It was no doubt the event of the year for the Academy of Medicine, Singapore when the Induction Comitia and the 25th Gordon Arthur Ransome Oration was held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel on Saturday, 23 July.
We were honoured to have President of the Republic of Singapore and Patron of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, Mdm Halimah Yacob grace the event and for us to confer the Honorary Fellowship on Mdm Halimah Yacob.
The event marked several firsts. It was the first physical Academy-wide event held since the outbreak of the pandemic and much pent-up excitement was in the air! Held in conjunction with the 4th AMM-AMS-HKAM Tripartite Congress and 55th Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine (22 – 24 July), it also marked the first time the event was held with a virtual and live audience.
In all, the event was attended by over 300 members of the medical and dental specialist community and their guests onsite, including special guests, Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health and FAMS, A/Prof Kenneth Mak, 25th Gordon Arthur Ransome Orator and Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Prof Joseph Sung, members of the Academy council, eight past masters and seven presidents from overseas colleges.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENING
Conferment of Honorary Fellowship on President, Mdm Halimah Yacob by Master, Prof Teo Eng Kiong.
Presentation of the Past Master Medallion to Dr S R E Sayampanathan.
23 fellowships were conferred on presidents of overseas colleges attending in person and virtually.
100 Fellows, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS) were inducted including one who was conferred the FAMS (International).
Chief Inductee, Dr Shawn Vasoo Sushilan, led all fellow inductees in taking the pledge of the Academy, committing to uphold the practice of medicine to the highest standards and ideals.
Four diplomas were presented to graduates of the Staff Registrar Scheme and in Paediatric Nephrology.
25th Gordon Arthur Ransome Oration by Professor Joseph Sung, Dean, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University.
Delivering the 25th Gordon Arthur Ransome Oration titled, “Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: Ethical, Legal and Social Perspectives; Prof Joseph Sung cited three benefits of AI and robotics in medicine. Firstly, the improved speed and accuracy of diagnosis. Advances in image-based AI-tool in diagnosis are particularly fast and permeates many clinical specialties. Secondly, it has enabled the prediction of disease progression and clinical outcome and hence potentially optimise allocation of healthcare resources. Finally, at the community level, AI and robotics can improve personal care, empowering patients to look after themselves and modify lifestyle for health promotion.
Despite the progress made, Prof Sung noted that actual applications of AI and robotics is relatively slow, partly because of a lack of translational research to prove clinical improvement.
On the other hand, there are ethical, social and legal issues that need to be resolved. Many of the medical data being generated are very personal and private, and ensuring their privacy is crucial.
Machine learning can also generate new knowledge and recommend clinical decisions that are sometimes beyond human comprehension. This means doctors, scientists and patients are making life and death decisions on something they may not fully understand. “How to build trust before we fully understand what is behind the algorithm remains a major challenge,” Prof Sung said.
The legal issues surrounding AI and robotics are no less complex. Like human beings, machines can make mistakes, depending on how they are trained. When a wrong diagnosis is made or a suboptimal treatment is given, the question of who should take the legal responsibility becomes complicated.
Prof Sung calls for more discussion, debate and definition before AI and robotics are widely implemented in medicine. “Technological development alone may not be sufficient to translate invention to intervention and improvement of health care,” he added.
The evening closed with a sumptuous stand-up buffet dinner reception. Everyone welcomed the opportunity to mingle and have a catch up with colleagues, mentors and friends.
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