About Dr Tan Siong San

Adjunct Assistant Professor Dr Tan Siong San is a Senior Consultant Surgeon with over 25 years of clinical experience in Singapore’s public healthcare sector. He specialises in General Surgery with a subspecialty focus on Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, which includes the treatment of conditions affecting the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts.

Dr Tan graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) School of Medicine in 1999. He underwent comprehensive surgical training in General Surgery and HPB Surgery at Changi General Hospital (CGH) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH). In 2008, he was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, following his successful completion of Advanced Surgical Training. He also holds the Master of Medicine (Surgery) and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS).

In 2010, Dr Tan was awarded the prestigious SingHealth Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) Award, which enabled him to pursue advanced clinical and research fellowship training in HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou, Taiwan—one of Asia’s busiest liver transplant centres. This allowed him to gain valuable experience managing complex liver cancer cases, especially in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis.

Upon returning to Singapore in 2011, Dr Tan was appointed Director of the HPB Service at Changi General Hospital—a leadership role he held for nine years. Under his guidance, the hospital established a full-fledged HPB unit and significantly expanded its capabilities in minimally invasive liver and pancreatic surgeries. While maintaining expertise in general procedures such as hernia repair, gastric surgery, and colorectal resections, Dr Tan’s clinical focus lies in providing precise and individualised care for patients with HPB diseases.

He is also a partner at Cancer Surgery International, a multidisciplinary collective of experienced surgeons offering evidence-based, collaborative care for complex cancer cases.

In addition to Cancer Surgery International, Dr Tan also consults at ICON Cancer Centre (Mount Alvernia). He is fully accredited to perform procedures at a range of hospitals including Mount Elizabeth Novena, Mount Elizabeth Orchard, Gleneagles, Mount Alvernia, and Farrer Park Hospital. This allows patients the flexibility to choose locations based on their preferences, insurance arrangements, or accessibility — particularly useful in light of recent insurer-related limitations at certain hospitals.

Dr Tan is known for his refined surgical technique, meticulous attention to detail, and collaborative approach to patient care. He works closely with a network of trusted specialists in oncology, gastroenterology, hepatology, and interventional radiology to ensure each patient receives optimal, comprehensive care. His core values—integrity, personalisation, and professional excellence—guide his surgical practice and patient relationships.

Passionate about education, Dr Tan has played a key role in shaping the next generation of surgeons. He has served as a Clinical Core Faculty Member and Program Evaluation Committee Member in the SingHealth General Surgery Residency Program. He is also a Clinical Teacher and Examiner at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS) and was awarded the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence for the 2008/2009 academic year. In recognition of his contributions to medical education, he was conferred the title of Adjunct Assistant Professor by Duke-NUS Medical School in 2019.

Dr Tan is fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, and Malay, allowing him to effectively communicate with a broad spectrum of patients and their families.