Dr. Tan Choo Hian, Roger

Biography

Renal Medicine Specialist or Nephrologists are doctors who specialize in treating acute and chronic kidney problems and associated high blood pressure. A nephrologist specializes in the kidneys and diseases that affect them.

Dr Roger Tan is an nephrologist practicing at Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore, since 2010. While he treats various kidney conditions, he sub-specialises in dialysis, kidney transplant, chronic kidney failure and hypertension. He is one of the few transplant physicians to perform high-risk kidney transplants, such as ABO-incompatibility, crossmatch positive, as well as 2nd kidney transplants. He was also the first renal specialist in Singapore to perform the peritoneal catheter insertion using peritoneoscopy techniques. This minimally invasive method not only shortened the length of hospital stays for kidney disease patients, such as those with chronic kidney disease or renal failure, this procedure can also be performed on a high risk group of patients whose general anesthesia is contraindicated.

Dr Tan obtained his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery at the National University of Singapore in 1997. He underwent his basic training in internal medicine in various renowned institutions at the National University Hospital (NUH) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). He also obtained advanced specialty training in renal medicine at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

During his tenure at Singapore General Hospital, Dr Roger was involved in implementing multiple quality improvement initiatives. He was a work group member in drafting guidelines on medical practice from the Ministry of Health, Singapore. He was the Honorary Treasurer (2008) and Honorary Secretary (2009) for the Singapore Society of Nephrology. He is a Visiting Consultant to National Kidney Foundation, Singapore.

Dr Tan also has a keen interest in treating autoimmune diseases related kidney problems especially lupus nephritis (SLE), and has presented his research projects in various regional and international conferences. With his in-depth understanding and experience in the use of immune-modulating medications, Dr Tan, has also managed other types of immune mediated kidney diseases including complex lupus nephritis, vasculitis, IgA nephropathy etc. With his strong research background and skills in up-to-date therapies, he has helped to salvage the renal condition of many such patients.

Dr Tan too has a strong interest in peritoneal dialysis and has been invited to various regional centers such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, etc to share his experience and educate fellow nephrologists and trainees on all aspects of peritoneal dialysis. Employing the latest technology to enhance medical care provided to the patients, he was involved in the setting up of telecare medicine in the peritoneal center in Singapore General Hospital. In 2007, he was awarded The Best Abstract Award at the 4th Asia Pacific PD College held in Incheon, Korea with his winning project “Enhancement of Monitoring and Treatment in Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis Using Telecare – The Singapore General Hospital Experience”.

In recent years, Dr Tan has expanded his research interest into renal bone diseases and his dedication in his research work has rewarded him with the prestigious award -The Best Abstract Award in the 2nd Congress of International Society for Hemodialysis, Hong Kong in 2009. His winning project was titled “Post-Parathyroidectomy Hypocalcemia in Hemodialysis Patients with Renal Hyperparathyroidism: Incidence and Risk Factors. His knowledge in this field has allowed him to use various cutting edge therapies in dealing with many patients suffering from various degrees of renal bone disease.

With an increase in chronic kidney disease cases, Dr Tan has also been actively involved in educating the public in the prevention and treatment of kidney diseases and renal failure at public symposiums.

Awards And Honours

Medical Education