Hooi Shing Chuan

Was a member of the Academy from 2012 to 2015

"It was Aristotle who said, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all”. This is especially true for the medical profession, which has as its core mission, service to humanity. Caring for patients, especially during a vulnerable time of their lives, and helping them to navigate through difficult decisions and complex treatment options require skills of mind and heart, competence and values. As an educator, I aspire to integrate the education of the mind and heart to nurture future doctors who will “treat the patient who has the disease”, rather than merely “treating the disease”. Students can learn gratitude, respect and human dignity as they learn anatomy. They can marvel at how the human body is wonderfully put together as they learn anatomy, biochemistry and physiology, and appreciate how relevant medical sciences are to clinical practice. They can learn why some patients find it difficult to take their medications, even as they learn what medications to prescribe. According to Dr William Osler, “The good physician treats the disease. The great physician treats the patient who has the disease”. I wish all my students will aspire to be great physicians."