Profile
A pioneer in reconstructive microsurgery, Professor Tan Kok Chai was also one of the first surgeons to perform complex head and neck resection and reconstruction, including state-of-the-art free flaps, at Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
As Head of SGH’s Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns (1999 - 2002), Prof Tan set up the hospital’s Skin Bank, which with the Burns Unit, are the region’s go-to centre for serious burns management.
The well-regarded and approachable Emeritus Consultant has mentored generations of plastic surgeons. Despite having one of the higher outpatient clinical and complex clinical cases, Prof Tan still finds time for research and regional medical missions.
Among his many accolades are Master Academic Clinician (2021), Chairman, Division of Surgery, SGH (2002- 2006), the 5th Yahya Cohen Lectureship by Academy of Medicine (2000), Chairman of the Chapter of Surgeons (1995-1997), President of the Association for Burns Injuries, Singapore (2001-2002) and Master of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (2010-2012).
Education
- Muar High School, Muar, 'O' Level, 1965-69
- Matriculation, 1970, Australia
- Monash University, Australia, 1971 - 1976
- M.B.,B.S (Australia) 1976
- F.R.C.S (England) 1981
- FAMS (S’pore) 1987
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Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships
- Master, Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 2010 – 2012
- Scribe, Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 2002 – 2009
- President, Association for Burns Injuries, Singapore, 2001 – 2002
- Treasurer, Wound Healing Society, Singapore, 2000 – 2001
- Treasurer, Society for Laser Surgery and Medicine, Singapore, 2000 – 2001
- Member, Board of Censors, Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 1999 – 2009
- Secretary, Singapore Society of Cosmetic (Aesthetic) Surgeons, 1997 – 1999
- Secretary, Singapore Society of Head and Neck Cancer Surgery, 1997 – 1999
- Chairman, Chapter of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 1996 – 1997
- President, Singapore Society of Head and Neck Cancer Surgery, 1992 – 1996
- President, Singapore Society of Hand Surgery, 1992 – 1995
- President, Singapore Society of Cosmetic (Aesthetic) Surgeons, 1992 – 1993
- Vice-President, Singapore Society of Hand Surgery, 1991 – 1993
- C’ttee Member, Chapter of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 1991 – 1994
- President, Singapore Association of Plastic Surgeons, 1991 – 1992
- Secretary, Association for Burns Injuries, Singapore, 1990 – 1992
- Member, Academy of Singapore, 1985 – till date
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Awards
- Induction to the Hall of Master Academic Clinicians, 15 January 2021
- Healthcare Humanity Award 2009
- Awarded the 5th Yahya Cohen Lectureship, 2000
- Awarded Memorial Sloan-Kettering Fellowship for one month during HMDP in 1988.
- Awarded the Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) Fellowship, 1987 - 1988 by Ministry of Health, Singapore.
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Research Interests
- Use of Lasers in Benign Cutaneous Lesions
- Flow Cytometry Studies of Head and Neck Cancer
- Reconstructions and its Long-Term Implications in Head & Neck Surgery
- Diploidy Study of Head and Neck Cancer
- Tissue Glue
- Lower Limb Vasculature
- Trapezius Flap
- Wound Healing
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Publications
- SJ Chong, YO Kok, EWX Tan, A Choke, KC Tan , BK Tan
Comparison of four measures in reducing length of stay in Burns: An Asian Centre’s evolved multimodal protocol.
Burns JBUR-D-16-00644R1 March 2017 - J Hwee, C Song, KC Tan, BK Tan, SJ Chong
The trends in Burns Epidemiology in a tropical regional burns centre
Burns. 2016 May; 42(3):682-6 - SJ Chong, YO Kok, A Choke, E Tan, CL Foo, KC Tan, BK Tan
Evolution: The impact of a Burns protocol
Journal of Burns Care & Research. May/June 2016; 37(3): s225 - AWC Chua, YC Khoo, BK Tan, KC Tan, CL Foo, SJ Chong.
Skin tissue engineering advances in severe burns: review and therapeutic applications.
Burns and Trauma. 2016 4:3. 8 Mar 2016 - Kok YO, Chong SJ, Liang WH, Tan BK, Tan KC.
Revolutionizing Major Burns Management with Micrografting – Improved Healthcare Costs, Time and Burns Resouces
Plast Reconstr Surgery 2015 Oct; 136 (4 Suppl):64 - J Hwee, C Song, SJ Chong, KC Tan, BK Tan
Evolution of burns epidemiology in a tropical burns centre.
Burns. Sep 2015. Supplement. - SJ Chong, V Tay, YY Lau, CL Foo, KC Tan, BK Tan.
Management of patient with partial thickness burns at SGH.
Burns. Sep 2015. Supplement. - Liang WH, Kok YO, SJ Chong, KC Tan, BK Tan
The economic impact of the SGH micrograft protocol.
ANZ J. Surg. May 2015; 85 (S1): 133 - HC Fong, NG Tan, KC Tan, SJ Chong
A single Southeast Asian Institution Experience in the Management of Skin Cancer – Analysis of 431 cases and review of literature.
ANZ J. Surg. May 2015; 85(S1): 46 - Kua JEH, Wong CH, Ng SW, Tan KC
The Island Pedicled Anterolateral Thigh Flap (ALT) via Lateral Subcutaneous Tunnel for Recurrent Ischial Ulcer
Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery - Chia HL, Wong CH, Tan BK, Tan KC, Ong YS
An Algorithm for Recipient Vessel Selection in Microsurgical Head and Neck Reconstruction.
Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery - H Chim , BK Tan , MH Tan , KC Tan, C Song
Optimizing the Use of Local Muscle Flaps for Knee Megaprosthesis Coverage.
Ann Plast Surg. 2007 Oct ;59 (4):398-403 17901731 - CH Wong, C Song, YS Ong, BK Tan, KC Tan, CL Foo
Abdominal Wall Necrotizing Fasciitis : It Is Still “Meleney’s Minefield”
PRS 2006, July 117(7) : 147e – 150e - CH Wong, A Kurup, YS Wang, KS Heng, KC Tan
Single-Organism Necrotizing Fasciitis Caused by Klebsiella Species.
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease 2004; 23 (5): 403 – 407 - CH Wong, LW Khin, KS Heng, KC Tan, CO Low.
The LRINEC (Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis) Score: A Tool for Distinguishing Necrotizing Fasciitis from Other Soft Tissue Infections.
Critical Care Medicine 2004; 32(7):1535-1541 - CH Wong, A Kurup, KC Tan
Group B Streptococcus Necrotizing Fasciitis: An Emerging Disease?
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease 2004; 23 (7): 573 – 575 - CH Wong, C Song, YS Ong, BK Tan, KC Tan, CL Foo
Abdominal wall necrotizing fasciitis; It is still ‘Meleney’s Minefield’.
Plastic Reconstructive Surgery – 2006; 117(7), 147e-150e - CH Wong, C Song, KS Heng, IHC Kee, SL Tien, P Kumarasinghe, LW Khin, KC Tan
Plasma free hemoglobin: A novel diagnostic test for the assessment of depth of burn injury. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery- 2006; 117:1206-1213 - PK Koh, BK Tan, SW Hong, MH Tan, AG Tay, C Song, KC Tan
The Gluteus Maximus Muscle Flap for Reconstruction of Sacral Chordoma Defects
Ann of Plast Surg, July 2004, 53 (1), pp 44-9 - C Tham, BK Tan, SW Hong, KC Tan
Salvage of the Massively Traumatized Lower Extremity with Sequential Flaps
Plast Reconstr Surg May 2004; Vol. 113(6):1746-50 - KC Tan, BK Tan
Extended Trapezius Myocutaneous Flap – Discussion
Plast Recon Surg, June 2004, 113 (7), pp 2082-4 - YC Por, BK Tan, SW Hong, SJ Chia, CWS Cheng, CL Foo, KC Tan
Use of a Scrotal Remnant as a Tissue-Expanding Musculocutaneous Flap for Scrotal Reconstruction in Paget’s Disease
Ann of Plast Surg, Jun 2003 - EW Ang, KC Tan
Free Flap Reconstruction in Head and Neck Oncology
Asian J Surgery 2002; 25 (1) - RJ Guy, ESW Ang, KC Tan, CBS Tsang
Massive Bleeding From a Dieulafoy-like Lesion of the Rectum in a Burns Patient
Burns 2001; 27:767-769 - PGJ See, TT Phan, JJ Chua, C Song, KC Tan, ST Lee
Our Clinical Experience Using Cryopreserved Cadaveric Allograft for the Management of Severe Burns
Cell and Tissue Banking 00 : 1-5, 2001 - KC Tan, BK Tan
Trapezius Island Myocutaneous Flap
Plastic Reconstr Surg 2001, 107:285 - ESW Ang, KC Tan, LHC Tan, RTH Ng, IC Song
2-Octylcyanoacrylate-Assisted Microvascular Anastomosis : Comparison with a Conventional Suture Technique in Rat
J Reconstr Microsurg 2001, Apr, 17(3) : 193-201 - KC Tan, BK Tan
The Extended Lower Trapezius Island Myocutaneous Flap – A Fascio Myocutaneous Based on the Dorsal Scapular Artery
Plast Reconstr Surg 2000, 105 (5) : 1758-63 - KC Tan
Angiosomes and Extension of Skin Flaps
Key Issues Plastic Cosmetic Surg Basel, Karger, 1999, Vol 16, pp 91-99 - ESW Ang, KC Tan
Full-thickness Burns of the Palms by Hot Wax
Burns 1997; 23:458 - P Chacha, K Soin, KC Tan
Update on Use of Radial Forearm Flap in Trauma
Journal Hand Surgery, 1993 - KC Tan
Sebaceous Cell Carcinoma of Eyelids
Medical Digest of USA, 1992 - KC Tan, E Cheah, S T Lee
Sebaceous Cell Carcinoma of Eyelids
Brit J Plastic Surg, 1991 (44), 117-121 - JJ Coleman, KC Tan, et al
Jejunal Free Autografts : Analysis of Complications and their Resolution
Plast Reconst Surg, 1989, October - P Chacha, K Soin, KC Tan
Use of Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm Flap in the Thumb
Journal of Hand Surgery, November 1987 - A D McGregor, KC Tan
Recurrent Pleomorphic Adenomas
British Journal of Plastic Surgery, 1987
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