Biography

Prof Kong Hwai Loong is an Adjunct Associate Professor at National University of Singapore (NUS) and a visiting specialist in Medical Oncology at the National University Healthcare System (NUHS). Prof Kong was previously the Executive Director of the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and Deputy Managing Director for the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

Prof Kong received his medical degree from NUS in 1988. In 1993, he obtained his Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine) and was admitted as a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (UK). In 1998, he became a specialist in Medical Oncology and was elected to be a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine. He has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and was elected to be a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh) in 2004. He received his postgraduate medical fellowship training at the New York Hospital – Cornell Medical Centre between 1995 and 1997.

Prof Kong has received a number of academic and research awards. He was the first Singaporean doctor to be awarded the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Merit Award. For his research accomplishments in anti-angiogenesis and gene therapy, Prof Kong was conferred the Singapore Young Scientist Award. He is a two-time winner of the Singapore Youth Award, which is the highest accolade for youths in Singapore.

For his long-term contribution to high school education in Singapore, he was honoured with the Ministry of Education Service to Education Award thrice, in 2007, 2013 and 2022. Prof Kong was also conferred the prestigious National Day Award from the President of Singapore, for his contribution to scientific research and research administration in Singapore.

Throughout his career, Prof Kong has actively served in various professional capacities, including as the past Chairman of the Chapter of Medical Oncologists, Academy of Medicine, as well as a member of the MOH Specialist Training Committee (Medical Oncology), and the Singapore Youth Award Science and Technology Selection Committee. He has served as the Governor of Raffles Institution and is also a long-serving Governor of Raffles Girls’ School.

As a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of adult cancers, Prof Kong treats adult solid tumours and has a special interest in the management of breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, lung cancer and urological cancers. He is equally passionate about medical education, inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Prof Kong is fluent in English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka. He can converse in Bahasa Melayu, and Indonesian, and has a basic understanding of Japanese. He will be able to communicate with patients in the language they are most comfortable with.