Behind the Mic with Matthew Chua: Driving Digital & Smart Health Innovation at National Healthcare Group

Associate Professor Matthew Chua is the winner of the prestigious Global Excellence Award 2024, as a distinguished leader in the field of AI and technological innovation in healthcare internationally. He is currently the Deputy Director of the Digital and Smart Health Office, Ng Teng Fong Centre for Healthcare Innovation, National Healthcare Group. Matthew is also currently an Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics at NUS School of Medicine. He has also won data science competitions at the national level, clinching 3rd place for the Data VIZard at the Data Arcade Tournament 2022. He has also won the prestigious MINDEF Exemplary Innovator Award for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. At NUS, Matthew drives the research and lectures on AI and Tech for the advancement of Medicine Health. He has won prestigious research grants, amounting to more than S$8 million, from the Ministry of Health, SG Enable, and internationally. He has also published more than 45 papers in prestigious peer-reviewed international journals, many of which are in Q1 tier journals, and is widely cited.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Matthew Chua, who shared valuable insights into his work in digital and smart health. Here are his thoughtful responses.

Q1. What inspired your journey into digital health, and what key steps did you take to establish yourself in this field?

My journey into digital health was inspired by the belief that technology, when thoughtfully applied, can be a powerful enabler of better care. Coming from an academic background in NUS that bridges engineering and healthcare, I was always drawn to solving real-world problems that matter. Early in my career, I focused on research in medical imaging and AI, which evolved into larger-scale digital transformation efforts. Over time, I’ve mentored and built multidisciplinary teams, contributed to policy formulation, and driven the adoption of technologies that align with the larger organisational needs. Establishing myself in this field meant continuously learning, collaborating widely, and staying grounded.

Q2. Can you share some key initiatives you've led that have accelerated digital transformation within your healthcare ecosystem?

One key initiative that my office recently launched is the Digital Innovation Studio. Innovation in public healthcare is painful due to tight governance, long processes and high costs. By creating a safe and facilitated sandbox environment, coupled with innovation and tech expertise to guide, we have innately built a platform for innovation and growth to help innovators translate their ideas to reality with much more ease.

Q3. How do you see technologies like AI, IoT, and digital twins shaping the future of smart health?

These technologies are foundational to the future of smart health. AI enables early detection and decision support, IoT provides continuous, real-time patient monitoring, and digital twins offer dynamic simulation models of individual patients or entire hospital systems. When integrated, they can shift care from reactive to predictive, and from episodic to continuous. The real opportunity lies in orchestrating these technologies meaningfully across the care continuum while keeping the human touch at the center.

Q4. In what ways has patient feedback influenced the design or evolution of your digital health programs?

Patient feedback is a core part of our design process. For example, when we launched our mobile health platform, early users shared insights on accessibility and language preferences, which led us to improve interface design and content localisation. We also run regular focus groups and co-design sessions with patients and caregivers to ensure our digital services are not only functional but meaningful and usable to those who need them most.

Q5. How do you foster collaboration between clinical, technical, and administrative teams in digital health initiatives?

We create multidisciplinary squads for each major initiative, ensuring diverse perspectives are present from the start. We also run joint workshops and hackathons that surface unmet needs and co-create solutions. Communication is key—so we use shared metrics, common language, and regular check-ins to keep everyone aligned. Our role in the Digital Innovation Office is often to serve as translators and facilitators across domains.

Q6. How do you stay informed about the latest trends and developments in the digital health space, and how do you adapt your approach to stay ahead of industry changes?

I stay connected through a mix of academic research, industry conferences, and global collaborations. I also learn a lot from our internal ecosystem—our clinicians, engineers, and partners constantly bring new ideas to the table. To stay ahead, me and my team maintain an innovation sandbox, Digital Innovation Studio, where new technologies can be tested rapidly and safely, and we regularly review our strategy to ensure alignment with emerging trends and policy shifts.

Conclusion

Matthew Chua’s insights offer a compelling look into the transformative potential of digital health when driven by purpose, collaboration, and innovation. From fostering multidisciplinary teamwork to launching agile platforms like the Digital Innovation Studio, his approach exemplifies how strategic leadership and a patient-centered mindset can accelerate meaningful change in healthcare. As technologies like AI continue to reshape the landscape, Matthew’s vision reinforces the importance of harmonizing tech advancement with human-centered care. His journey is not just a roadmap for digital health leaders but a reminder that impactful innovation always begins with empathy, curiosity, and a commitment to better outcomes.

“The above insights shared by Matthew offer a powerful perspective on driving digital innovation in healthcare. Stay tuned for more expert conversations in our upcoming Behind the Mic editions!”