Operational Excellence in Action at LKCMedicine

Text: Christine Teh

From improving workplace efficiency to championing employee wellbeing, LKCMedicine's people-focused initiatives have earned national recognition.

Doing more with less through smarter workflows

As organisations face growing demands and increasing complexity, one reality remains clear: manpower growth is not infinite.

At NTU's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), this challenge became increasingly evident as the volume and complexity of work continued to increase.

Recognising the need for a different approach, the School embarked on a bold transformation journey two years ago by establishing ADEPT (Accelerating Digital Excellence and Process Transformation), a cross-functional team comprising representatives from IT, Human Resources and operational departments.

One such innovation is the Grant Utilisation Dashboard, which provides researchers and administrators with real-time oversight of grant balances, enabling proactive budget management and risk mitigation.

The initiative has gained national recognition. In September, LKCMedicine received the Silver Award for Excellence in Workforce Innovation at the 19th Singapore HR Awards for its AI-enabled ways of working.

The School also received a Bronze Award for Excellence in Digital Transformation at the HR Excellence Awards 2026, organised by Human Resources Online, and was named a finalist for Excellence in AI-Enabled Workforce Transformation.

For Dr Serene Ng, Chief Operating Officer of LKCMedicine, technology is only one part of the equation.

“People are still the creator of the technological systems and enabling technology to create smarter processes and transform the way we work,” said Dr Ng. “Process re-engineering and automation are not solely about adopting new technologies; they are about creating better, more effective ways of working that enable our people to focus on higher-value activities.”

LKCMedicine invested in staff capability through structured learning programmes.

To support this transformation, LKCMedicine invested in building both skills and confidence across its workforce. Through more than 1,200 hours of training in LEAN process improvement, Microsoft 365 Copilot and Power Automate, staff were equipped not only with technical capabilities but also the knowledge to use AI responsibly.

People at its core

While process transformation has helped LKCMedicine work smarter, people remain at the heart of its success.

This commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace was recognised at the Singapore HR Awards 2026, where LKCMedicine received the Silver Award for Excellence in Employee Well-being for its LKCMedicine Cares programme.

LKCMedicine Cares is a School-wide employee wellbeing and engagement framework designed to help employees feel valued, supported and empowered to do their best work.

The programme was intentionally designed to move beyond one-off initiatives towards a sustained and holistic approach to employee wellbeing. Signature events, such as LKCMedicine Fun Day, LKCMedicine Wellness Day, LKCMpower Day, the Stakeholders' Appreciation Dinner, wellbeing workshops, volunteerism programmes and staff recognition activities, provided opportunities for employees to connect with one another. 

Dr Ng remarks: “What has set LKCMedicine Cares apart is its broad-based participation across all employee groups. Faculty, researchers, professional staff and support teams have actively taken part in the programme, creating a culture of engagement that is driven by genuine enthusiasm.”

Social interactions have brought employees closer together beyond their immediate teams, encouraging greater collaboration and building a stronger sense of community across the School.

By prioritising employee wellbeing alongside organisational excellence, LKCMedicine has created a workplace where people are not only supported in their professional growth, but are also encouraged to thrive personally.