The Singapore Trauma Conference had its humble beginnings as a half-day trauma update session in January 2005. It was an extension of the Inaugural Definitive Surgical Trauma Care (DSTC) course held on 28th January 2005.
This update session was formalized into the Singapore Trauma 20XX series of conferences in 2007 when a full day conference focusing solely on trauma was held.
The Singapore Trauma 20XX conferences have since become an annual fixture of Trauma meetings in the Asia-Pacific Region. It has now grown to a 2 day meeting with multiple tracks dedicated to the various disciplines pertaining to Trauma and Critical Care. This conference is set to expand further with more tracks offering greater variety and choice, and concurrent pre and post conference workshops.
It is hoped that with the Singapore Trauma website, this conference will be made even more accessible for everyone interested in Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery by offering an archive of past talks, useful trauma nuggets and easier conference registration.
Management
Organising Chair - Dr Teo Li Tserng
Dr Teo is a Senior Consultant Surgeon and Chief of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. His clinical interests include trauma/acute care surgery and colorectal surgery.
He is the Director of TTSH-NNI Trauma Services and the Trauma Training Centre of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. His roles include co-ordinating multi-disciplinary trauma care, post-graduate medical education in trauma/acute care and trauma policy/audit.
In June 2019, he was appointed Director, Central Region Trauma Services. This gave him the opportunity to lead and collaborate with pre-hospital services and 5 hospitals to manage a co-ordinated regional trauma system in the central part of Singapore. Providing co-ordinated and collaborative trauma care for 2.8 million residents.
He did his Trauma Fellowship in McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada, sharing expertise and knowledge on trauma care and acute care surgery. He was also involved in trauma audits, trauma regional systems and trauma outreach programs in Quebec Province, Canada.
In the 2006 Central Java Earthquake, he led a combined military and civilian surgical team to aid in the disaster. This highlights his continued interest and active involvement in managing mass casualties and humanitarian disasters in Singapore and the region.
Scientific Chair - Dr. Goh Mui Heng
Dr Goh Mui Heng is a Consultant General Surgeon, with special interests in Trauma Surgery and Breast Surgery.
She obtained her Fellowship in General Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2014. She went on to do her fellowship in both Trauma Surgery and Breast Surgery in Royal Brisbane Women and Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
Dr Goh is the Director of the Surgical High Dependency Unit (SHDU) for the Division of Surgery in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. She has been involved in surgical critical care since 2014 and took over as Director in 2018. She has led the SHDU through challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Outreach Chair - Dr Chua Wei Chong
Dr Chua Wei Chong is a Senior Consultant Trauma and General Surgeon.
He completed his trauma fellowship at Liverpool Hospital, Sydney.
He is the Clinical Director, National Trauma Unit, Ministry of Health. As director, he manages the national trauma registry and advises on policy strategies to improve trauma care in Singapore.
He was appointed Chief of Surgery, Woodlands Health Campus in April 2020. Under his leadership, a new and exciting surgical department will provide holistic care to the northern part of Singapore.
He previously served as Chief Army Medical Officer, Singapore Armed Forces. He was deployed on a number of peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in countries including Timor Leste, Indonesia and Afghanistan. In recognition of his public service, he was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) (Military) in 2011.
He is actively involved in trauma education in Singapore. He is an ATLS course director and leads several trauma related courses at the TTSH Trauma Training Centre.
Dr Sunder Balasubramaniam
Dr Sunder is a Consultant in the Department of General Surgery.
Dr Tang Jun Han
Dr Tang Jun Han is a Consultant in the Department of General Surgery.
Administrative Team - Ms Karen Go Tsung Shyen
Karen assumed the role of a Trauma Coordinator in Tan Tock Seng Hospital in 2003. Graduated in 1995 from the Nanyang Polytechnic of Singapore, Karen has gained wide exposure in her nursing career with experiences in various fields such as Orthopaedic and General Surgery, Medical and Cardiac Care ICU, Emergency Department and Intensive Care Units of various hospitals in Singapore. She also attained the Bachelor in Nursing from the University of Sydney in 2000.
She’s the manager of the Trauma service and is responsible for the operational, personnel and financial aspects of the trauma program. She also serves as a coordinator for the trauma team in monitoring the progress and outcome of patients from the trauma centre and assist in identifying areas for improvement in the management of trauma.
Administrative Team - Ms Yeo Yen Teng
Yen Teng joined the team in 2007 as a trauma coordinator. She graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic in 1997, obtained her Advanced Diploma in Critical Care in 2001 and Bachelor in Nursing from University of Sydney in 2004. With more than 10 years of surgical nursing experiences in surgical, burn and neurosurgical intensive care units, she focused her interest in the care of trauma patients. In addition to maintaining the trauma registry, she assists in co-ordination of courses and deployment of medical personnel in humanitarian relief missions.