The Chew Chong Lin Dental Bursary aims to provide financial aid to needy undergraduates from the NUS Faculty of Dentistry. The idea to raise an endowed Undergraduate bursary, in honour of Emeritus Prof Chew Chong Lin (Dentistry ’71) for his contributions to the faculty, was first initiated by Associate Professor Jennifer Neo (Dentistry ’79) in 2019 but derailed due to COVID-19. The initiative regained momentum and to date, has raised close to $815,000.
Prof Chew graduated at the then-University of Singapore in 1971 with a Bachelor in Dental Surgery. He has a long and distinguished career, serving in significant appointments with the faculty as Dean (1995 to 2000), Vice Dean (1980 to 1983), Head of Department of Prosthetic Dentistry (1980 to 1983 and 1985 to 1990), Head of Department of Restorative Dentistry (April 1990 to 2000) and Director of the Graduate School of Dental Studies (1986 to 2012).
Prof Chew started the milestone Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, which has since introduced generations of dental students to the research process so critical to the faculty’s practice. Under his Deanship, the Faculty also introduced the Competency-Based Curriculum. As Director of the Division of Graduate Dental Studies, he was instrumental in formalising the graduate training of five specialties into structured residency training programmes, four of which have conjoint examination status with the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.
Prof Chew was also the first Director of the Centre for Advanced Dental Education (CADE), set up in 2007 to formalize Graduate Diploma and Continuing Dental Education programmes. The CADE introduced the Annual Faculty of Dentistry Symposium in 2005 and the Graduate Diploma in Dental Implantology in 2007.
He was also Co-Chair of the NUS Dental Centre Planning committee responsible for proposing the setting up of the National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore.
In addition, he has held various Ministry of Health portfolios since 1989, including Deputy Director of Medical Services (Dental) (1989 to 1993), Chair of the Planning Committee to oversee the setup of the National Dental Centre (1989 to 1995), Chief Dental Officer (2001 to 2006) and President, Singapore Dental Council (2009 to 2021). He was Chairman of the National Dental Centre Board (1997 to 2000) and also served as Member of the SingHealth Board (2000 to 2003).
Prof Chew was the first from the dental profession to be conferred with the prestigious National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award which recognises individuals who have contributed substantially to the training of young clinicians and clinician scientists through mentorship. This was followed by the NHG-NUHS Life-time Achievement Award and NUHS Emeritus Consultant in 2009.
He was amongst the 15 recipients of the inaugural NUS Inspiring Mentor Awards in 2009.
Submitted by Ms Tiffany How, NUS Faculty of Dentistry.