Ask a Cardiothoracic Surgeon: Dr Lim Yeong Phang from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital Singapore

I am Dr Lim Yeong Phang, Cardiothoracic Surgeon based in Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital Singapore. I have a keen interest in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery and introduced the Endo Radial harvesting procedure using harmonic scalpel technology at the National Heart Centre, Singapore. I also trained the junior staff in Endo Vein harvest procedures. I perform Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass (MIDCAB) via the chest wall without cutting through any bone. I also perform Hybrid Coronary Revascularisation (a combination of surgical bypass and percutaneous stenting) with Interventional Cardiologists. I am a member of the International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS). I studied medicine at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. I completed my BA(Hons) in Medical Sciences Tripos in 1989 and graduated with MB BChir(Camb) in 1992. I did my housemanship at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and Peterborough District Hospital, United Kingdom. Upon my return to Singapore, I served as a Medical Officer in the Republic of Singapore Air Force. I underwent the Aviation Medical Officer's course and was the Medical Officer in charge of Sembawang Airbase Medical Centre during my active national service tenure. I chose to train in Surgery and in 1998, successfully obtained both the FRCS(Edinburgh) and FRCS(Glasgow) diplomas. I joined the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital in 1998. I was awarded the Higher Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) fellowship in 2005 to the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA, which has been ranked in the USA as the number one in heart care since 1995. I trained in congenital heart surgery under the world renowned Dr Roger B.B. Mee. When I returned to Singapore in 2006, I was appointed Consultant at the National Heart Centre (NHC) and subsequently Senior Consultant. I was also appointed Visiting Consultant to KK Women and Children's Hospital. I spent 3 months in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital, Wuhan, China as a recipient of the Singhealth Talent Development Scheme in 2007. In 2000, I was a member of the surgical team that performed Singapore's first Lung Transplant. I was also part of the surgical team that carried out Singapore's first combined Heart and Liver Transplant in 2011. I was appointed Director, Cardiac Operating Theatre, NHC in 2012. Through a grant from the Ministry of Health, Singapore, I established the National Cardiovascular Homograft Bank in 2008 at the National Heart Centre(NHC) with my colleagues and serves as its Medical Director. In 2011, the National Cardiovascular Homograft Bank became the first Tissue Bank outside North America to obtain the American Association of Tissue Bank (AATB) accreditation. I am a member of the AATB. I am one of only 2 doctors in Singapore who holds the Certified Tissue Banking Specialists (CTBS) Diploma from AATB. I promoted the use of Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in Singapore and was co-director of the ECMO programme at NHC. I organised an ECMO Symposium as a part of the 17th SGH Annual Scientific Meeting. I also organised training for intensivists, respiratory physicians and cardiologists during the H5N1 pandemic in 2009. I have served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor on the teaching faculty of Duke - NUS Graduate Medical School and lecture at Nanyang Polytechnic for the Advanced Diploma Nursing Course. I served as Chairman of the NHC Healthy Lifestyle Committee. I am a member of the Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia, Singapore Cardiac Society and Chapter of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Academy of Medicine, Singapore, European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons. I received the Gold Service Quality Award from NHC in 2010. Learn more about Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital here: https://patients.smarterhealth.my/hospital/mount-elizabeth-novena-hospital-singapore/ Learn more about me here: https://patients.smarterhealth.my/specialist-doctor/lim-yeong-phang/ I am excited to be here to share/discuss Cardiac Health with everyone. Whether you've got questions about cardiac surgery such as bypass surgery, stenting, heart valve disorders, ask me anything! === Want to ask a question? Submit your question at the bottom of this page. Don’t forget to include your name and email address to get notified when the doctor answers your question.