Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Health, at the Opening of the 7th Asia-Pacific International Congress of Anatomists, 17 Mar 2016

Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS Provost

Professor Lawrence Ho, Vice-Dean Research, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening to  all of you, and a warm welcome to those of you who have travelled to Singapore to attend this Congress.

1.    The study of Anatomy has made significant strides in the past few decades. Just a few minutes ago, I opened the newly refurbished teaching facilities of the NUS Medical School’s Department of Anatomy. The equipment and technology used today in the teaching of Human Anatomy are a far cry from the Department’s early days. The late Dr Chen Su Lan, one of the seven pioneering graduates who passed the final medical exam in the shortest prescribed time in 1910, recalled that his Anatomy classes were held in a building previously used as a home for the mentally ill. Students worked on just two cadavers, one male and one female. That building used to stand behind the College of Medicine Building, which now houses the Ministry of Health.

The Importance of Anatomy in the Teaching and Practice of Medicine

2.    What remains unchanged since those early days is the fundamental importance of the study of Anatomy. It is the definitive study of living body structures that underpins all the health science disciplines, at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Through the teaching of Anatomy, medical students are exposed to the intricacies and complex workings of the human body.

3.    Far from being just a mandatory subject in medical school, the study of Anatomy forms the basis of many clinical specialities. Disciplines such as General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Radiology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and Neurology all rely on a sound foundation in Anatomy.  One of the first lessons a physician learns is that no two human bodies are identical. Only a solid grasp of Anatomy will allow the physician to understand the variations and complexities of the human body in a dynamic clinical setting, and to cope with the unforeseen complications that inevitably will crop up during clinical practice.

4.    Anatomy is also at the forefront of clinical research and practice. Among the best examples is the development and practice of minimally invasive surgery, where sound knowledge of the paths taken by the instruments is especially important. In the area of radiology, rapid technological advances allow us to examine the living body in greater detail than ever, but also increasingly require a good command of anatomy to make sense of the findings.

5.    The newly refurbished teaching facilities at the NUS Medical School’s Department of Anatomy will benefit both undergraduate students as well as practising healthcare professionals. All of them now have the opportunity to revise and reinforce their knowledge of Anatomy in their respective areas of specialisation. Residents in disciplines like Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Orthopaedics and General Surgery will find prosected^[1] teaching specimens and hands-on dissections invaluable in refreshing their knowledge of Anatomy. Surgeons preparing for their planned operations will find the facilities greatly helpful as well, enabling them to review their surgical approaches before actually operating on their patients. I am encouraged that the Department of Anatomy plans to open this new learning and teaching facility to allow healthcare professionals to grow their knowledge and appreciation of the subject well beyond their undergraduate training.

Body Donations to Medical Teaching and Research

6.    This has been made possible by an increase in the number of cadavers that have been bestowed to the NUS Medicine, as a result of a series of public education initiatives conducted by the Department of Anatomy in 2012. These gifts are greatly valued by the Department and the medical community, and this gratitude is reflected in the respectful handling of these cadavers. We are deeply indebted to Singaporeans who have chosen to donate their own bodies as cadavers, to further the cause of medical education, research and patient care by their last act.

The Future of Anatomy

7.    Ladies and gentlemen, the programme for this conference covers topics ranging from anatomy education to neuroscience to stem cell biology. This reflects how broad the field of anatomy has become.

8.    Similar to the practice of Medicine, the teaching of Anatomy will increasingly see the use of technology to uncover the mysteries of the human body. Technology, however, cannot replace the tactile reality offered by an actual cadaver, nor take the place of an inspiring teacher.

9.    I am therefore pleased to note that the NUS Medicine continues to place emphasis on the humanity behind the science of Medicine. This is underscored by its lecturers being awarded multiple Annual Teaching Excellence Awards, most recently Professor Samuel Tay in 2014, and Professor Ng Yee Kong in 2013. We all know that hardware alone does not make good doctors. What truly forges good physicians are compassion, a desire to serve, and a drive to continuously improve. This is, I am sure, the ethos that motivates and guides all of you in your respective roles as practitioners, teachers and discoverers.

10.    I wish all of you a productive and fruitful exchange, and declare the 7^th Asia-Pacific International Congress of Anatomists open.

Thank you.

^[1] Prosected - part of a cadaver that has already been dissected by an experienced anatomist for demonstration to students.