Establish A Professorship

At SNEC, we recognise and honour the contributions of individuals that have left lasting legacies to Singapore’s eye care ecosystem.

The Barry Cullen International Fellowship in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Dr James Finbarr Cullen, better known as Barry Cullen, has shaped the educational landscape of Ophthalmology in Singapore and Malaysia. He is renowned for his dedication and contributions to the advancement of Neuro-ophthalmology worldwide. He helped establish specialist Ophthalmology examinations in Singapore and Malaysia, set up the Neuro-ophthalmology Service in SNEC, and mentored generations of ophthalmologists. Although he retired and returned home in 2015, Dr Cullen left an indelible mark on Ophthalmology in the region. The standards of Ophthalmology in Singapore and Malaysia today would not be the same without his immense contributions.

The Barry Cullen International Fellowship in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences serves as a tribute to this titan of Ophthalmology. The fellowship sets its sights on achieving the following objectives:

Nurturing young clinicians and clinician-scientists
Advancing their training in Ophthalmology and visual sciences, particularly in the subspecialty of Neuro-Ophthalmology
Continually develop all areas of Ophthalmology
Strengthening SNEC’s outreach and profile globally

The prestigious fellowship will be awarded to a local or international fellow who intends to pursue subspecialty training at SNEC, preferably in Neuro-Ophthalmology. This award will seed the foundation of the awardee's subspecialty career, mirroring Dr Cullen's passion for educating the next generation of ophthalmologists.

With the generous contributions of our donors, VisionSave has successfully raised $373,500 to establish the Barry Cullen International Fellowship in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences*. Our sincere gratitude goes out to all donors who have given steadfast support in establishing this fellowship! Your gift has been matched, dollar-for-dollar, by SNEC up to $312,500 so the total amount raised for this Fellowship is now $686,000.

The fellowship is part of VisionSave’s drive to nurture future generations of eye care professionals. It aims to enhance the training of young clinicians and clinician-scientists in ophthalmology and visual sciences, particularly in the subspecialty of Neuro-ophthalmology. It will offer different fellowship options, such as one-year clinical or clinical research fellowships and six-month observerships.

The fellowship will be awarded to local and international fellows who intend to pursue subspecialty training at SNEC.

Serving as a tribute to the late Dr Barry Cullen, the fellowship honours his dedication and contributions in shaping the educational landscape of ophthalmology in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as in the advancement of Neuro-Ophthalmology worldwide.

The fellowship will lay the foundation of the awardee’s subspecialty career, continuing the good work and nurturing spirit of Dr Cullen. Its other objectives include continually developing all areas of ophthalmology, and strengthening SNEC’s outreach and profile globally.

*The naming of the fellowship is subjected to approval by SingHealth-Duke NUS

Be a part of our mission and leave a legacy of sight to those who need it the most.

Share our vision and support us. Contact us at (65) 6322 4505 or visionsave@snec.com.sg

Donate now

The Arthur Lim Professorship in Ophthalmology

The Arthur Lim Professorship in Ophthalmology was inaugurated on 20 January 2014 by SNEC and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. This professorship honours the late Professor Arthur Lim, who raised the bar for ophthalmology in Singapore by establishing SNEC, SERI, as well as the Department of Ophthalmology in National University Hospital.

Besides founding leading eye care institutions in Singapore, Professor Lim is also an experienced educator which is credited for training almost all current senior ophthalmologists in Singapore. His vast contributions in clinical service, patient care, eye research, and eye health education in Singapore and the region have earned him the title of Southeast Asia’s Father of Ophthalmology.

Under this professorship, S$5 million will be allocated by SNEC and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, to award outstanding practitioners in the field of ophthalmology in honour of Professor Lim.

The Arthur Lim Professorship in Ophthalmology was conferred on Professor Donald Tan in October 2014. Professor Tan is well known in the field of ophthalmology internationally and is credited with being the architect of SERI. Currently the founding President of the Asia Cornea Society, and the first international President of the US-based Cornea Society, he is recognised as a research pioneer for innovations in corneal and stem cell transplantation, refractive surgery, myopia treatments and patented surgical devices.

The Arthur Lim Professorship in Ophthalmology recognises Professor Tan as an outstanding clinician, researcher and educator who has demonstrated academic leadership and is a pioneer in advancing the frontiers of ophthalmology.

Be a part of our mission and leave a legacy of sight to those who need it the most.

Share our vision and support us. Contact us at (65) 6322 4505 or visionsave@snec.com.sg

Donate now