19 | | NOVEMBER 2026What has been one of your most challeng-ing professional experiences, and how did you handle it?One of the most difficult situations in my professional life was treating a baby girl who was born with an unexpected severe malformation of the spinal cord, which meant that she would likely be paralysed. There was tremendous anguish and grief - the parents 'rejected' her and did not even give her a name !I was forced to operate on the baby the following day, to repair and reconstruct the spinal cord, but the neurological deficits could not be completely reversed. My focus, after the surgery, was to get her parents to accept and love her, despite her 'imperfections'. Such situations demand compassion and empathy, more than technical expertise, always keeping an eye on the 'long game'. Thankfully, on the 2nd day after surgery, her parents named her 'Joy'.Which developments will shape the future of neurosurgery, and what skills will fu-ture neurosurgeons need?Many of the developments shaping neurosurgery today focus largely on advanced diagnostics, minimally invasive surgical instruments and brain-computer interface, driven by the IT and computer industry. Laboratory scientists are making huge strides in 'Molecular Medicine' and methods of 'Precision Medicine' treatment which can manipulate the DNA of cells. Looking ahead, I forsee that the momentum of society will push artificial intelligence and robotics to the forefront of medical practice, similar to their impact on cars and manufacturing. Neurosurgery requires these technologies to enhance surgical precision, support clinical decisions, and expand treatment modalities. However, future Neurosurgeons must retain the 'art of healing' which is beyond a machine. Certainly, the brain (human or artificial) matters, but even more so, the heart and soul behind every decision.What are your future priorities for Inter-national Neuro Associates and your own professional journey?My next priority is to establish 'Geriatric Neuro-surgery' as a distinct subspecialty. As populations age, societies now require neurosurgical care that addresses the specific and unique needs of the old-er adult, similar to the realization in the 1990's that children were not 'small adults'. Issues such as mul-tiple medical conditions, poor mobility, spine and joint degeneration, and diminishing cognition, are pre-eminent. Having undertaken Paediatric Neurosurgery fellowship training in 1997, I was among the first neurosurgeons in Singapore to pursue this subspecialisation. I now hope to help steer society towards developing Geriatric Neurosurgery. For me, advancing neurosurgery means starting with research and observations, then laboratory work, and finally clinical trials, always ensuring that the patient's well-being is the priority
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