What We Do
Started in 1998, this department focuses on providing palliative care training to others by conducting modular workshops in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN). Our educators and instructors also come from international teaching faculties with extensive expertise and teaching experience. These workshops attract doctors and nurses from Malaysia as well as around the region. This department delivers tutorial-based teachings, practical exercises, and interactive teaching experiences to address the core areas of palliative care. This department is a useful training resource for Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region.
Dr Sumytra Menon
Director of Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Dr Sumytra Menon is Director of CBmE, a legal scholar and bioethics educator whose work bridges academic leadership, research, and national capacity building in healthcare ethics. She is also Co-Director of the Clinical Ethics Network + Research Ethics Support (CENTRES) initiative, where she leads educational efforts in clinical and research ethics to strengthen ethics committee capabilities in Singapore and the Programme Director of Science, Health and Policy-relevant Ethics in Singapore (SHAPES).
A lawyer by training, Dr Menon’s research has focused on healthcare decision-making, mental capacity law, and end-of-life issues. She is currently conducting research on the ethics of genetic discrimination and longevity, including a recent national survey exploring public perspectives on genetic testing and discrimination.
Dr Menon’s work is policy-oriented, with a focus on translating academic and research insights into practical frameworks that enhance outcomes for patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Her approach is grounded in clinical realities and lived experiences, ensuring that contributions are responsive to the ethical challenges encountered in healthcare practice and research.
Dr Menon serves on a range of national committees and ethics panels, including Clinical Ethics Committees, Institutional Review Boards, and national committees on advance care planning, MediFund and transplant ethics.
Dr Chan Mei Yoke
Dr Chan is currently Senior Consultant in Paediatric Haematology/ Oncology and Paediatric Palliative Service in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore; and Adjunct Associate Professor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at National Technological University and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Centre for Biomedical Ethics in National University of Singapore. She is currently the Chairman of the KKH Clinical Ethics Committee.
She has a special interest in the holistic care of children with cancer and other chronic life-limiting illnesses, which encompasses palliative and hospice care, as well as attention to the psychosocial aspect of care. She also has a keen interest in clinical ethics and obtained a Masters in Bioethics from Harvard University in 2022.
Dr Chan Mei Yoke graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1987 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). She trained in Paediatrics and obtained her Masters of Medicine (Paediatrics) from the Postgraduate Medical School in National University of Singapore in 1992 and her Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) (London) in 1994. From 1993 to 1997, she trained in Paediatric Haematology/Oncology in Royal Marsden Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, United Kingdom. She has been a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (FRCPCH) since 2010. She has also been a Specialist in Palliative Medicine since 2010.
Dr. Noreen Chan
Senior Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Department of Haematology-Oncology, NCIS
Aside from being the Senior Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Department of Haematology-Oncology, NCIS, Dr Noreen Chan is also the Adj Assoc Professor, Dept of Medicine and Palliative Medicine Undergraduate Education Director, National University of Singapore as well as ACP Lead, National University Hospital.
Dr Chan received her medical training in England, Singapore and Australia, and is a passionate advocate for education and training at all levels. Her other interests include the interface between oncology and palliative care, spiritual care, clinical decision making and ethics at the end of life. Her goal is access to palliative care for all who need it, when and where they want it.
Dr. Margaret Suen
Dr. Margaret Suen is the Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong. Currently, she teaches as a private practitioner in the SPACE, Hospital Authority, and NGOs in Hong Kong with her teaching and research interests in Medical Social Work, Advance Care Planning, and grief and bereavement care.
She holds a Bachelor degree in Social Work from the University of Windsor (Canada), a postgraduate qualification in Health Administration from the University of New South Wales (Australia), and a doctorate from the University of Hong Kong.
As a registered social worker in Hong Kong, Dr. Suen served at the Hong Kong Hospital Authority in both service development and clinical practice until 2020. She received specialized palliative care training from the University of Cardiff (UK) and dedicated her clinical practice to psychosocial palliative and end-of-life care.
Her contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, including the Outstanding Social Worker of Hong Kong Award (2011), Fellow in Thanatology (ADEC, since 2012), and Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Social Work (2024).
Professor Dr Amy Chow
Professor Chow is the Head of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Si Yuan Professor in Health and Social Work and Master of the University’s New College. She has a background as a registered social worker specializing in bereavement counselling and is the founder of the first community-based bereavement counselling centre in Hong Kong.
She has formerly acted as Secretary of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and Board Member of the Asia Pacific Hospice Network (APHN). As a recognised translational scientist in thanatology, Professor Chow was elected as the Chairperson of the prestigious International Workgroup on Death, Dying and Bereavement. Currently, within the university, Professor Chow is the Director of the Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project, Project Unison, and Jockey Club Bereavement Care and Support Alliance, and Associate Director of Sau Po Centre of Ageing. She serves as Boards of Directors of a few government committees and NGOs in Hong Kong. She is also the first and current Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Hong Kong Academy of Social Work.
Professor Chow’s scholarship and contribution to social work practice have been recognized by the following awards: Cross-Cultural Award, (ADEC) (2005); Cadenza Fellowship (2008); Best Abstract Award (Researcher) (2010); Distinguished Alumni Award (2013) (CUHK); Rainbow of Life Outstanding Individual Award (2013); Outstanding Social Worker Award (2014); Outstanding Teaching Award of the University of Hong Kong (2014); Outstanding Research Output Awards (2017-2018) (University of Hong Kong), Research Recognition Award (ADEC) (2020), Teaching Innovation Award (HKU)(2022) and Dr. Robert Fulton CDEB Founder’s Award (University of Wisconsin) (2024).
Liese Groot-Alberts
Liese Groot-Alberts is a grief therapist in private practice, a lecturer, public speaker, clinical supervisor and team-trainer. She is a recipient of the 2025 Asia Pacific Hospice Network Cynthia Goh award for services advancing palliative care in the region. She has specialised in conducting training and seminars in trauma, loss, grief and bereavement as well as palliative care and resilience in the workplace.
Her passion is working with people who are dealing with trauma, loss and bereavement. Liese also conducts public speaking engagements on topics such as: Facilitating Hope, Strengthening Resilience, Mindfulness, Empathy and Compassion. In her speaking presentations she uses images, poetry, humour and music on the topics presented.
Dr Becky Dodds
Dr Becky Dodds is a qualified clinical and health psychologist working in the United Kingdom with a specialist interest working in medical settings. Her work contracts span specialist palliative care, intensive care, oncology, haematology and occupational health services.
She offers psychological expertise for people and their families in receipt of care and for staff working in each of these settings. Her skills are in offering specialist psychological assessment, one-to-one, couples and family therapy, consultation and clinical supervision, teaching and training. She is currently working for the British National Health Service (NHS) and at the same time, practising in her own private clinical psychology service.