Edward Poon
Profile
Biography
Dr Edward Poon is an Associate Professor (Nursing) of Singapore Institute of Technology under Health and Social Science Cluster. He is also the Deputy Cluster Director of Health and Social Science, and the Deputy Programme Lead for the Bachelor of Science Nursing-Master Science Nursing and the Chairperson of the Singapore Palliative Care Nurses Chapter under Singapore Nurses Association.
Associate Professor Edward is a registered nurse in general and holds Infection Control Certificate from University of HongKong, Advanced Certificate in Learning and Performance V 2.0 from Institute for Adult Learning Singapore , Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Neuroscience) from Nanyang Polytechnic, Master of Science in Palliative Care from King’s College London and his PhD from Monash University under the supervisor of Margaret O Connor. He is the internation trainer for End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) from American Association College of Nursing
He started his nursing career in the 1980s at the restructured hospital and later ventured out working overseas. In 1999, he took up the position of the Director of Nursing at Dover Park Hospice and later the Joint Director of Nursing of both Dover Park Hospice and HCA Hospice Care, helping them to build the psychosocial skills and staff support. He has setup the caregiver training centre and programme to teach and support the caregiver who was managing loved one with end of life issues. He then moved to Ang Mio Kio-Thye Hua Kwan Hospital to take on the Chief Nurse position, where he setup the palliative care team and the transitional home care team. Dr Edward Poon is known expert in palliative care, he also conducts research on psychosocial support in the hospice and makes changes with the results finding. In 2019, he took up the position as a Director Nursing and later promote to Chief Nurse at St Luke's Elder Care, where he helped to setup the nursing home and the nursing services . He also set up the palliative care team at the nursing home.
In terms of academic experience, he was appointed as the Adjunct Assistant Professor of Singapore National University and later to Adjunct Associate Professor, Alice Lee Centre of Nursing Studies to teach palliative care . In 2024 , he was appointment by Tzu Chi Hospital, Taiwan as a visiting professor and NUHS as the adjunct Principal Nurse Educator. He is the trainer for palliative care under GeriCare by NHG Population Health.
He sat at various committee such as National Strategy Palliative Care 2012, 2023, Chairperson Palliative Care Nursing Competency Framework Taskforce, Chairperson of Palliative Care Care Chapter , Chairperson of the AIC Quality Measures Nursing Home Workgroup , Member of the HUSA for Community Care and Member of the ACP training and development workgroup in developing national standards and competencies in palliative care and aged care & palliative nursing. Presently he is the member of the Medifund Committe of Lions Home for the Elders and the Chair of the clinical & continuing education committe (CCEC) .
His research programme, mainly focusing on palliative care, aged care and chronic diseases focusing on support of caregivers, has revealed his clinical experience, passion, and enthusiasm in both general and palliative care nursing.
His strength-oriented humanistic-existential model based on the combines humanistic and existential theories to emphasize a person's free will, self-determination, and search for meaning has shown significant impacts/benefits on the psychosocial well-being of both staff, patients and caregivers. This has lead to adopt the model at the community hospital and nursing homes.
Moreover, Associate Professor Edward Poon has secured over S$5 million in research funding from a variety of research grants, such as MOH Project Grants, CST Grants and AIC Grants. Association Professor Edward Poon has secured at least S$48 millions from MOH for setting up nursing homes and palliative care services. He has been invited to be the consultant of St John Home for the elderly person to transit to a MOH nursing home.
As an educator, Associate Professor Edward Poon views research and teaching as a dynamic and intellectual knowledge generation and transfer process to exert positive effects on local and global nursing education, evidence-based practice, and people’s health and well-being. His experience and accomplishments in curriculum development and teaching are recognised by local institutions and governmental and professional organisations. He has been invited to be the Visiting Professor of Tzu Chi Hospital in 2024 &2025 to help setting up the Entrustable Professional Activities and developed the Person Centered Care nursing at the hospital. He is the International Panel of Advisor of Racheal House Indonesia where he developed training programme and conducting palliative home nursing ensuring that children living with life-threatening conditions such as cancer and HIV AIDS are given the best quality of care in a holistic manner to add life to their remaining days. Providing support and assistance to the family and caregivers, and building the capacity of the community members and healthcare professionals has become a critical component to ensure that this goal is achieved. A seed planted in 2006, to date staffs at Rachel House has nursed 1381 children, supported 4143 family members, trained 6915 healthcare professionals and 2967 community health workers.
He contributed to the aged care development at Thailand (Bangkok) , trained at least 100 nurses in the train the trainer programme in palliative care and China at least 500 staffs in aged care.
In 2002, he was awarded the Hospice Nurses Award. He was nominated for Princess Srinagarindra Award in 2020 and 2023 . In 2023, he and his team won the 11th ElderCare Innovation Award – Caregiver Model Category on SLEC CommCare Academy – Imparting Wound Care Knowledge and Competency for the Sector
In 2004, he was awarded the President Nurses Award and the Healthcare Humanity award. In 2025 he was awarded, SUSS Teaching Awards 2025.
His research orcid :https//orcid.org/0000-0001-5213-4340
SIT Appointments
- Associate Adult Educator– Present
- Deputy Cluster Director– Present
- Deputy Program Leader (Nursing BSN)– Present
Education
- ACLP 2.0IAL ,
- PhDMonash University , Australia
- MSc Palliative CareKing’s College London , United Kingdom
- Bachelor of Health ScienceUniversity of Sydney , Australia
- Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Neuroscience)Nangyang Polytechnic , Singapore
- Certificate in Infection ControlUniversity of HongKong , Hong Kong SAR China
Achievements
- SUSS Teaching Award 2025
- President Nurses Award–
- Health Care Humanity Award–
Professional Certification
- Singapore Nursing BoardSingapore
Professional Memberships
- Singapore Nurses Association– Present
- Palliative Care Nurses Chapter–
- Member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing(Singapore)–
Corporate Experience
- Academic ConsultantPresent
- Chair HNF CCEC ( Clinical Continuing Education Committee )Present
- Co-opt Board MemberPresent
- Adj Principal Nurse Educator, NUHSPresent
- APPOINTMENT TO THE NURSING HOME & INPATIENT PALLIATIVE CARE STANDARDS REVIEW COMMITTEEPresent
- St John's Home for the Elderly– Present
- Member of Medifund CommitteePresent
- AUTHORISATION TO ASSIST IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES ACT 2020
- Visiting Professor to Tzu Chi Hospital Hualien–
- Chief Nurse, St Lukes Eldercare and St Luke's resienc–
- Chief Nurse , Ang Mo Kio-Thye Hu Kwan Hospital–
- Director Nursing, Dover Park Hospice–
- Assistant Administrator, Lions Home for the Elder–
- Infection Control Officer- St Andrew's Community Hospital–
Research
Research Interests
- Palliative Care
- Education
- Qualitative Research & Innovation
- Management
- Communication
- Loss and Grief and Psychosocial issue
- Caregiver support
- Spirituality & Existentialism
- Phenomenology
- AI & Technology in Palliative Care
Current Projects
- Reconciling spiritual needs of elderly Malay/Muslim patients: Creating a Muslim-friendly healthcare environment.($83,450)(applying to Lien Foundation)– Present
- Evaluation of the support systems for caregivers of cancer patients and caregiver activation.Getting grant$187,000– Present
- Reconciling spiritual needs of elderly Malay/Muslim patients: Creating a Muslim-friendly healthcare environment.($83,450)(applying)– Present
- Evaluation of the support systems for caregivers of cancer patients and caregiver activation.(Applying Cancer Grant $187,000) (PI) (not successful)– Present
- 2025- SIT Seed Grant on Exploring the role of intelligent machine applications in stimulating difficult conversation training for nurses in palliative settings –( SIT grant- $150,000 )– Present
- Design of an automated diabetic neuropathy foot screening device.– Present
- Validating EPAs of AMasters of Health Sciences in Rehabilitation Nursing Work-Study Programme in Singapore– Present
- Transforming postgraduate nursing education: understanding Work-Study Models for Enhanced Clinical Training and upskilling of nursing workforce– Present
- Cancer caregivers’ support in Singapore – challenges and solution– Present
- Automated diabetic foot screening device– Present
- Advance Care Planning in patients with multimorbidity: Nurses Role and Perspective– Present
- Survey of end-of-life experiences of patients among Singapore healthcare professionals in different clinical settings– Present
- Transforming a shelter home to a nursing home at St John Nursing Home $1.2 million– Present
- Impact of a wearable artifical kidney on quality of life in patients with end stage renal disease– Present
- Effective of empowrent strategies improve palliative care patient outcomes and caregiver burden– Present
- Effective of Advance Care Planning among palliative patients in reducing nurses workload– Present
- Adherence to haemodialysis sessions and its impact on quality of life– Present
- Adherence to haemodialysis sessions and its impact on quality of life– Present
- Exploring colorectal cancer patient experiences and challenges with stoma bag– Present
- Among caregivers of pediatric patients receiving palliative care, how does home based care compared to hospital based care impact their quality of life.– Present
- Death Cafe– Present
- Discussion on end-of-life experiences (ELE) of patients among Singapore healthcare professionals in different clinical settings– Present
- Project IMPACT: Intelligent Machine Application to Simulate difficult Conversation Training -Award $150,000– Present
- MEC Capstone Project(AY24/25). Design of an automated diabetic neuropathy foot screening device.– Present
Past Projects
- Exploring ICU nurses'knowledge, confidence and challenges in initiating organ donation conversations with families (Kang Xi )–
- Impact of Spiritual Interventions on patients Receiving Palliative Care–
- Effectiveness of music therapy for terminally ill patients undergoing end of life care–
- Assessment of transition readiness in adolescent and young adult (AYA) liver transplant recipients and the clinician's perspectives within an Asian (Pamela’s Work)–
- Impact on Quality of Life (QoL) of Caregivers of Patients Receiving Hemodialysis Treatment–
- The lived experience of women practising spirituality to cope with breast cancer–
- comparative Study on the effectiveness of end-of-life care training for general ward nurses–
- Exploring family members’ perceptions of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) decision-making for terminally ill patients in Singapore–
- Effectiveness of Acupressure in Reducing Treatment-Related Side Effects Among Oncology Patients–
- Exploration of nurse-led education on reducing anxiety in adult cancer patients aged above 21 before their first chemotherapy session–
- Exploring family members’ perceptions, and emotional distress when a loved one undergoes palliative sedation at end-of-life–
- Survey of End-of-Life Experiences of Patients Among Singapore Healthcare Professionals in Different Clinical Settings-–
- Exploring the resilience of registered nurses on the acute hospital when caring for oncology palliative patients–
- Nurses perspectives on the factors hindering and supporting the integration of palliative care in the emergency department–
- what are the ethical deliemmas faced by healthcare providers in the context of palliative care and how dothey nagivate these challenges?–
- Integrated Home Health–
2023- Tote Board Project on Integrated Home Health- $1,150,909
- Development of Live Lab–
2023- Development of Live Lab at SLEC $500,000
- Explore the understanding of spirituality among palliative care patients in acute settings in Singapore–
- examine the effectiveness of the SAGE and THYME model in improving communication among newly graduated palliative care nurses–
- Exploring effectiveness of mindfulness meditation in reducing burnout for palliative care nurses–
- Understand attitudes and perceptions of final year nursing students toward palliative care nursing.–
- The effectiveness of massage therapy to reduce pain amongst cancer patients in hospice in Singapore.–
- Evaluating the effectiveness of the Balint approach to reduce burnout among emergency department registered nurse working during pandemic outbreak in Singapore–
- The accuracy of self swabbing as an alternative approach for the current panademic in Singapore Covid -19–
- Set up learning hub at SLEC and LI of AIC–
2020- Set up learning hub at SLEC and LI of AIC - $220,000
- Exploring palliative care in general ward–
- Exploring the understanding of intensive care nurses in managing patients requiring palliative care.–
- Experiences of nurses delivering palliative care at nursing home.–
- Understanding psychiatric patients, experience of being physically restrained in the psychiatric unit in Singapore.–
- Developing an educational programme for nurses working across healthcare settings on the use of restraints for adults.–
- Setting up of AIC learning Centre at SLEC–
2018 - Setting up of AIC learning Centre at SLEC- ($200,000)
- Experience of registered nurses conducting early mobilization of patients after general surgery–
- What are the experiences of nurses using the eMAR in the ward settings–
- What is the perception of older Chinese Singaporean towards palliative care–
- A qualitative descriptive study on the experience of younger supervisors and older nurses.”–
- Exploring the lived experience of Chinese family caregivers caring for end of life cancer patients at home: A phenomenological study in Singapore.–
- A change proposal: A nurse led support group for caregivers of patients with advanced dementia in a community care setting”–
- A qualitative study on the experiences of and expectations from compassion fatigue among nurses in a community hospital in Singapore.”–
- A qualitative study on dignity amongst nurses caring for older people in community hospital.”–
- A Stress Management Education Programme to reduce burnout in Singaporean registered nurses in Intensive Care Unit- A change proposal–
- Implementation of a nurse led heart failure clinic : A change proposal to reduce re-hospitalization rates in Singapore.–
- A change proposal on implementing bedside handover to support patient- centred care in acute hospital settings.”–
- Foreign Workers Caregivers Training Programme–
2015 - Foreign Workers CaregiversTraining Programme.(Project :- $50,366)
- The descriptive study of patient with scaral sore.–
- Developing an end of life care teaching programme for staff caring for patients with advanced dementia in nursing home.–
- A Descriptive qualitative study on nurses’ view of their work in a local nurse led unit in a community hospital”–
- Patient & Caregiver Empowerment & Disease Prevention–
2014 - TE001 AMK-THKH - Patient & Cg Empowerment & Disease Prevention. Grant $148,086 for 2 years(Project)
- Community Hospital Respiratory Support Service–
2014 - Tote board Community Hospital Respiratory Support Service $877419.50(2 years)
- Community Health Centre Project–
- Community Health Centre Project ( $887000)
- Use of phone apps in improving nursing service at ER.–
- Evaluation of the nursing meditation program on community nurses stress.–
- Coping strategies of family caregivers caring for elderly with stroke at home in Singapore. A qualitative study.–
- Attitude of nurses towards palliative care:an exploratory study in Singapore–
Attitudes of nurses towards palliative care: an exploratory study in Singapore. Grant $19350
- Last Office: Developing an evidence based for practice–
Last offices: developing an evidence base for practice’. Grant $66795
- The experience of Singapore Living with Congestive Cardiac Failure condition and their self-management–
2011- The experience of Singapore Living with Congestive Cardiac Failure condition and their self-management.(MOH grants $9500)
- Experience of older Singaporean Chinese women living with chronic conditions and their self management strategies–
- The Singapore Palliative Care Project–
2006 - The Singapore Palliative Care Project-Grant $332227.00
Publication
Journal Papers
2026- Dietary Behaviour Changes Occur in Informal Caregivers but not Stroke Survivors After a Community Programme: A Prospective Observational Pilot Study. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
Exploring the lived experience of Chinese family caregivers caring for end-of-life cancer patients at home: a phenomenological study in Singapore
Edward Poon, Seng Hock Martin Ang & Sheena Ramazanu. (2023). Community based end of life care in Singapore and nursing care implications for older adults in post COVID -19 world. Current Opinion Supportive Palliative Care,Sep 1;17(3): 219-223.doi: 10.1097/SPC.0000000000000662. Epub 2023 Jun 27
Tham X C, Vanessa Phua ,J X,Evelyn Ho, Y,Yang T T,Nicole Chen,YC,Mabel Lepw,QH,Seah,XY,Vivien Wu Xi,Zhou WT & Edward Poon,WH. Train-Your-Brain Program for Informal Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: A Pilot Community-Based Cognitive Intervention Study to Promote Healthy Dietary Behaviors and Social Participation.Preprints,1020944
Vivian C BARRERA, Wing Hong Poon Edward, Shiela P Arroyo, Theik Di Oo, Zay Yar Aung and SC Lim. Nurses’ Perspective on Using iPads as Part of Person Centered Care in an Acute Hospital Setting. Arch Neurol & Neurosci. 13(3): 2022. ANN.MS.ID.000811. DOI: 10.33552/ANN.2022.13.000811
Noorhazlina Ali , Philomena Anthony , Wee Shiong Lim , Mei Sian Chong , Edward Poon Wing Hong , Vicki Drury and Mark Chan .(2021). Exploring Differential Perceptions and Barriers to Advance Care Planning in Dementia among Asian Patient–Caregiver Dyads—A Mixed-Methods Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18, 7150. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137150
Suryadi,L, Ricky,S. Yenna,T. & Poon W.H. (2019). Integrating palliative care to improve the care of children living with HIV in Indonesia. Progress in Palliative Care, 27(4): 147- 153.
Lim S.C , Adrian Koh J.H. & Poon .W.H.(2017). Electronic display board in operating theatres for easy patient identification. BMJ Open Quality , 6 : 1 – 6.
Lim S.C & Poon .W.H.(2016). Restraint Use in the management f the elderly with dementia in hospital. Internal Medicine Research; 1(2): 1-4
Lim S.C & Poon .W.H.(2016). Restraint Use in the management f the elderly with dementia in hospital. Internal Medicine Research; 1(2): 1-4
Diana Chan,H,K & Poon,WH.(2015). To explore the factors affecting the patient’s choice of treatment for osteoporosis in a community hospital in Singapore. Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO15), May 19-22,2015 in Washington, DC
Diana Chan,H,K & Poon,WH.(2015). To explore the factors affecting the patient’s choice of treatment for osteoporosis in a community hospital in Singapore. Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO15), May 19-22,2015 in Washington, DC
O’Connor, Poon W.H.’ Hsu .C.Y.(2015). The complexities of communicating palliative care in Chinese based language.Progress palliative care:23(2):85-87.
O’Connor, M; Beattie, J; Poon,WH; McKechnie, R; Lee, Kkeow. (2014) End-of-life care needs of people dying from stroke in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore: A space for palliative care. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2014: 35-44
Poon, WH,O Connor,M, Chow, YL & Premarani, K(2012) The lived experience of older Chinese Singaporean with life threatening illness in a inpatient hospice. Progress in Palliative Care;20(1):19-25.
Joyce Yee HA,Chow, YL & Poon,WH.(2013). Literature review: coping strategies of family caregivers caring for stroke survivors.Singapore Nursing Journal;40(2):19-27
Maria Huibing Lim ,Chow, YL & Poon,WH.(2013). Evaluation of meditation programs utilised by nurses to reduce stress:A literature review.Singapore Nursing Journal;40(3):11-20.
Payne,S., Chan,N., Davies,D., Poon,E., Connor,S. & Goh,G. (2012). Supportive, palliative , and end of life care for patients with cancer in Asia: resource- stratified guidelines from Asian Oncology Summit 2012. Lancet oncology; 13:492-500.Impact factor 22
Chan,Tuck Wai, Poon, Wing Hong & Desley Hegney.(2011) What Nurses need to know about Buddhist perspectives of end of life care and dying .Progress in Palliative Care;19(2):1-5.
Tay, Z. R., Poon,W.H and Hegney.D.J. (2011) “A qualitative systematic review on the experiences of self-management in community-dwelling older women living with chronic illnesses.” JBI Library of Systematic Reviews 9 (62): 2778-2828
Chong, PH & Poon, WH (2010) The lived experience of Palliative Care Home Care Nurse in Singapore. Singapore Medical Journal;15(3):151-157.
O'Connor, M., O'Brien, A., Griffiths, D., Poon, E., Chin, J., Payne, S. & Nordin, R. (2010). What is the meaning of palliative care in the Asia- Pacific Region? Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology. Published on-line July 23, 2010. Impact Factor 0.232.
Mabel Leow, Vicki, D, Poon, WH. (2010) A qualitative exploration of patients’ experiences of music therapy in an inpatient hospice in Singapore. International Journal of Palliative Nursing ;16(7):344-350.
Poon, WH & O’ Connor,M (2009) Development of Palliative Care in Singapore: An Overview. Singapore Nursing Journal; 36(3): 48-56
Poon WH (2008) Palliative Care Nurses Chapter.Singapore Nursing Journal;35(4):34-35.
Poon, WH,O Connor,M, Chow, YL & Premarani, K(2008) Palliative Care Nursing Education in Singapore(1999-2008). Singapore Nursing Journal;35(4):5-8.
Poon, WH.(2006)An evaluation of the effectiveness of the palliative care foundation course. Journal of Palliative Care;22(3):234-235.
Lang,SP,Poon, WH,Kamala,D &Emily, Ang,NK.(2006)Patient’s experience of Spirituality care:A phenomenological Approach. Singapore Nursing Journal.33 (3):42-47.
Sarojini,P,Mak,SF,Choo,CP,Ting,TN & Poon, WH(2005) Exploration of Mynamar nursing working at an inpatient hospice in Singapore,Singapore Nursing Journal,32(3);44-50.
Poon, WH.(2001) Palliative management of fungating wound, Singapore Nursing Journal 28(2) 4-7
Poon, WH.(2001) Palliative management of fungating wound, Singapore Nursing Journal 28(2) 4-7
Poon, WH (2000) Palliative Nursing in Singapore, Singapore Nursing Journal. 27(4) 5-6
Athi, L,M & Poon,WH(2000)Infection control in long term care facility,
Singapore Nursing Journal. 27(1) 16-17
Conferences
2026- Tzu Chi International Conference
2026- SPCC. Speaker for Medical Humanities in palliaitve care for learners and staff
2025- Workshop on development of Palliaitve Care Nursing EPA
2024- Keynote Speaker for the Caregiver Week by the Compassionate Network on Mental wellness to caregiver
2024- Speakerof the international conference of holistic: Person Directed Care. Taiwan
2024- Keynote Speaker of the International and National Nursing Conference 2024, Nursing Innovation and Global Health for Wellness Toward Sustainable Development on Nursing Innovation for Long Term Care by Christian University of Thailand
2024- Speaker of the SHC Multidisciplinary Palliative Care Seminar : Exploring the lived experience of Chinese family caregivers caring for end of life cancer patients at home: A phenomenological study.
2024- SIT Professor for A Day :”Preparing the New Ageing Facilities for the Future “.
2023- Keynote speaker at International Health Conference Taiwan
2021- Speaker at the 7th Singapore Palliative Care Conference
2021- Speaker at Asia Continence Nursing Congress 2021
Books
2023- National Strategy for Palliative Care Report
2023- Palliative Care Nursing Competency Framework
2022- Advance Care Planning and End of Life Study Guide
2012- The National Strategy for Palliative Care
2012- Living well with Heart Failure Self Management Program- Participant’s Workbook. ISBN:978-981-07-3654-5
2012- Living well with Heart Failure Self Management Program- Facilitator Workbook.
2010-The Experience of Music Therapy in the Hospice.
Teaching
Teaching Modules
Nursing, BSc (Hons)
- NUR1011 - Intermediate and Long Term Care
- NUR2801 - Honours Thesis
- NUR3003 - Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
- HSC4008 - Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Past
- qualitative research
- Evidence based care
- Teaching and Learning
- Innovation