Professor Tan Chorh Chuan is the chairman and executive director of the Ministry of Health’s new Office for Healthcare Transformation, which was set up to help drive the reshaping of the country’s health system. He stepped down as National University of Singapore president in 2017, and was the first Singaporean to be elected as an international member of the US National Academy of Medicine in 2015. On October 1, 2023, he was appointed as Permanent Secretary of National Research and Development; Permanent Secretary (Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office), Prime Minister’s Office; and chairman of Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

When he served as the Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health from 2000 to 2004, he was responsible for leading the public health response to the 2003 SARS epidemic. As the inaugural Chief Executive of the National University Health System in 2008, he brought the NUS Medical and Dental Schools and the National University Hospital under single governance. As NUS president, he oversaw the formation of Yale-NUS College.

Professor Tan is a key leader in Singapore’s Biomedical Sciences Initiative since its inception in 2000, for which he was awarded the National Science and Technology Medal in 2008. He also received the Public Service Star in 2003 for outstanding contributions to overcoming SARS in Singapore, the Public Administration Gold Medal in 2004 for his work as director of medical services in the Ministry of Health and the Meritorious Service Medal in 2015.

In 2022, Professor Tan received the National Day Award and was also conferred the title of Knight of the French Order of the Legion of Honour in recognition of his outstanding contributions to health and science, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.