MBBS (S'pore), FRCS (Edin), FRCS (Glasg)
Fellow, Otology/Neurotology (Can)
Consultant,
Ear Nose Throat Surgeon
Visiting Consultant to Department of Otolaryngology, Ear, Nose,
Throat-Head & Neck
Surgery, NUH & Centre for Hearing Intervention and Language
Development (CHILD)
Dr Chee completed his medical studies at the National University of
Singapore in 1990. He commenced his basic training
as a medical officer in Otorhinolaryngology at the National University
Hospital (Ear, Nose, Throat-Head & Neck Surgery) in 1993 and
completed it when he obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College
of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Glasgow in 1995. In 1996, he started
his advanced training in Otorhinolaryngology at the Freeman Hospital
in Newcastle, United Kingdom under the tutelage
of Janet Wilson and David Mathias, and then on to the Sunderland
General Hospital and finally at the City General Hospital, Carlisle
with Andrew Robson. He returned in January 1999 when he completed
his advanced surgical rotation in Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery.
He was promoted
to Senior Registrar (currently known as Associate Consultant) in
July 1999 and was awarded Specialist Accreditation
in Otorhinolaryngology by the Ministry of Health and Specialist Registration
in Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery by the Singapore Medical Council
in early 2000.
Dr Chee was awarded
the Health and Manpower Development Program (HMDP) Fellowship award
in February 2000. He served as Clinical Fellow
in Neurotology and Otology to Professor Julian Nedzelski and Professor
Joseph Chen at the Sunnybrook and Women’s Health Science Centre
in Toronto, Canada from July 2000 to June 2001. Professor Nedzelski
is a leading Skull Base Surgeon with more than 1000 acoustic neuroma
tumor excisions under his belt. Together with Professor Chen, they
are leaders in pioneering work in cochlear implantation surgery performing
more than 50 each year.
On
his return, Dr Chee became involved in the cochlear implant programme
at the National University Hospital and later, was appointed as a
member to the National Cochlear Implant Board in October 2001. He
served as Deputy Director of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening
(UNHS) programme at the National University Hospital. He took over
the Directorship of the Cochlear Implant Programme (later known as
the Centre for Hearing Intervention and Language Development (CHILD))
in July 2002. As director of CHILD, Dr Chee was responsible for integrating
all services involved in the diagnosis, treatment and habilitation
of hearing impaired children. To date, he has performed more than
30 cochlear implant surgeries for local and foreign patients.
Dr Chee also introduced LASER ear surgery for Otosclerosis to Singapore
which is currently performed only at the National University Hospital.
He has performed more than 70 stapes surgeries. Of these, the LASER
was used in 50 cases.
Apart
from his clinical duties, Dr Chee was very involved in medical
education.
He was appointed coordinator of the undergraduate medical student
programme for ENT department, National University of Singapore
(NUS) from 2000 to 2005. He introduced the Singapore Society of
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) bookprize for 4th year medical students
which determines the best medical student for ENT that academic
year. In addition, Dr Chee was also a presenter for the ENT training
programme which involves the education of ENT surgeons-in-training.
This includes giving tutorials, lectures and guiding trainees through
complex and difficult surgery.
Dr
Chee was co-chairman of the NUH-TTSH Otology/Neurotology board
from 2000 to 2005. This board meets once a month to discuss
and propose management of difficult and complex external, middle
and inner ear conditions from TTSH, AH, CGH and NUH. This forum serves
as an important platform for patients to receive consensus from a
panel of ear specialists on the best treatment options for their
ear condition.
He
was also course director of the 1st NUH-NUS temporal bone dissection
course held in January 2005. This course attracted
participants from neighboring ASEAN countries and was held in conjunction
with the 1st NUH-NUS otolaryngology, head & neck conference.
Apart from his training and expertise in Otologic and Skull Base
Disorders, his other clinical interests include:
Diagnosis and Management of Dizziness and Facial Nerve disorders
On his return from Canada, Dr. Chee ran a weekly dizzy clinic managing patients with difficult and protracted dizziness.
Dr Chee is well versed in managing allergy especially in children
with persistent nasal symptoms and asthma and works closely with paediatrician
colleagues in controlling and managing lower and upper respiratory tract
allergy.
Endoscopic sinus surgery has become the mainstay of treatment for chronic nasal and sinus infections. Having performed more than 250 cases, Dr Chee is experienced in managing chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps and its complications.
Dr Chee is also experienced in assessing, diagnosing and managing adults and children with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. He is conversant with Coblation Tonsillectomy, which is a new technique and has been shown to cause less pain and bleeding postoperatively. He is also experienced in minimal techniques for snoring such as the Pillar Implant and Radiofrequency Palatoplasty
Dr Chee was awarded the NUH postgraduate teaching excellence award
in October 2002 and the NUH long service (10 years) award in November
2004. Dr Chee has also served on various
committees. He was the honorary secretary to the Singapore Society
of Otorhinolaryngology (2002-2004), member of the Transplant Ethics
Committee (2005), advisor to the Steering Committee for the Itinerant
Support Service initiated by the Ministry of Community Development
(2004).
Dr. Chee is married with 4 children
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