Published01 Nov 2021

How would you introduce yourself?

I am a doctor specialising in foot and ankle surgery and sports injuries. I practice at Orthosports Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital where we treat patients of all age groups with sports injuries or issues with their feet and ankles. You could say my specialty is getting people back on their feet!

What motivated you to practice medicine?

Medicine is a unique profession. I was attracted to the technical and scientific aspects and the way this technology and knowledge needs to be blended with a very human side of treating patients.

What's your specialty and why did you choose it?

I think I got into foot and ankle surgery partly by chance. When I finished my Orthopaedic training I noticed that at many of the hospitals I was working, there was no foot and ankle surgeon. So there were many slightly more complicated foot and ankle conditions that either went untreated or could have been treated better. It was at the time that I decided that I would seek further training in foot and ankle surgery to fulfill this need.

What’s the best part of your career? What part do you really love?

I really like that the field of Orthopaedics and Sports medicine is always at the forefront of technology. Orthopaedics is a specialty that is constantly evolving as new technology, devices and implants become available. And I like knowing that whatever surgeries we are doing now, we might be doing it is a very different and much better way in a few years time so it’s never stagnant.

What are your goals for the future?

I hope to contribute to the evolution and improvement in foot and ankle surgery. I am always thinking of newer, less invasive ways to achieve better results in the procedures that we do so that patients can recover better, faster and in a more reliable way. Particularly, I am passionate about improving the ways we do bunion surgery, and ankle ligament and cartilage repair surgery.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced and obstacles you've had to overcome?

When I first returned to Singapore from training in foot and ankle surgery I was the only fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon at my hospital. So at the time, it was daunting as I didn’t have any seniors in the same sub-specialty to consult for difficult cases. So I had to carefully grow my experience and expertise over time.

Have you found anything particularly helpful in your journey to where you are today?

My mentors that taught me foot and ankle surgery and also were role models for me in being a good doctor and surgeon really come to mind here. They would be Professor Mark Myerson in the USA and Professor Hans Zwipp from Germany.

What's your advice for doctors who are just starting out?

I think the practice of medicine is becoming increasingly complicated with many components involved. But it is very important to stick to our basics which is to always work for the good of the patient and maintain a high standard of professional ethics.

What do you do for fun?

I enjoy a good run or cycle and spending time with my wife and kids. I also enjoy traveling to visit different countries and cultures and hopefully we can do this again soon when Covid settles.