Our Colorectal Surgery Team At the Singapore General Hospital, our dedicated team of Colorectal surgeons offer comprehensive consultations on all colorectal services. This includes pelvic floor disorders, benign bowel and perianal conditions, as well as risk counselling for suspected hereditary colorectal cancers and syndromes. We provide a wide range of services, ranging from diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures, anorectal physiology and ultrasound, as well as biofeedback for problems such as faecal incontinence and constipation. We are also the leading centre in the region performing advanced laparoscopic and single-port laparoscopy colorectal surgery for colorectal malignancies and benign bowel disorders. In addition, we are developing cutting edge robotic surgery, treatment of advanced recurrent cancers requiring pelvic exenterations, as well as new perianal fistula and haemorrhoidal procedures which improve outcomes and recovery. We have recently established the pelvic disorder service and the genetic counselling service to provide patient centric streamlined management. Our unit is also committed to research and education. We have a molecular laboratory, as well as a Polyposis Registry, that has been crucial in understanding various genetic syndromes and provide important counselling advice in high risk families. Since the formation of the department in 1989, there are more than 250 research publications in international and local peer-reviewed journals. The unit also organises an annual Colorectal Week conducting various workshops and seminars for local and international colorectal specialists, as well as regular GP seminars. Our consultants are also regularly invited to give lectures and talks in various conferences and international exchanges. For the community, we have organised Colorectal Cancer Awareness Outreach programmes distributing free FOBT kits, as well as charity events such as one performing free 185 colonoscopies for the needy. The unit has a Colorectal Cancer Support Group and a Stoma Support Group, providing important dietary, physical and psychosocial rehabilitation tips for cancer survivors with activities such as art and music therapy. We partner with external agencies like the Health Promotion Board and the Singapore Cancer Society for cancer education. We remain committed to provide high quality and leading care for all patients and look forward to be of service to all. We thank you for your continued support.
Associate Professor Tang Choong Leong Head & Senior Associate Professor Tang Choong Leong has vast experience in the management of colorectal conditions, and in both conventional and laparoscopic colorectal surgery. He heads the department and directs the Singapore Polyposis Registry, a MOH-sanctioned registry that compiles a database of genetic and hereditary colorectal cancer patients. The registry actively conducts programmes that follow up on family members who are at high risk of developing colorectal cancers and has established the Colorectal Cancer Support Group for cancer survivors. Associate Professor Tang has worked 18 months in the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he was trained in diagnosis and management of pelvic floor disorders. He has authored more than 60 articles and published several chapters in colorectal surgery textbooks. He continues to have a strong passion for clinical research and inspires many young colorectal surgeons to do the same. Associate Professor Tang has co-organised and chaired multiple local and international training workshops and conferences. He is a core faculty member of the General Surgery Residency and is a member of the National Steering Committee for Colorectal Cancer Screening. He actively participates in various voluntary missions providing care and relief overseas. Dr Kam Ming Hian Dr Kam currently serves as the Director of Robotic & Minimally Invasive Surgery and is also the Director of Clinical Research. He is widely published in both local and international peer-reviewed journals and surgical textbooks. He is also active in academic teaching and is an Assistant Professor with the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, as well as Clinical Senior Lecturer with the National University of Singapore. He has trained in prestigious overseas centres in Edinburgh, UK and the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Australia where he completed his HMDP fellowship in advanced laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Apart from being a certified console surgeon in Robotic Surgery, Dr Kam is also the Endoscopy Platform Director at the SGH Surgical Skills Centre where he hopes to help develop the skills of the next generation of surgeons.
Dr Ng Chee Yung MBBS (Australia), M.Med (Surgery), AFRCSI (Ireland), FRCSEd Dr Ng completed his advanced colorectal fellowship in Australia in 2008. Since his return, his passion has been in advancing the practice of minimally invasive colorectal surgery. In addition to laparoscopic colorectal surgery, he performs a wide repertoire of minimally invasive surgery. Dr Ng is amongst a handful of local surgeons who practice transanal endoscopic microsurgery, a specialised transanal technique for treating early rectal tumours. As part of an effort to bring the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to more patients, he routinely performs colonic stenting on obstructed cancers, avoiding high risk emergency laparotomies thus allowing patients to benefit from subsequent elective laparoscopic resections. Dr Ng also holds basic and advanced certifications in Robotic colorectal surgery and is a firm believer in this being the next major advancement for rectal cancer surgery. He is an avid teacher in advanced laparoscopy and has been invited as teaching faculty in numerous local and regional training workshops. He is also one of the first to have the latest smart phone. Dr Mark Wong Te Ching Dr Wong completed a Ministry of Health (MOH) sponsored fellowship in Functional Colorectal Disorders and Minimally-Invasive Colorectal Surgery in France in 2010. Upon his return, he was appointed Director of the SGH Pelvic Floor Disorder Service (PFDS), a tripartite initiative between the departments of Colorectal Surgery, Urology and Gynaecology. Dr Wong also serves as the Director of the Anorectal Ultrasound & Physiology Laboratory and together with other state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment managed by specialised staff, the PFDS provides access to advanced therapies currently available only in the Singapore General Hospital. Dr Wong is widely published in his sub-specialty interest of functional colorectal disorders (including faecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse) and minimally invasive colorectal surgery. He is also active in medical education, holding concurrent appointments of Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Clinical Teacher at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS and is also a Core-Faculty Member of the SingHealth General Surgical Residency Programme. He enjoys the finer things in life and has a sincere appreciation for French wines.
Dr Lai Jiunn Herng MBBS (Singapore), M.Med (Surgery), FRCSEd Dr Lai subspecialises in minimally invasive colorectal surgery including advanced laparoscopic procedures, roboticassisted colorectal resections for cancer, single port laparoscopy and transanal endoscopic operations. He honed these skills during his one-year HMDP Fellowship at the University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital. His interest also led to a Diplôme d Université de Chirurgie Laparoscopique (Diploma of Laparoscopic Surgery) from the University of Strasbourg, France. Among his publications is a comprehensive review on the development and current status of laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Passionate about medical education, Dr Lai holds appointments in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. He is currently Clinical Senior Lecturer at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (National University of Singapore), Clinical Teacher at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, and Clinical Physician Faculty at the SingHealth General Surgical Residency Programme. He also conducts Surgical and Endoscopic Simulation training, and has pursued advanced certification as Instructor in Simulation-based team training. Dr Lai believes that surgery is more art than science. In his spare time he enjoys good food and spontaneous singing sessions. Dr Dennis Koh MBBS (Nottingham), M.Med (Surgery), B Med Sci (Nottingham), FRCSEd, FAMS Dr Koh has a strong interest in minimally invasive colorectal surgery. He does laparoscopic colon and rectum surgeries regularly and has also progressed to performing single port laparoscopic surgeries. Dr Koh is also an accredited Console Surgeon for the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. He is active in education and has conducted several animal laparoscopic workshops for overseas surgeons and local surgical trainees. He also trains medical students and advanced specialty trainees in laparoscopic and endoscopic skills using simulation machines. Dr Koh s other area of interest is in advanced therapeutic endoscopy including the use of colon stents in the relief of symptoms from complication of colon cancer, and anorectal ultrasound In his spare time, Dr Koh drinks too much coffee but likes to dabble with gadgets and train for marathons.
Dr Chew Min Hoe Dr Chew has completed his SingHealth HMDP scholarship in Sydney Royal Prince Alfred Hospital performing pelvic exenterations for recurrent rectal cancers as well as advanced laparoscopic colorectal surgery. He also has an interest in young and hereditary colorectal cancers and is developing a robust counselling service for high risk patients together with other disciplines. Dr Chew has currently more than 30 publications on various benign and malignant colorectal disorders and is also involved in multiple on-going research projects. He also serves as the Co-Director of the Molecular Laboratory and is also active in academic teaching and currently holds the appointments of Adjunct Assistant Professor with Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, as well as Clinical Senior Lecturer with Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS. He has received various awards by both Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School for his contributions in medical teaching. He would like to run faster and cut down on his craving for chilli crabs. Dr Cherylin Fu Associate MBBS (Singapore), M.Med (Surgery), MRCSEd, FRCSEd Dr Cherylin Fu obtained her medical degree from the National University of Singapore in 2004 and since found a keen interest in surgery, completing her advanced traineeship in Colorectal Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh in 2012. She is a full member of the Society of Colorectal Surgeons (Singapore). Apart from presenting at various local as well as international conferences, she has also been heavily involved in organizing various public outreach as well as public awareness campaigns on colorectal and pelvic floor disorders in Singapore. Dr Fu will be pursuing her sub-speciality interest in Pelvic Floor Disorders during her fellowship in Royal Brisbane and Women s Hospital in Australia in 2013. Created by : Pauline 3Oct2012 Updated by : Pauline 28Mar2013