How can we do better for patients?

Prof. Patrick Tan, MD-PhD, Dean of Duke-NUS Medical School

How can we do better for patients?

Better healthcare does not begin with technology. It begins with a question: how can we do better for patients?

Prof. Patrick Tan, MD-PhD, Dean of Duke-NUS Medical School:

Better healthcare does not begin with technology. It begins with a question: how can we do better for patients?

That spirit was on full display at the Duke-NUS Health Innovator Programme (D-HIP). Five superb teams presented solutions spanning patient safety, procedural innovation and clinical efficiency, from improving surgical workflows to developing tools that support earlier detection and more precise interventions. The energy in the air was palpable, as each team delivered their pitches to our judges in a passionate and professional manner.

What distinguishes D-HIP is not only the diversity of solutions, but how they are developed. Students, clinicians, engineers and business partners worked together, grounded in real clinical needs and connected to a broader ecosystem, including engagement with Duke University as part of the programme journey.

Congratulations to the D-HIP teams, and to the partnership that makes this possible, Duke-NUS Medical School, SingHealth, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS College of Design and Engineering and NUS Business School. When these perspectives come together, ideas move more quickly from concept to application.

It is also worth recognising the people behind D-HIP. The programme is led by Rena Dharmawan from Duke-NUS’ inaugural cohort, a reminder of how our alumni are now shaping what comes next. Christopher Laing, as Vice Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, has played a key role in bringing industry partners into this space, strengthening the pathway from ideas to real-world implementation, in partnership with our Office of Education.

Congratulations to this year’s winning team. At the same time, while D-HIP is structured as a competition, every idea presented reflects the same spirit of curiosity, rigour and determination to improve care.

In many ways, this group reflects our broader student community, individuals who question, persist, and work across boundaries to make things better.

My thanks to our students, mentors, partners and supporters who make this possible.

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