LKCMedicine inks agreements with NHG at SingaporeHealth & Biomedical Congress 2018 to develop more Clinician-Scientists andSerious Games
At the opening ceremony of Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC) 2018 today, LKCMedicine signed an MOU with NHG on a Joint Programme for Clinician-Scientist Development in order to reaffirm the commitment to set up a strong pipeline of clinician-scientists, and to strengthen Singapore's standing as a global hub for biomedical research.
At the 16th edition of SHBC, Professor Lim Tock Han, Deputy Group CEO (Education & Research) of NHG in his opening address said: "The evolving healthcare landscape with our rapidly ageing population makes it more crucial for doctors to step up as scientists, to participate in creating knowledge, and to help translate scientific discoveries into meaningful healthcare outcomes. As the primary clinical training partner of NTU's LKCMedicine, today's MOU formalises our partnership and commitment to grow our pool of clinician-scientists, and spur them on to vie for more National Medical Research Council awards in advancing healthcare."
Guest-of-honour Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Health in his opening address said, "With the evolving healthcare needs and demands, I believe the work of clinician-scientists in therapeutic areas such as metabolic, infectious and skin diseases, as well as neuroscience and mental health will become more critical. Clinician-scientists are important bridge-builders between new medical discoveries and their adoption."
An example of a clinician-scientist's research study which has benefited patients is one led by LKCMedicine Assistant Professor and TTSH senior consultant in the Department of Ophthalmology Colin Tan on employing non-invasive imaging technology to screen for abnormal blood vessels in the eye. Asst Prof Tan's study on the use of Coherence Tomography Angiography for screening and diagnosing Polypodial Chorodial Vasculopathy, an eye condition common to Asian populations, has shown that this method is faster and safer when screening and monitoring of the condition, allowing for improved treatment delivery and patient care.
MOA signed to develop Serious Games prototypes
At the congress, LKCMedicine, NHG, five polytechnics and ITE also signed an MOA to discover potential students with a passion for games design and storytelling, graphics design and IT infrastructure to take up internships at gAmes for heaLth InnoVations centrE (ALIVE), which is a joint collaboration between LKCMedicine and NHG. ALIVE healthcare experts will co-develop Serious Games prototypes with these students.
Dean of LKCMedicine Prof James Best said, "The potential of Serious Games and simulation to positively impact health is tremendous, and is likely to be effective at any stage of life, and of relevance given Singapore's rapidly ageing population. I look forward to discovering students with a passion for developing Serious Games, and working with them and our partners on prototypes that will help Singaporeans make healthy choices and live healthier lifestyles."
This year's SHBC carries the theme "Adding Years of Healthy Life" and runs over three days, with Day 1 and 2 at MaxAtria, Singapore Expo, and Day 3 at the LKCMedicine Novena campus. LKCMedicine features strongly with presentations by our research and education faculty as well as students.
Day 2 of SHBC: Serious Games come ALIVE
The second day of the congress boasted an exciting programme, kicking off the morning with the very first Games for Health Innovation Symposium organised by gAmes for heaLth InnoVation cEntre (ALIVE), a joint collaboration between LKCMedicine and NHG, held on 26 October at the MaxAtria, Singapore Expo.
The symposium began with ALIVE co-directors, LKCMedicine Acting Director of Medical Education Research & Scholarship Unit and Visiting Associate Professor Nabil Zary and Deputy Head of Department of Rehabilitation at Tan Tock Seng Hospital Dr Loh Yong Joo, delivering their welcome address to a full house.
Next, speakers from across the various healthcare institutions presented their Serious Games prototypes, with support from ALIVE, detailing the processes and developmental stages of their projects. Ms Desiree Ng, a Senior Occupational Therapist from the Institute of Mental Health talked about her experiences in creating a cognitive rehab game that teaches patients to perform simple, everyday tasks, such as preparing breakfast, under the supervision of clinicians. Another speaker, Principal Psychologist Dr Yang Su-Yin from Tan Tock Seng Hospital spoke about the challenges faced while creating Serious Games for chronic pain.
To give the participants a taste of game development, the ALIVE co-directors held a Serious Games Design and Development Workshop 101, giving them insights to the business, academic and technological aspects of creating Serious Games. Through this workshop, A/Prof Nabil hopes that the participants can apply newfound knowledge to their business ventures.
The symposium ended with a panel discussion titled "Serious Games in Healthcare: Just for fun or is there clinical, research & business value?", where along with the ALIVE co-directors, LKCMedicine Associate Professor of Human & Microbial Genetics Eric Yap sat in as a panellist to discuss the issues that arise from Serious Games.
More exciting tracks keep delegates engaged
Aside from the inaugural Games for Health Innovation symposium, the second day of SHBC 2018 ran on a few tracks including chronic pain management, diabetes, psychologically safe learning environments, geriatric and rehabilitation medicine, health services research, mental health, musculoskeletal, containment of contagion, organisation development, palliative care, patient-centred care models as well as two forums: the Population Health symposium, and Primary Care Forum.
Primary Care Forum 2018 looks to the future
The annual Primary Care Forum takes place over two days, on 26 October at Max Atria, Singapore Expo and 27 October at the LKCMedicine Novena campus. This year's forum revolves around the theme "Primary Care: Integration & Innovation for the Future". With the shift of healthcare from hospitals to the community, there is a need for public and private healthcare professionals to collaborate ever more closely; to cope with increased use of technology that disrupts traditional healthcare delivery, rise of patient empowerment, and value-based solutions grounded in scientific evidence.
After the opening address by LKCMedicine Associate Professor and CEO of NHGP Chong Phui-Nah, the Primary Care Forum's plenary sessions see GP leaders from LKCMedicine and NHG address the changing care landscape for family physicians, looking at adult vaccines for the tropics, paediatric ophthalmology, advanced treatments for complex diabetes, and the GP's role in active ageing.
Medical Humanities on show
On the sidelines of SHBC 2018, a Medical Humanities exhibition – now on its sixth run – seeks to demonstrate the link between art and medicine. This year saw five out of the 32 artworks on display submitted by LKCMedicine students, alumni and staff.
Created around the theme of "Trust", submissions were "I Can't Trust Them" by Year 1 student Calvin Chen You Jia, "The Bionic Pump" by Year 2 student Cheong Nian Kai, "Hand in Trust" by Educational Development & TBL Facilitator Assistant Director Emmanuel Tan, "Brain Cactus" by Education Associate Lucinda Richards and a poem "Trust" by alumnus Dr Lavisha S Punjabi from the class of 2018.