Outstanding Service Award

Professor LIM Siew Ming, Arthur

Department of Ophthalmology

The Outstanding Service Award is awarded to Prof Lim in recognition of his unflagging efforts to advance the cause of tertiary education and research in Singapore through active fund-raising.

As an ophthalmologist and philanthropist, Prof Lim's reputation precedes him. What places him a cut above the best is how he has put his talents and success into the active service of community and humanity. For Prof Lim, compassion expressed in the mere issuance of a cheque donation is never good enough. He channels it into actions that contribute most effectively to society.

Leading by example, he has been remarkably effective as a fund-raiser in appealing to the generosity of others. Under his Chairmanship of the Universities Endowment Fund, $60 million was raised, far surpassing the original target of $50 million. As Campaign Chairman of the NUS Endowment Fund, he defines alumni volunteerism with his tireless energy and commitment. The fund presently stands at $128.4 million.

As an educator, he has placed Asian ophthalmology on the world map. His book The Colour Atlas of Ophthalmology is into its fourth English edition and has been translated into eight languages. As a practitioner, he gave freely of his time and expertise to be the founding director of the Singapore National Eye Centre, and to place it in the same league as the world's best. The same generosity and professionalism expended to counteract mass cataract blindness in China was recognised by the Chinese government.

Prof Lim dedicates the award to future generations of NUS graduates, and hopes that they will build a civil society where compassion and care for the less fortunate run parallel with economic and professional success. As a distinguished NUS alumnus, he has set the benchmark for those who follow.