Digital technologies and AI are contributing immensely to advances in the study and practice of Medicine in ways unimaginable 120 years ago, when this School was founded. While medical science has progressed, the famed Canadian physician William Osler’s observation remains the lodestar of the medical profession: To study the phenomenon of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study books without patients is not to go to sea at all.

This Oslerian insight also informs the teaching and research work we do here at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine). Understanding the origins, causes and effects of disease, the quest for effective therapies and solutions, and the delivery of compassionate, empathetic care to patients—these form the basis of ongoing research at NUS Medicine. Take cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity, all largely preventable. Towards this end, the School recently launched the first-of-its kind Master of Science in Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine to train more healthcare professionals in preventive medicine, focusing on lifestyle and nutrition to promote healthy ageing, lower healthcare costs, and support well-being across the lifespan.

Women’s health and well-being across life stages continue to be a key focus at NUS Medicine. A landmark study with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health showed that women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can reduce their risk of future cardiovascular disease considerably with no cardiovascular events observed over nearly 28 years through sustaining five healthy lifestyle habits. Published in BMC Medicine, researchers from the Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health (GloW) have also identified selected maternal biomarkers from first-trimester random blood samples that can effectively predict GDM risk, offering an earlier and more convenient alternative to the current test typically administered.

Singapore’s increasingly complex healthcare landscape requires a highly competent Nursing workforce to lead care, make critical decisions, and ensure safe, high-quality patient outcomes. In response to these evolving healthcare needs, the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (NUS Nursing), is expanding its programmes to offer nurses and healthcare professionals clearer pathways for career advancement and specialised training. In conjunction with Nurses Day and the Centre’s 20^th anniversary celebration, we have launched Singapore’s first Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programme and three new Master’s programmes—Master of Community Health, Master of Science in Critical Care Nursing, and Master of Science in Infection Prevention and Control.

Co-authored by Associate Professor Jason Lee, director of the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre (HRPC), the recent report on workplace heat stress published by the World Health Organization and World Meteorological Organization draws on decades of evidence to propose guidance and solutions to protect health, safeguard productivity and support sustainable development in a warming world. Designated the Southeast Asia hub of the UN-backed Global Heat Health Information Network, HRPC continues their work in preparing the region for and protecting against the adverse health impacts of extreme heat.

I end this message with a shout-out to NUS Medicine alumnus Dr Chua Jia Long. The MBBS 2016 graduate, a doctor in the Republic of Singapore Navy completed his swim of three of the world’s iconic waterways and raised close to $1 million (at the time of publication) for St Luke’s Hospital. He powered his way through the 32.3km Catalina Channel between Santa Catalina Island and the Southern California mainland in the US; attacked the 48.5km 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan Island and finally crossed the 33.5km English Channel between England and France. Dr Chua became the first Singaporean to complete this Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. Finishing it in just 23 days, he broke the shortest recorded time of 27 days, previously held by a Puerto Rican swimmer. By fusing his passion for endurance swimming with his compassion for people in need and channelling this energy to achieve a most meaningful outcome—Dr Chua is an outstanding exemplar of the kind of medical professional our School seeks to nurture.

Yours sincerely