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The Chew Chong Lin Dental Bursary
To honour the contributions of Emeritus Professor Chew Chong Lin to the NUS Faculty of Dentistry, an endowed Undergraduate bursary was initiated by Associate Professor (A/P) Jennifer Neo. Through her unstinting efforts, passion and determination, A/P Neo successfully garnered support from over 150 alumni and friends to raise over $800,000 to date. The bursary aims to provide financial aid to needy undergraduates from the Faculty.
About Emeritus Professor Chew Chong Lin
Prof Chew has a long and distinguished career following his graduation in 1971 with a Bachelor in Dental Surgery at the then University of Singapore. He served in numerous appointments at the Faculty of Dentistry, NUS, which includes Dean (1995 - 2000), Vice Dean (1980 – 1983), Head of Department of Prosthetic Dentistry (1980 - 1983; 1985 - 1990), Head of Department of Restorative Dentistry (April 1990 - 2000) and Director of the Graduate School of Dental Studies (1986 - 2012).
Prof Chew started the compulsory Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), a milestone addition to the curriculum that has since introduced generations of dental students to the research process so critical to our practice. During his Deanship, the Faculty introduced the Competency-Based Curriculum.
As Director of the Division of Graduate Dental Studies, he was instrumental in formalising the graduate training of five specialties into structured residency training programmes, four of which have conjoint examination status with the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.
Prof Chew was also our first Director of the Centre for Advanced Dental Education (CADE), set up in 2007 to formalise Graduate Diploma and Continuing Dental Education programmes. The CADE introduced the Annual Faculty of Dentistry Symposium in 2005 and the Graduate Diploma in Dental Implantology in 2007.
He was also Co-chair of the NUS Dental Centre Planning committee responsible for making recommendations in the setting up of the new National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore (NUCOHS).
In addition, he has held various Ministry of Health appointments since 1989 including Deputy Director of Medical Services (Dental) for 5 years from 1989, Chair of the Planning Committee to oversee the setup of the National Dental Centre (NDC) from 1989 to 1995, Chief Dental Officer from 2001 to 2006 and President, Singapore Dental Council from 2009-2021. He was Chairman of the National Dental Centre Board from 1997-2000 and also served as a member of the SingHealth Board from 2000-2003.
Prof Chew was the first from the dental profession to be conferred the prestigious National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award that recognises individuals who have contributed substantially to the training of young clinicians and clinician scientists through mentorship. This was followed by the NHG-NUHS Life-time Achievement Award and NUHS Emeritus Consultant in 2009.
He was amongst the 15 recipients of the inaugural NUS Inspiring Mentor Awards in 2009. He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2004 and the National Day Award – The Long Service Medal, in 2012.
About the Chew Chong Lin Dental Bursary
The Chew Chong Lin Dental Bursary aims to provide financial aid to needy undergraduates from the NUS Faculty of Dentistry (Gift Purpose). The bursary would help to ease their financial burden and allow them to focus on their academic aspirations.
The capital sum of the endowed gifts will be preserved and invested to generate income. The distributable income from the endowed gifts' return of investments will be applied towards the Gift Purpose.