Professor Wong Tien Yin is a distinguished physician-scientist who currently serves as Senior Vice-Chancellor of Tsinghua Medicine and Vice-Provost of Tsinghua University in China while maintaining his role as Senior Advisor to SingHealth and Singapore National Eye Centre. He previously held significant leadership positions including Medical Director of Singapore National Eye Centre from 2014 to 2021 and Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer for Research and Education at SingHealth. An accomplished alumnus of the National University of Singapore where he graduated as a President's Scholar, Professor Wong completed his clinical ophthalmology training at Singapore National Eye Centre followed by specialized retinal fellowships at the University of Wisconsin and University of Sydney. His academic credentials include an MPH and PhD in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University, establishing his dual expertise in clinical medicine and population health sciences.
Professor Wong has pioneered transformative research in the epidemiology of retinal diseases, particularly focusing on diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, with an impressive publication record exceeding 1,600 peer-reviewed papers in prestigious journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and JAMA. His innovative work in artificial intelligence and ocular imaging has revolutionized diabetic retinopathy screening methodologies, with his AI research being implemented in Singapore's national diabetes screening programs and adopted internationally. Professor Wong's interdisciplinary approach has successfully bridged eye health with systemic disease understanding, demonstrating how retinal imaging can predict cardiovascular risks and other systemic conditions. His extensive research portfolio has secured over $100 million in competitive funding from organizations including the National Institutes of Health and National Medical Research Council.
Recognized as one of the world's most highly cited researchers, Professor Wong has received numerous prestigious accolades including the Macula Society's Arnall Patz Medal, ARVO's Friedenwald Award, and Singapore's President's Science and Technology Award. His election to the U.S. National Academy of Medicine and Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences underscores his global impact and leadership in ophthalmology research. As Founding Head of Tsinghua Medicine, he is establishing new research initiatives focused on AI-driven diagnostics and digital health solutions that translate scientific discoveries into practical clinical applications. His enduring commitment to advancing vision health through innovative research continues to shape global ophthalmology standards and improve patient outcomes worldwide.
