theceomagazine.com | 105currently Vice-Dean of the Office of Academic and Clinical
Development at Duke-NUS Medical School, a collaboration
between the American and Singaporean universities.
THE QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE
Now an experienced administrator in addition to his work
as a retinal specialist and clinician scientist, Tien Yin has
firm ideas about how a medical institution should be run.
“Besides having good people, organisations need a vision
and a team that supports this vision. Without this, strategy
can’t be executed,” he says. “You always need a strong
leadership team and a core with a very strong sense of
purpose. I’m confident we have an experienced senior
management team that has the passion and a vision for
us to achieve this international standing.”
Having collaborated with many eye hospitals in Asia,
Tien Yin laments the challenges they face. “Unfortunately,
many are limited to providing good clinical work in the
local community and managing year-on-year incremental
growth and balancing the budget due to
a lack of critical talent, infrastructure,
government support, and a range of other
reasons. Therefore, they may not have the
ambition for global recognition.”
Having worked internationally in the
US and Australia, Tien Yin has developed
an understanding of what makes a great
academic healthcare institution and has come
to appreciate the importance of an institution
aiming high. The goal of achieving
international distinction is front and centre
for SNEC, but Tien Yin says this hasn’t always
been a focus in other hospitals. “I’ve seen
healthcare organisations where they don’t
know where they want to go. This means
they don’t have a clear plan of how they’re
going to get there. You do not become
internationally renowned by having an »Interview | INNOVATE