John Kelvin Lalusis, Thoracic Oncology and Phase I Clinical Fellow at National Cancer Centre Singapore, Medical Oncologist and Doctor at St. Luke’s Medical Center, shared a post on LinkedIn:
”I am pleased to share that I have recently completed my Clinical Fellowship in Thoracic Oncology and Phase I Clinical Trials at the National Cancer Centre Singapore . This milestone was a collective effort, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who supported me throughout this training.
My sincere gratitude goes to my mentors and colleagues in the Philippines, particularly at St. Luke’s Medical Center . I cannot name everyone individually, but each of you contributed meaningfully to my growth. Thank you for your encouragement and for accommodating my requests while I was away. I am also exceptionally grateful to my mentors in France, especially Prof. Julien MAZIERES , for his invaluable help in navigating the regulatory requirements needed to secure my approval to practice in Singapore.
My time at NCCS was a profoundly formative experience. Thank you to the Phase I Team, the consultants, my co-fellows, and the clinical research coordinators. It was a privilege to learn early drug development from regional key opinion leaders and to take part in the care of their patients. Working within the NCCS Lung Team was also eye-opening, since the team manages head and neck and urologic malignancies alongside thoracic oncology. Thanks also to the Filipino healthcare workers at NCCS who helped me adjust to the hospital’s workflows.
I am especially grateful to my mentor, Prof. Daniel SW Tan, for his guidance and for pushing me to hold myself to higher professional standards. Adjusting to a new environment was made much easier by the support of friends and family. Most of all, thank you to my wife for standing by me through the distance and challenges of this past year.
Living and working abroad also gave me a clearer view of healthcare infrastructure. Singapore’s healthcare system stands out for its strong structural management, funding models, and overall organization, and it has become one of the region’s most established clinical trial hubs. Interestingly, Singapore and the Philippines share some similarities in healthcare financing, including a reliance on out-of-pocket costs. And when it comes to top-tier oncologic care specifically, leading centers in both countries show comparable levels of clinical skill and facility capability – a testament to the strength of institutions and professionals in both nations. This experience reinforced my belief that closing gaps in oncology care across Asia-Pacific is best achieved through collaboration, with each health system contributing what it does best.
Looking ahead, I hope to build on the connections made during this fellowship to support collaborative efforts that advance oncology care across the Asia-Pacific region.”
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