Bernard Fox, Co-founder, President, and CEO of UbiVac, shared a post by Joe Yong Poh Sheng, Associate Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School, on LinkedIn:
“My friend, Prof. Joe Yong Poh Sheng is an extremely talented physician scientist and an amazing human being. His accomplishments are even more noteworthy given his humble beginings – detailed in his post about spending his first decade in the mountains of Malaysia – and going on to being recently awarded a distinguished alumnus of his elementary school.
Joe is an innovator and early adopter. He has exceptional scientific accomplishments and energy that continues to propel him.
As an example, Joe was the energy behind the formation of the JEDI council for mIF at a Pre-COVID Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) annual meeting.
In Partnership with Cheng Sun they have organized the World Immunotherapy Council (WIC) Asian Pacific meeting (WIC-APAC ) that brings together the best young fellows working in immunooncology and provides opportunity to interact, present their data, and evaluate potential collaborations.
I have also had the chance to interact with Joe on a personal level. Whether it is touring a Buddhist temple in Hefei, China, taking a boat tour in Brandenburg, Germany, or having dinner in Shanghai, Singapore, San Diego, Boston, or WashingtonDC, I know what a thoughtful human being he is and how much he cares for his wife, his young family, and traditions..After reading his post, I have a better appreciation for why Joe is the man he is today.”
Quoting Joe Yong Poh Sheng’s post:
“Distinguished Alumnus Award 2025
Born in Malaysia and educated in Chinese schools (why I can give chinese talks in China), I spent my first decade deep in the mountains before returning at age ten to my mother’s hometown to attend SKJC Cheng Siu 2. This year, my alma mater honoured me with the Distinguished Alumnus Award—a reminder of how overseas Chinese education has been sustained across generations/centuries, not only in language, but in culture, values, and traditions.
In my acceptance speech, I shared three short stories of love and courage:
- From ridicule to confidence
A shy boy with a lisp, once mocked into joining a debate—who stood up anyway. That moment changed my life and began my journey in public speaking.
- From failure to belief
A tall kid ‘unsuitable for sports,’ laughed at after a crushing defeat—who dared to promise a championship. One year later, we won our school’s first state title.
- From doubt to destiny
Choosing further training in Shanghai despite doubts—bringing home not only education, but my life partner, and today, our three children.
Courage may look childish at first—but it transforms lives.
Dream boldly. Act bravely. Define success on your own terms.”
