Our Surgeon
DR LIM YEONG PHANG
MA MB BChir(Camb) FRCS FAMS CTBS
Dr Lim Yeong Phang studied medicine at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. He completed his BA(Hons) in Medical Sciences Tripos in 1989 and graduated with MB BChir(Camb) in 1992. He did his housemanship at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and Peterborough District Hospital, United Kingdom. Upon his return to Singapore, Dr Lim served as a Medical Officer in the Republic of Singapore Air Force. He underwent the Aviation Medical Officer's course and was the Medical Officer in charge of Sembawang Airbase Medical Centre during his active national service tenure.
Dr Lim chose to train in Surgery and in 1998, successfully obtained both the FRCS(Edinburgh) and FRCS(Glasgow) diplomas. He joined the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital in 1998. He was awarded the Higher Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) fellowship in 2005 to the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA, which has been ranked in the USA as the number one in heart care since 1995. He trained in congenital heart surgery under the world renowned Dr Roger B.B. Mee. When he returned to Singapore in 2006, he was appointed Consultant at the National Heart Centre (NHC) and subsequently Senior Consultant. He was also appointed Visiting Consultant to KK Women and Children's Hospital. He spent 3 months in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital, Wuhan, China as a recipient of the Singhealth Talent Development Scheme in 2007.
Dr Lim has a keen interest in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery and introduced the Endo Radial harvesting procedure using harmonic scalpel technology at NHC. He also trained the junior staff in Endo Vein harvest procedures. He performs Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass (MIDCAB) via the chest wall without cutting through any bone. He performs Hybrid Coronary Revascularisation (a combination of surgical bypass and percutaneous stenting) with Interventional Cardiologists. Dr Lim is a member of the International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS).
In 2000, Dr Lim was a member of the surgical team that performed Singapore's first Lung Transplant. He was also part of the surgical team that carried out Singapore's first combined Heart and Liver Transplant in 2011. He was appointed Director, Cardiac Operating Theatre, NHC in 2012.
Through a grant from the Ministry of Health, Singapore, he established the National Cardiovascular Homograft Bank in 2008 at the National Heart Centre(NHC) with his colleagues and serves as its Medical Director. In 2011, the National Cardiovascular Homograft Bank became the first Tissue Bank outside North America to obtain the American Association of Tissue Bank (AATB) accreditation. He is a member of the AATB. Dr Lim is one of only 2 doctors in Singapore who holds the Certified Tissue Banking Specialists (CTBS) Diploma from AATB.
He promoted the use of Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in Singapore and was co-director of the ECMO programme at NHC. Dr Lim organised an ECMO Symposium as a part of the 17th SGH Annual Scientific Meeting. He also organised training for intensivists, respiratory physicians and cardiologists during the H5N1 pandemic in 2009.
Dr Lim has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor on the teaching faculty of Duke - NUS Graduate Medical School and lectures at Nanyang Polytechnic for the Advanced Diploma Nursing Course. He served as Chairman of the NHC Healthy Lifestyle Committee. He is a member of the Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia, Singapore Cardiac Society and Chapter of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Academy of Medicine, Singapore, European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He received the Gold Service Quality Award from NHC in 2010.
Dr Lim is married with 4 children and is an active runner, cyclist and an Ironman triathlete.