18 January 2007

Flying start for GMS with $80 million boost

It's the start of the journey for Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School (GMS), Singapore's newest medical school -- but major milestones are already taking place. The Estate of Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat has announced a gift of S$80 million to the School to grow its biomedical research initiatives. The gift is the largest single donation granted by the Estate and will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Singapore Government.

The Duke University Board of Trustees has also agreed that GMS will award joint Duke-NUS degrees ahead of schedule. The first batch of students will receive their MD degree in 2011 from both Duke and NUS. Duke University is one of the best medical schools in the US.

GENEROUS GIFT: Ms Mavis Khoo from the Estate and Mr Tony Chew, Chairman, Governing Board, GMS signing the symbolic gift agreement. Witnessing the signing are (from left) Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS Deputy President and Provost; Prof Shih Choon Fong, NUS President; Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education; Dr Tony Tan, Chairman, National Research Foundation; Prof Tan Ser Kiat, Group CEO, SingHealth Services; and Prof Patrick Casey, Senior Vice Dean (Research), GMS.

Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS Deputy President and Provost and Deputy Chairman, Governing Board of GMS, said the joint degree exemplifies the deep commitment and close partnership between NUS and Duke. "This partnership is founded on the rich traditions of educational and research excellence at both the NUS and Duke, and leverages on the complementarities of our respective programmes," he said.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance, at the appreciation dinner (17 Jan) announced that over 300 applications were received, of which 125 are being considered for the 25 places that the GMS will offer initially. "Construction of the GMS' permanent facilities will begin soon, and by 2009, the GMS will move into its very own signature building in Outram, near the site of Singapore's first medical school," he said.

In his tribute to Tan Sri Khoo, Mr Tony Chew, Chairman, Governing Board, GMS, announced that GMS will name its signature building on Outram Campus as the "Khoo Teck Puat Building". Tan Sri Khoo was a visionary and pioneering business leader in international banking, hotel and property. Ms Mavis Khoo, daughter of Tan Sri Khoo, said: "In his later years, he devoted himself to philanthropic work and championing community values that centred on education, healthcare and medical research. He believed that our society and people would benefit most directly from improvements in these three important areas," she said.

Leading a toast to the Khoo Estate at the appreciation dinner, Prof Tan Ser Kiat, Group CEO, Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd as well as Chairman, Development Committee and Member, GMS Governing Board, said of the late Tan Sri Khoo: "His advice to business associates and friends had always been that 'there is no secret to success -- just hard work and effort'. He also believed that an achievement is not just an end in itself but a milestone to greater things. This guiding philosophy, coupled with a keen business acumen, saw him attain one remarkable achievement after another throughout his lifetime. He has left a lasting legacy and there is still much we can all learn from him."