The Academy of Medicine, Singapore held its biggest event of the year, the Induction Comitia, with much pomp and ceremony on Saturday, 20 July 2024 with Guest-of-Honour, Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information and Ministry of Health, Ms Rahayu Mahzam, gracing the event.
The Induction Comitia was held in conjunction with the annual Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine (19-21 July) which is going strong into its 57th year. This year’s theme was “Relooking Women’s Health” with Professor Dame Lesley Regan from the Imperial College, London, United Kingdom, delivering the 21st Runme Shaw Memorial Lecture, “Why We Need Women’s Health Strategy”.
The Academy played host to over 30 overseas guests from sister academies; Academy of Medicine of Malaysia and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine as well as other overseas colleges. 18 Fellowships were conferred on overseas presidents. With great pride, the Academy welcomed 86 new Fellows who were formally conferred their Fellowship, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS).
A 68-strong academic procession marked the commencement of solemnities. This Induction Comitia marks the unveiling of the Academy’s new academic regalia. In his opening address, Dr Wong Chiang Yin, Master, Academy of Medicine, Singapore said that the new regalia signifies renewed energy, purpose and commitment towards the advancement of medicine.
Dr Wong went on to highlight the legacy of the Academy’s founder and first Master, Professor Gordon Arthur Ransome whom the biennial Oration serves to perpetuate the memory of. Addressing the inductees, Dr Wong said, “What has been achieved in his long 33 years here has not been without some personal sacrifice but the reward may well be the realization that he has created a generation of hundreds of well-trained doctors. We are immensely grateful. These doctors in turn are passing on teachings to yet many others. The cumulative effect in terms of service to the sick and the benefits derived therefrom bear testimony to his wisdom and his skill”.
Dr Wong congratulated A/Prof Tan Lay Kok, Organising Chairman and his committee for curating an excellent scientific programme for the 57th Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine and commended that with 462 registered delegates, this Congress marks one of the best attended congresses in recent times.
Dr Wong concluded his address by bidding all to forge new partnerships, share insights and drive scientific inquiry during the Congress.
Professor Dr Rosmawati Mohamed, Master, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia and Professor Gilberto Ka-Kit Leung, President, Hong Kong Academy of Medicine also delivered their addresses with congratulatory messages to all new inductees on their achievements and words of encouragement to drive positive change to enhance healthcare and to take on leadership roles in the Colleges and Academies.
Key Highlights of the Induction Comitia 2024:
Past Master Medallions were presented in recognition of the dedication and leadership of:
A/Prof Alan Ng Wei Keong
Immediate Past Master, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (2022 – 2024)
Professor Teo Eng Kiong (in absentia)
Master, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (2020 – 2022)
Presentation of Past Master Medallion to Prof Teo Eng Kiong by Dr Wong Chiang Yin, Master, on 18 September 2024. Also present, Dr Fock Kwong Ming, Past Master (2008 – 2010) and Bursar Dr Ang Tiing Leong.
Conferment of 18 Fellowships to Overseas Presidents
Conferment of 86 Fellows of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
The Inductees’ Pledge was led by Chief Inductee, Dr Maria Noviani, College of Physicians, Singapore and winner of the Seah Cheng Siang Memorial Research Award 2020.
Certificates were presented to 9 Graduates of the Master of Health Professions Education Singapore (MHPE-S) by Assistant Master, Academic Affairs, Dr Sophia Chew
Three Certificates for the first batch of Graduate Diploma in Hospital Practice (GDHP) were presented by Censor-in-Chief, Dr Ruban Poopalalingam
The Annals Reviewers Awards 2023 were presented by Assistant Master, Administrative Affairs, Dr Ho Kok Sun
A heartfelt and illuminating citation of the 26th Gordon Arthur Ransome Orator by Dr Geh Min, College of Ophthalmologists
26th Gordon Arthur Ransome Oration by Professor Kishore Mahbubani
Distinguished Fellow, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore
CAN HUMANITY RISE UP TO FACE ITS NEXT EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGE?
Professor Kishore Mahbubani delivered a thought-provoking oration urging all to ponder and reflect, “Has the West Lost its Rationality?”
Addressing the audience of medical specialists, Professor Mahbubani began his oration by speaking on rationalism and empiricism, two pillars of Western civilization which he attributes to the West’s great advances in technology and hence its dominance in the world for over two hundred years. He explained that Singapore has embraced the great Western tradition of empiricism and rationalism and has now become one of the best places in the world of Western medicine.
In his oration, Professor Mahbubani presented his insights on why we the human race, are abandoning rationalism and empiricism and going back to pre-modern tribal instincts. He cited lively analogies to highlight the biggest existential challenge faced by humanity – climate change and the reasons why we are doing the exact opposite in solving the crisis.
Professor Mahbubani posed three pre-modern forces which he puts down as pulling humanity back:
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Geopolitics,
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The concept of tribal solidarity called “sovereignty” and
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The desire of the leading civilisation to preserve dominance.
He shared his first-hand understanding on the workings of international organisations as Singapore’s former Ambassador to the United Nations for over ten years and offered possible solutions.
Wrapping up his oration, Professor Mahbubani had a piece of advice “Asians make up the bulk of humanity. The total population of Asians is 4.78 billion. We provide 59% of the world’s population. Hence, we will also suffer the most from climate change. We should remind the West of its belief in rationalism and empiricism. These two forces clearly dictate that all of humanity must set aside all their differences, whether they be geopolitical or ideological, and focus on the most important common threat: climate change. I hope that my remarks today will encourage more Asians to speak more boldly.”
26th Gordon Arthur Ransome Oration by Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore [Video]
26th Gordon Arthur Ransome Oration by Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore [Full Transcript]
The Induction Comitia 2024 proved not only to be a grand ceremony rooted with tradition but an event with much fun to be had for all; as we can see from the smiles!
Programme Booklet
Induction Comitia 2024 Programme Booklet
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