Conference Speakers

2025/03/03

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Education Speakers

Educational Speakers

A/Prof Mikael Hartman
Head & Senior Consultant
Division of General Surgery (Breast Surgery), Department of Surgery, National University Hospital

Associate Professor
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University Hospital
Associate Professor Mikael Hartman is a visionary breast cancer specialist and researcher who has been at the forefront of revolutionizing breast cancer detection and treatment in Singapore and Southeast Asia since 2009. Trained at the renowned Karolinska Institute in Sweden, where he received his medical board certification in General Surgery in 2005 and completed his doctoral studies in epidemiology in 2007, A/Prof Hartman brings a wealth of expertise in breast cancer etiology, prognostication, and the inheritance of cancer prognosis.

Recognizing the silent epidemic of breast cancer in Southeast Asia, where women often present at later stages, A/Prof Hartman embarked on an epic motorcycle journey from Singapore to Sweden in 2014 with Dr. Philip Lau. This awareness campaign, known as "The Long Ride," aimed to highlight the importance of early detection and gain deeper insights into the cultural factors influencing help-seeking behaviors across 17 countries.

As the lead investigator of the Breast Cancer Prevention Programme (BCPP) at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, A/Prof Hartman has spearheaded groundbreaking research initiatives. His current focus is on the BREAst screening Tailored for HEr (BREATHE) programme, a precision medicine initiative that aims to revolutionize breast cancer screening by tailoring schedules according to individual risk profiles.

Driven by the belief that "to truly maximise outcomes, we must exit the hospital and focus on screening and detection," A/Prof Hartman is also pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in mammogram assessment. This innovative approach aims to address the global scarcity of radiologists and support early detection of breast cancer.

A/Prof Hartman's dedication to improving breast cancer outcomes has been recognized internationally, including co-recipient honors for the Breast Cancer Concept Award from the US Army in 2002 and 2006. His multifaceted approach to breast cancer research, combining clinical expertise, epidemiological insights, and technological innovation, continues to shape the landscape of breast cancer prevention and treatment in Singapore and beyond.

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Plenary Session

Prof Dennis Lo
Vice-Chancellor and President
Chinese Univerity of Hong Kong (CUHK)
Director
Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK
Li Ka Shing Professor
Medicine and Professor of Chemical Pathology, CUHK

Professor Dennis Lo is the ninth Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), a position he assumed on January 8, 2025. He also holds the titles of Li Ka Shing Professor of Medicine and Professor of Chemical Pathology at CUHK.

Prof. Lo's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cambridge and both Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Oxford.
His groundbreaking research includes the discovery of fetal DNA in maternal plasma in 1997, which has led to significant advancements in non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. His work has pioneered various methods for detecting fetal genetic conditions and has contributed to the development of genome-wide genetic mapping of fetuses through maternal blood analysis.

In the field of cancer detection, Prof. Lo has made notable contributions to liquid biopsy techniques, particularly for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and genome-wide approaches for screening multiple cancer types.
Prof. Lo's achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the 2022 Lasker DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, the 2021 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, and the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine in 2014, among others.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences, a Founding Member and Director of the Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong, a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.

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Hear-the-Journey Session

Prof Paul Anantharajah Tambyah
Senior Consultant
Division of Infectious Diseases, Departmnet of Medicine, National University Hospital
Professor
Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (YLLSOM), National University of Singapore
Professor Paul Anantharajah Tambyah is a distinguished infectious diseases specialist and researcher at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the National University Hospital (NUH). He currently serves as a Senior Consultant in Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital, Professor of Medicine at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and Honorary Joint Professor at CBmE.

Prof Tambyah's journey in medicine began at the NUS, where he obtained his MBBS. He then pursued further training in the United States, completing his fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of Wisconsin.
With a career spanning over two decades, Prof Tambyah has made significant contributions to the field of infectious diseases, particularly in the areas of nosocomial infections and emerging infections. His research interests include clinical infectious diseases, device-associated infections, and emerging infections, with a special focus on dengue and influenza.

Prof Tambyah has played key roles in several professional organizations. He is currently the Secretary-General of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection and immediate past President of the Society of Infectious Diseases (Singapore). His past appointments include the founding head of the division of Infectious Diseases in NUS, Assistant Dean in YLLSOM, and a board member of the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology in America.

His expertise and contributions have been recognized globally. Prof Tambyah has been invited as a visiting professor to numerous institutions worldwide and has delivered lectures at international conferences. He has authored over 300 scientific papers and book chapters, reflecting his substantial impact on the field.
Beyond his clinical and research work, Prof Tambyah is actively involved in teaching and mentoring the next generation of medical professionals. He has received multiple teaching awards, including the National University of Singapore's Annual Teaching Excellence Award.

Prof Tambyah's journey in infectious diseases has been marked by his dedication to improving patient care, advancing scientific knowledge, and fostering international collaboration in the fight against infectious diseases. His experiences and insights promise to offer valuable perspectives to conference participants interested in understanding the path of clinician scientists and researchers.

- Dr Kumarakulasinghe Nesaretnam
  Consultant
  Department of Haematology Oncology,
  National University Hospital
  Dr. Nesaretnam is a medical oncologist who specializes in genitourinary and geriatric oncology. He has a keen interest in Health Informatics and Artificial Intelligence in healthcare. He is especially interested in the human factors at play in the validation, implementation, and adoption of artificial intelligence in healthcare.