A Lifetime of Hearts and Humanity: Assoc Prof Chua Yeow Leng

With a career spanning four decades with no signs of slowing down, Assoc Prof Chua Yeow Leng, Senior Consultant from the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, is widely recognised as one of the pioneers of cardiac surgery in Singapore. Through his work as a clinician, researcher, and mentor, Assoc Prof Chua has transformed the field on our shores and beyond. It comes as no surprise that his contributions were recognised with the Singapore Cardiac Society (SCS) Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 – an award that celebrates outstanding clinicians whose enduring commitment, vision, and leadership have left a lasting mark on cardiovascular medicine.

CardioConnect speaks to Assoc Prof Chua on his accomplishments, the importance of teamwork, and what he hopes to impart to the next generation of surgeons.

What does the SCS Lifetime Achievement Award represent for you?

Receiving this award is not just a personal honour, but a recognition of the collective dedication of the department and our field. Our work has always been a team effort, and this achievement reflects the strong institutional and professional environment behind our successes.

(Right) The SCS Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 recipient: Assoc Prof Chua Yeow Leng

Having contributed to major advances and first-in-Asia cardiac surgery procedures, what has been the most impactful advancement for patients?

Transcatheter valve therapies, particularly TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) have been among the most impactful advances in cardiac care. Compared to prior treatments like medical management alone which carried dismal outcomes, or conventional surgery with significant risks, TAVI offers faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and survival rates that rival surgery.

We had to approach the implementation of TAVI with a lot of care in the early days, especially in high-risk surgical patients where serious complications could occur. However, the collaborative spirit and determination of our team helped us overcome initial problems, transforming a risky beginning into a safe, life-saving therapy for individuals who are unable to undergo open heart surgery.

As Singapore’s Principal Investigator for the Surgical Treatments for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial, what drove your commitment to ensuring Asian patients had representation in the study?

To me, equity in evidence-based medicine is important, especially when making life-or-death choices for treatments. Most prior surgical revascularisation studies primarily examined a western population, leaving uncertainty about whether the results could be applied to Asian patients who differ in body size, health conditions, and disease patterns. As such, including Asian patients in the STICH trial, the largest cardiac surgery trial in history, helps ensure that our surgical decisions for heart failure are supported by evidence relevant to the patients we treat in Singapore and beyond.

On a global scale, you have led humanitarian healthcare missions in different countries. What fuels your passion, and were there any moments from these trips that stayed with you?

What keeps me going is my firm belief that a patient’s access to life-saving cardiac care should not depend on where they are from. Thus, those of us with training and resources have a moral obligation to share what we know.

As for memorable moments, I remember when I developed appendicitis during a mission and my team stepped up to continue the work while arranging for me to return safely to Singapore. It was a powerful reminder that outreach work is built on teamwork, trust, and caring for each other just as fiercely as we care for our patients.

One of your missions was training medical professionals in Papua New Guinea to perform heart surgery independently, and in 2025, Port Moresby General Hospital successfully performed its first successful Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. What did that moment mean to you?

For a population of over 10 million, coronary artery disease is a significant cause of mortality, and it was never sustainable for patients in Papua New Guinea to rely on overseas referrals that only a tiny fraction could access. That is why it is so critically important for them to be able to look after these patients themselves with locally trained surgeons, facilities, and ownership of the entire care pathway. This achievement marks the first steps towards this goal, and I’m proud to have played a part.

Assoc Prof Chua and his medical team performing a Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery during their mission in Papua New Guinea.

Finally, what is the most important thing you would like to pass on to your mentees, and what have they taught you in return?

What I want to pass on to my mentees is that excellence in cardiac surgery depends less on advanced tools and more on commitment, teamwork, and adaptability, especially in challenging environments. In Papua New Guinea, my mentees taught me how to think out of the box and manage with limited resources. Now, the exchange has come full circle, with us sending our own doctors to countries such as China as their large patient pools and rapid development have made them extraordinarily skilful. This is the circle of mutual growth I am most proud of.

An inspiring career is defined by clinical excellence, collaborative teamwork, and an enduring commitment to advancing cardiac care across borders. Congratulations once again to Assoc Prof Chua on his well-deserved award!