Dr Eugene Wuan

Dr Eugene Wuan is a psychiatrist with over twelve years of experience in the field. He obtained his medical degree from the National University of Singapore. As part of his specialist training, he has rotated through several public hospitals, including the Institute of Mental Health, the National University Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, and Changi General Hospital. He completed his postgraduate psychiatry qualification and is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (United Kingdom), and is an accredited psychiatrist with the Specialist Accreditation Board (Singapore).

 

He has spent his career as a specialist psychiatrist in the public sector serving in Changi General Hospital (CGH). As part of his clinical work, he has extensive experience treating psychiatric conditions including, but not limited to Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Psychotic Disorders, Adjustment Disorder, Stress, Burnout, Personality Disorders, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He has experience managing illnesses in adolescents, adults and the elderly.

 

He has held the title of Director of Psychiatric Inpatient Services in CGH for several years. As part of his work in the role, he has managed patients with severe mental illness requiring inpatient hospitalization, overseen the multidisciplinary ward team which includes doctors, nurses and occupational therapists, and helped formulate the ward processes, ensuring smooth operations of the ward even during the Covid-19 pandemic period.

 

He holds a special interest in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. As part of his inclination towards psychodynamic perspectives and values, he believes strongly that one’s intra and inter-personal struggles are often intertwined with his or her values, experiences, and relationships both past and present. Assessment and treatment of his patients would thus incorporate holistic exploration of their issues and experiences, understanding them as unique individuals beyond their diagnoses, and helping them gain self-understanding and work through their difficulties, apart from the prescription of medications.  Having served as an integral member of the Psychodynamic Team in CGH since he started working there, he has helped in setting up the Complex Needs Service, which treats patients with personality disorders and difficulties with individual and group psychotherapy. He has undergone training in ISTDP (Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy), a unique form of psychodynamic treatment that facilitates resolution of a broad spectrum of emotional disorders, as well as group psychotherapy training with the Institute of Group Analysis (IGA, UK). He has more than 7 years of experience in practicing individual and group psychodynamic psychotherapy, and continues to do so, both in Better Life, and as a Visiting Consultant with CGH. As part of this work, he has also served as a leader of Balint Groups for both Psychiatry trainees and for General Practitioners, which helps promote psychodynamic thinking in their interactions with patients. He has also published several papers on Balint Groups and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in peer-reviewed journals.

 

He has also been extensively involved in education of medical students, junior doctors, family medicine residents, Psychiatry trainees, and counsellors during his time in public service, having most recently held the academic titles of Clinical Senior Lecturer with NUS-YLL School of Medicine, Clinical Assistant Professor with Duke-NUS Medical School, and Physician Faculty Member for both the National Psychiatry Residency Program and the Family Medicine Residency Program in Singapore. He has also served as a Psychodynamic Faculty member with the national Psychiatry residency program, which oversees education of Psychiatry trainees in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. He has several years of experience in conducting supervision for trainees and psychologists in their practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy, and in providing clinical supervision for trauma counselors.

 

As part of his work in Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, he has developed an interest in Psycho-dermatology, and has co-helmed the Skin Support Clinic with his dermatologist colleagues, which assesses patients with co-existing dermatological and psychiatric conditions, for several years. He has also spearheaded initiatives to enhance training of inpatient nurses on common psychiatric conditions, as well as to train outpatient nurses to provide telephone support to patients in between their psychiatric appointments.

 

He also is a keen advocate for occupational mental wellness. He has co-chaired the CGH Workplace Safety and Health Focus Group against abuse of hospital staff, which comes up with and implements measures to reduce and deter physical, verbal and sexual abuse of CGH staff on a hospital-wide level, as well as to bolster psychological support measures for staff who have been victims of abuse. He has also served as an Employee Engagement Workgroup committee member, which looks into issues that have a bearing on staff morale and wellbeing on a hospital level.

 

He is fluent in English and Mandarin, and has conducted talks on mental health for hospital colleagues, general practitioners and the public. He has experience treating patients in both the local and international expatriate community.