Profile

Dr Koh Hong Yi is a Ministry of Health accredited Dermatologist, specializing in medical, surgical and aesthetic dermatology. He has more than 20 years of clinical experience and worked in various hospitals including the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National Skin Centre. Prior to private practice, Dr Koh was Consultant Dermatologist and Mohs Micrographic Surgeon at SGH and Adjunct Assistant Professor with Duke-NUS Medical School.

Key Clinical Interests:

• Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Reconstruction
• Dermatological Surgery (eg. cysts, skin growths)
• Skin Cancers and Cancer Screening

Dr Koh has special interests in:

• Skin cancer screening and dermatologic surgery (skin tumours, growths and cysts).

• Inflammatory and immune-related skin disorders (psoriasis, acne, allergy, eczema, urticaria).

• Biologics for severe skin disorders.

• Complex skin disorders in hospitalized patients and drug allergies.

Distinguished Career at Singapore General Hospital
During his practice in SGH, Dr Koh founded the SGH Mohs micrographic surgery service for high risk skin cancers and has performed close to 100 Mohs surgeries on skin cancers on the head and neck in a short span of 2 years. He runs the specialized Psoriasis clinic, and has extensive experience in use of the latest immunotherapy treatment (biologics). In the General Dermatology Clinic, Dr Koh also sees all types of skin, hair and nail disorders. He was also visiting consultant at the National Cancer Centre. Dr Koh participated avidly in research and has numerous publications and book chapters on skin infections, drug allergies and skin cancers. He has presented his research findings in major medical conferences such as the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) meetings. As a testament to his skills in skin surgery, Dr Koh has been invited to be train other dermatologists in skin and nail surgery.

Dr Koh Hong Yi’s Care for Patients and Accolades
Dr Koh believes in empathic listening to understand his patients’ needs, and providing personalized, up-to-date treatments. He is grateful for his patient’s numerous commendations, for which he received the Singhealth Service with a Heart Award on multiple years. He was also awarded the Singapore Health Quality Service Award (Gold) for improving the quality of service to his patients in SGH.

Academic Background and Training – Experience plus honors
Dr Koh graduated from National University of Singapore and was on the Dean’s List on multiple occasions. He received his Masters of Medicine (Internal Medicine) and Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (UK), and completed his specialist training in Dermatology in both the National Skin Centre and Singapore General Hospital. He was the top candidate in the dermatology specialist exit exam of his year, and received the Best Candidate award from the Chapter of Dermatology.
His passion for learning saw him completing two fellowships – the first in Photodermatology at St John’s Institute of Dermatology (London), and the second in Mohs micrographic surgery and Advanced dermatologic surgery in Ninewells Hospital (Dundee). Dr Koh also completed a professional diploma in Dermoscopy – a highly effective equipment used to diagnose skin tumours.

Gratitude and Contributions to Fellow Professionals and Society
Dr Koh believes firmly in giving back to the community which has nurtured him. He has been a regular volunteer at Renci nursing home (Bukit Batok), Assisi Hospice and Healthserve, providing skin care to the under-served members of our society. He was part of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)’s humanitarian contingent to Nias Island (Indonesia) after an earthquake, and received the SCDF Overseas Service Medal.
Dr Koh has a strong interest in nurturing the next generation of doctors. He was Core Faculty and Assistant Program Director to the national Dermatology Senior Residency program, and Clinical Tutor at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.
Dr Koh has been Honorary Secretary of the Chapter of Dermatology (Academy of Medicine Singapore), Executive Committee member of the Dermatological Society of Singapore, and Committee member of the Psoriasis Association of Singapore. He is also member of many renowned international societies including the American Society of Mohs Surgery, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, British Association of Dermatologists, British Society of Dermatologic Surgery, International Dermoscopy Society, European Association of Dermato-Oncology, and the Singapore Medical Association.

Features in Media
Dr Koh has been interviewed live on FM93.8 with Daniel Martin, and invited to speak on skin health in numerous public forums such as the SPH Zaobao LOHAS Megahealth Seminar 2014 and World Skin Health Day public forum 2019. He has also written health articles for Straits Times and Ezyhealth.