Dr Susan Lim

Dr Susan Lim (MBBS(Hons) 1979) established her reputation as a surgeon in 1990 after performing Singapore's first successful liver transplant.

Born in Singapore, Dr Lim came to Monash on a Colombo Plan scholarship in 1974 and graduated with first class honours in 1979.

In 1984 she became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and received the G B Ong Gold Medal for the most outstanding candidate in General Surgery. The following year Dr Lim was awarded a Sir Winston Churchill Scholarship to pursue a doctorate in Transplantation Immunology at the University of Cambridge.

She completed her PhD in 1988 and returned to Singapore in 1989.

Dr Lim went into private practice in 1995 focusing on transplantation, breast cancer, minimal access and robotic surgery.

In 2000 the Singapore community presented her with the Spirit of the Century award in recognition of personal excellence and her global achievements. She also had her hands immortalised at Madame Tussaud’s Exhibition.

In 2003 Dr Lim launched Stem Cell Technologies , a biotech company to research the use of Adult Stem Cells for application in cell therapy and regenerative medicine.

In 2004 the company worked with the National University of Singapore to research the use of Adult Stem Cells as a potential cure for diabetes.

In the same year she successfully pioneered the Robotic (Da Vinci) General Surgical program for Singapore.

In 2004 Dr Lim became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne - the youngest and first Singaporean to receive the honour.

In 2005 Monash University recognised Dr Lim with a Distinguished Alumni Award.

In 2008 the American Academy of Continuing Medical Education named its 28th Award The Dr Susan Lim Award in honour of Dr Lim's career, contribution and international achievements.

In 2011 Dr Lim was annouced as number three in The University of Newcastle's book 100 Women, which celebrates the achievements and challenges faced by 100 remarkable and inspirational women, both in Australia and globally.

Outside of medical practice, Dr Lim is a volunteer captain in the Singapore Armed Forces.

She is actively involved in charity work and established the Indiapore Trust with her husband to raise money for E-learning and children's education in information technology.

She also sits on the Global Advisory Council of the International Society for Stem Cell Research.