Message from Yong Loo Lin School Of Medicine

Dear Colleagues,

We at the National University Health System are honoured to co-host the conference “Recent Trends in Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolic Syndrome” with JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association. 

This conference will feature state-of-the-art presentations, valuable professional advice on reading and publishing scientific articles, and opportunities for information-sharing and networking. 

It is particularly appropriate that the conference is taking place in Singapore.  With regard to public health, Singapore may serve as a harbinger for other Asian countries.  In one generation, Singapore has sped from third world to first world.  While this rapid and extraordinary transformation, virtually unparalleled in the world, has lifted the standard of living and the health of the population significantly, it has also presented some unique public health challenges.  For example, the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes has increased fourfold – from 1.9% in 1975 to 8.2% in 2004 (National Health Survey 2004) – with dramatic implications for healthcare expenditure and resource allocation.  We anticipate a robust discussion at the conference as global expertise converges on a part of the world where multidisciplinary questions loom. 

My sincere thanks go out to Associate Professor Chong Yap Seng and the Organizing Committee for their hard work in putting together the outstanding program. 

My colleagues and I look forward to welcoming you to Singapore for this landmark event. 

Warmest regards,

John E.L. Wong, MBBS, FAMS, FRCP, FACP
Dean, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
National University Health System