Professor Ernst Kuipers is a distinguished physician-scientist and healthcare leader with extensive experience spanning clinical medicine, academic research, and national policy leadership. He currently serves as Vice-President Research for Nanyang Technological University in Singapore following his tenure as Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands from 2022 to 2024. Prior to his ministerial role, he led the Erasmus MC University Medical Center in Rotterdam as Chief Executive Officer for nearly a decade, having previously served as Professor of Medicine and Department Chair of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His career began with clinical training in internal medicine and gastroenterology in the Netherlands followed by research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, establishing a foundation that uniquely bridges clinical expertise with healthcare system leadership.
Professor Kuipers has made significant contributions to gastrointestinal medicine, particularly in the field of colorectal cancer screening, where he led the development and implementation of the national bowel cancer screening program in the Netherlands. His widely recognized 2007 study on stomach cancer established him as a leading gastroenterology researcher, earning him the prestigious United European Gastroenterology Research Prize in 2016. As Chairman of the National Acute Care Network from 2015, he played a pivotal role in coordinating the Netherlands' healthcare response during the COVID-19 pandemic, efficiently managing patient distribution across intensive care units nationwide. His legislative work including the passage of a law on electronic health data exchange has fundamentally transformed healthcare coordination and data sharing in the Dutch medical system.
Professor Kuipers has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing integrated healthcare systems that prioritize sustainability, affordability, and ecological responsibility through initiatives such as the Green Deal with the healthcare sector. His transition to Nanyang Technological University represents a continuation of his commitment to advancing medical research and healthcare innovation on an international scale. The principles of system-wide healthcare transformation he championed in the Netherlands have gained global recognition as models for sustainable healthcare delivery. As he embarks on this new chapter in Singapore, Professor Kuipers continues to shape the future of healthcare through his visionary approach to medical research, policy development, and system integration.
