of the Singapore Society of Nephrology
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I have been asked to record the history of the Singapore Society of Nephrology for the inauguration of this Website. The Society has been in existence for the past 36 years (since 1972). The development of Nephrology as a specialty can be said to date from the establishment of the Department of Renal Medicine at the Singapore General Hospital in 1973. |
The Beginning
The main stimulus to form a Society of Nephrology was the desire on our part to organise a scientific meeting for Nephrologists in the region, and to get to know our counterparts in neighbouring countries. Prof Khoo Oon Teik who was then Professor of Medicine at the University of Singapore was the prime mover for such a meeting. Hence on the 28 November 1972 an inaugural meeting was called to form the Singapore Society of Nephrology. It was held at the Brunel Hawes Lecture Theatre Medical Unit II in Bowyer block of the old Singapore General Hospital. At the meeting, the following were elected office bearers:
| President |
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Dr Lim Cheng Hong |
| Vice President |
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Dr B T M Chen |
| Hon Secretary |
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Dr Feng Pao Hsii |
| Hon Treasurer |
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Dr Wong Nang Eong |
| Committee Members |
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Dr Foong Weng Cheong
Dr R Sinniah |
| Hon Auditor |
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Dr Gary Tan |
The First Colloquium
With the formation of the Society, members began the work of organising the first meeting of Nephrologists in this region. It was named the 1st Colloquium in Nephrology and the dates selected for the meeting was 15 November to 17 November 1974. The meeting was a great success and was attended by Nephrologists from the region, extending to India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, United Kingdom and Australia. Prof Priscilla Kincaid-Smith who was the incumbent President of the International Society of Nephrology was one of the invited speakers. The Colloquium was the forerunner of a regular series, held once every two years, and moving from country to country in South-East Asia as well as East Asia.
The 11th Colloquium was held again in Singapore from 26th to 30th September 1996. The Colloquium has established and has fulfilled our goal of providing a forum for the younger nephrologists in the region to present the results of their research, as well as to establish social and professional ties.
In addition, the Colloquium has also spawned a larger meeting to encompass the Asian Pacific region, leading to the 1st Asian Pacific Congress in Nephrology in Tokyo on 19 – 20 October 1979. This meeting was followed by the 2nd Congress in Melbourne in February 1983 where the Society made a successful bid to host the 3rd Asian Pacific Congress. This meeting was held in Singapore from 5 – 10 October 1986. The Society has been an affiliate of the International Society since 1974. The largest and the most prestigious meeting organized by the Society was the 3rd World Congress in Nephrology (also known as the 18th International Congress of Nephrology) held in Singapore from 26th to 30th June 2005. This meeting put Singapore on the global map of nephrology.
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The Society has played a major role in stimulating interest in Nephrology in the region. Members of the Society today set the standards for the practice of Nephrology in Singapore and play an important role in the training of nephrologists.
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