SingHealth Announces Leadership Change at National Dental Centre Singapore

Singapore: SingHealth has announced a leadership change at the National Dental Centre Singapore (NDCS). Clinical Associate Professor Poon Choy Yoke, who currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NDCS, will be relinquishing her appointment on 1 August 2023. 

Taking her place as the new CEO will be Clinical Associate Professor Goh Bee Tin (pictured), who presently holds the position of Deputy CEO, Research & Education, and Head of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) at NDCS.

Professor Poon’s Remarkable Tenure

During her remarkable nine-year tenure, Clinical Associate Professor Poon led NDCS in expanding its capabilities and played a pivotal role in establishing valuable partnerships in research and education. 

One notable achievement under her leadership is the establishment of Singapore’s first Geriatric and Special Care Dentistry Clinic in 2016. Additionally, according to a press release, NDCS became one of the first institutions worldwide to implement value-based healthcare in dentistry by introducing six Value-Driven Care pathways for various treatments. This included treatments such as wisdom tooth surgery, root canal treatment, dentures, orthodontics, implants, and periodontal treatment.

Clinical Associate Professor Poon also oversaw the creation of the National Dental Research Institute Singapore (NDRIS), which is reportedly the first national-level institution in the Asia-Pacific region dedicated to oral health research. 

Advocate for Community Care

Clinical Associate Professor Poon has been an advocate for regional health and community care. She spearheaded various intervention initiatives in the community, including Project Silver Screen, a screening program targeting seniors aged 60 and older, and the Tele-Dentistry for Oral Care of Seniors program, which aimed to improve access to dental care for elderly residents in nursing homes. 

In addition, she led the Oral Health Movement 8020, a campaign aimed at enhancing public awareness of oral frailty among older adults. She also had a crucial role in driving the Ministry of Health‘s (MOH) National Adult Oral Health Survey 2019/20, which assessed the oral health status and needs of the population, as well as dental service utilization and barriers to care.

Upon stepping down from her CEO position, Clinical Associate Professor Poon will assume the role of Senior Advisor to SingHealth, joining the SingHealth Board of Advisors.

Professor Goh Bee Tin to Succeed as CEO

Clinical Associate Professor Goh Bee Tin will be assuming the role of CEO at NDCS, following in the footsteps of Clinical Associate Professor Poon. Throughout her career, Clinical Associate Professor Goh has made significant contributions to oral health research, professional development, and public health administration. 

She played a pivotal role in facilitating strategic partnerships between NDCS and esteemed collaborators, including Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet, Japan’s Tohoku University, Nanyang Technological University, and A*STAR. These partnerships have resulted in remarkable growth in oral health research outcomes at NDCS.

Prestigious Awards and Research

Under Clinical Associate Professor Goh’s leadership, NDCS‘ clinical team became the first team of dentists in Singapore to receive the prestigious National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Talent Development Award in 2015. Subsequently, they were awarded the same honor in 2016, 2021, and 2023. 

Passionate about research, Clinical Associate Professor Goh is the founding Director of the National Dental Research Institute Singapore (NDRIS). She is also actively involved in clinical teaching of OMS residents and supervision of Master’s and PhD students from Singapore and renowned international universities.

In her new role as CEO of NDCS, Clinical Associate Professor Goh Bee Tin aims to build upon the strong foundations laid by her predecessor and propel NDCS towards even greater heights of clinical and academic excellence.