and I thank Professor Chong Yap Seng, the Dean of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, and the donors, who have made this endowed chair possible. As the mother of a childhood cancer survivor, I hope that this professorship will lead to new cures and breakthrough therapies for childhood cancer, whilst ensuring that survivors live longer, healthier, and happier lives,” said Mrs Jennifer Yeo.
Professor Chong Yap Seng, Lien Ying Chow Professor in Medicine, Dean of NUS Medicine, said, “While 50 per cent of the world’s burden of childhood cancer reside in Asia, only 20 per cent are cured. Although the situation in Singapore is much less dire, with eight in every 10 Singaporean children with cancer cured, more remains to be done.” He added, “We are pleased to work with Mr George Yeo and Mrs Jennifer Yeo on this new professorship which will not only enable NUS Medicine to attract some of the world’s leading academics to further advance medical research and education and transform the practice of medicine in Singapore and beyond—it will also lead the training of the next generation of leaders in paediatric oncology to improve childhood cancer outcomes globally.”
Read more in the press release here.
