A Lifetime’s Passion and Dedication: Emeritus Consultant Assoc Prof Ding Zee Pin

By Belinda Lim

3/27/2025 10:38:00 AM | Stories from the Heart (NHCS)

The article is contributed/written by

At the start of her career some four decades ago, Assoc Prof Ding shared that the key fields in cardiology were primarily echocardiography, cardiac catheterisation, and permanent pacemaker implantation. Picking her career path was easy - having set her mind on imaging, echocardiography became the obvious choice. Little did she know that the only imaging modality available then would become her lifetime’s passion.

In 1999, Assoc Prof Ding became the first Director of Echocardiology at NHCS. For nearly two decades, she helmed the department, and trained and built several generations of echocardiographers and cardiac technicians. She also embraced advances in imaging such as transoesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), 3D echocardiography, contrast echocardiography and stress imaging which helped to significantly improve treatment of cardiac patients. Even as she stepped into her current role as the Advisor of Echocardiography, Assoc Prof Ding never rested on her laurels, choosing a continuous pursuit of learning and teaching.

Mentoring is the greatest investment

Well-known to be a dedicated teacher, Assoc Prof Ding has committed hours of bedside teaching to students from Duke-NUS Medical School and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. She believes that investing in mentorship gives great returns, emphasising that it is crucial for the next generation to receive thorough training to uphold high standards of care. To Assoc Prof Ding, having skilled and well-equipped staff not only ensures consistent quality service for patients but also enhances the team's productivity and morale.

“To teach effectively, one must completely understand the subject, making the learning process a two-way experience,” shares Assoc Prof Ding who added that she often finds herself challenged by simple yet thought-provoking questions from mentees. “They keep me on my toes!”

One of her greatest wishes is to have an entire team of well-trained staff so that the Cardiac Laboratory where echocardiography is performed, maintains its reputation for producing excellent and accurate images and reports.

“I do not pick and choose who to train - everyone in the laboratory deserves to receive proper training. However, it is difficult to provide hands-on guidance to everyone. Therefore, I focus on training a core group of dedicated staff who can then help mentor others,” shares the veteran. She added that echocardiography is highly operator-dependent, requiring precision in image acquisition and measurements, “I look for individuals who are dedicated, meticulous, and a little obsessive about accuracy - those who strive to be the best!

Her deep passion for the field led her to co-found the Chapter of Echocardiography, part of the Singapore Cardiac Society, in 2018, alongside Prof Ling Lieng His from the National University Hospital, a fellow veteran and friend. Since its establishment, the Chapter has organised quarterly teaching programmes involving sonographers and cardiologists, as well as annual conferences that attract participants from across the region.

What it takes to be an Echocardiologist

“Aspiring echocardiologists must be dedicated, passionate and committed to excellence,” Assoc Ding emphasised.

Sharing that echocardiography is a holistic imaging modality that provides accurate structural and hemodynamic data, comprehensive cardiac assessment, is radiation-free and cost-effective, all while being portable, Assoc Prof Ding said that these mean clinicians can obtain instant, valuable information, hence making echocardiography a versatile and essential tool in cardiology. She enthused that for younger colleagues seeking more excitement, there are also opportunities to engage in structural heart imaging and be part of the intervention team.

In the impending future, artificial intelligence (AI) will play an increasingly significant role in training staff, particularly in image acquisition and measurements where automation will reduce variability and help complete studies and reports more efficiently. However, Assoc Prof Ding opined that AI will not replace doctors – human expertise will still be needed to ensure accurate measurements and proper interpretation of findings.

Her passion for and dedication to echocardiography is unmistakeable, as do her remarkable achievements in this field. Assoc Prof Ding was awarded the Distinguished Mentor Award, SingHealth Excellence in 2017 and the 30th Cardiac Society Lecturer, Singapore Cardiac Society Award in 2018. Shortly in 2022, she was accorded the Master Academic Clinician honorary title by Duke-NUS Medical School and most recently, conferred the highly prestigious title of Emeritus Consultant by SingHealth in 2025.

The numerous accolades may be testaments to Assoc Prof Ding’s extraordinary contributions to the field of cardiology, but her passion remains steadfast. She said - If I had to choose again, I would still choose echo as my primary field.

Check out the specially produced video for Emeritus Consultants conferred in 2025: https://youtu.be/AfieWPdzXpg

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A Lifetime’s Passion and Dedication: Emeritus Consultant Assoc Prof Ding Zee Pin

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