Dr Kwan Yunxin

Dr Kwan Yunxin is a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist who has almost 20 years of experience in Psychiatry. She has extensive experience in managing a wide range of mental health conditions, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders and psychosis. Her special interests are in Psychosocial Oncology, Palliative Psychiatry, caregiver stress and grief.

 

Dr Kwan obtained her medical degree (MBBS) and Master of Medicine (Psychiatry) degree from National University of Singapore (NUS). During her Psychiatry specialist training in Singapore, she trained in various restructured hospitals including the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Kandang Kerbau Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKWCH) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Dr Kwan received the Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) award in 2013 to further her training in Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Psychiatry at Memorial Slone-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto.

 

Dr Kwan was a senior consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), where she honed her skills in General and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. She is well versed in caring for patients with depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, posttraumatic stress, and dementia, as well as in conducting assessments such as capacity assessments and Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

 

Dr Kwan worked closely with the Palliative Medicine Department in TTSH and Dover Park Hospice to provide psychological care for patients with terminal illnesses and their caregivers. Dr Kwan is passionate about caring for patients experiencing cancer, terminal illnesses and chronic illnesses and their caregivers. She understands the physical, mental and emotional struggles these patients and their caregivers face in their journey. Her training in Meaning-Centered Therapy, Dignity Therapy and grief therapy helps her in caring for these patients and their caregivers. She is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). She was an Advanced Care Planning (ACP) Champion and part of the Joint Oncology Innovation Taskforce (JOINT) committee in TTSH. She has written chapters in the Bedside Palliative Medicine Handbook and the Bedside Communication Handbook.

 

Dr Kwan is committed to teaching doctors how to provide psycho-emotional care for their patients. She teaches regularly at the Singapore Hospice Council (SHC) Postgraduate Course in Palliative Medicine, Graduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine and Graduate Diploma in Mental Health. She was a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Yong Loo Lin (YLL) School of Medicine, NUS and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU. She has received the NUS Medicine Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence and the YLL Certificate of Commendation for being a Role Model.

 

Dr Kwan is fluent in English and Mandarin and conversant in Hokkien and Cantonese. She is known to be gentle and friendly to her patients. When she is not at work, she enjoys caring for her 3 energetic sons. Over the years, her sons have taught her to be even more patient, empathetic and compassionate.