delivering quality healthcare and medical excellence

OUR DOCTOR

Dr Daniel Jin Keat Lee

李仁杰
Senior Consultant General Surgeon

Dr Daniel Lee Jin Keat obtained his medical degree from the University of Putra Malaysia in 2004 and earned his Membership with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2009. He then entered the Advanced Specialist Training (AST) program, completing his surgical training and attaining Fellowship with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2015. He subsequently completed two prestigious fellowships at renowned tertiary centers: one in advanced colorectal surgery at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom, with a focus on complex rectal cancer and exenterative surgery, and another in surgical trauma care at the Royal London Hospital, United Kingdom.

Dr. Lee was appointed a consultant surgeon at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in 2017. He specializes in colorectal surgery, with expertise in the surgical management of complex and locally advanced rectal cancer, including exenteration and extended resections involving sacrectomy. He is highly experienced in minimally invasive colorectal surgery and advanced endoscopic procedures, including transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT), endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSIT), endorectal ultrasound (ERUS), and colonic stenting. Over the years, he has also developed a niche in geriatric surgery and has been actively involved in developing perioperative strategies for older patients. Dr. Lee is known for his compassionate and patient-centered approach. In recognition of his commitment to patient wellbeing and the positive feedback from both colleagues and patients, he was awarded twice the Yishun Health Service Champion Award.

At Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Dr. Lee served as Head of Colorectal Surgery and Surgical Lead for the Geriatric Surgical Service, playing a key role in delivering high-quality surgical care and improving outcomes for both colorectal and geriatric patients. His work focused on enhancing surgical processes, strengthening the hospital’s existing prehabilitation framework, and expanding sarcopenia screening while integrating it into emergency surgery workflows. His contributions have helped refine perioperative care for elderly patients, leading to improved surgical outcomes in this high-risk group.

Dr. Lee is also an active researcher, with multiple peer-reviewed publications on the management of complex locally advanced rectal cancer, novel surgical techniques, frailty and sarcopenia, and perioperative care. His research has been recognized with various awards, including the National Healthcare Group (NHG) Recognition Team Award and multiple Quality Improvement Awards. His work has been presented and featured at both international and local platforms, such as the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), the Endo-Laparoscopic Society of Asia, and the Singapore Colorectal Society.

Beyond his clinical and research commitments, Dr. Lee is dedicated to medical education. He serves as an Adjunct Senior Clinical Lecturer at the National University of Singapore and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore. He was also a core Faculty member of the NHG Surgical Residency Program, where he played a key role in training residents in General Surgery and the Colorectal Surgery subspecialty.

PUBLICATIONS

1. “Endoscopic Surgery - Exploring the Modalities”

Lee DJK, KY Tan

World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2015; 27:326-334. 

2. “Advances in surgical management for locally recurrent rectal cancer: How far have we come.”

Lee DJK, Sagar PM, Sadadcharam G, Tan

KY World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23(23): 4170-4180

3. “Perforated diverticulitis: is the right and left difference present S1 Sacrectomy for Re-Recurrent Rectal Cancer: Our Experience with Reconstruction Using an Expandable Vertebral Body Replacement Device”

Lee DJK, Wang KYF, Timothy J, Sagar PM

Dis Colon Rectum 2018 Feb: 61(2): 261-265.

4. “Frailty in Surgical Preoperative Evaluation and Postoperative Recovery”

Lee DJK, Han MWM, Tan KY

Current Geriatrics Reports 2019; 8(2): 87-96.

5. “Trends and Clinical Outcomes in Young-onset Colorectal Cancer Patients"

Goh SSN, Loo EXL, Lee DJK.

Ann Acad Med Singap 2020; 49(11): 749-57.

6. “Meta-analysis on surgical management of colonic injuries in trauma: to divert or to anastomose?"

MH Tang, JSH Wong, CLK Chia, DJK Lee

Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2021; 47(5): 1381-1388.

doi:10.1007/s00068-020-01555-2

7. “Finding value with prehabilitation in older persons receiving surgery”

P Ng, DJK Lee, KY Tan

Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2022 Mar 1: 16(1): 19-24

doi: 10.1097/SPC.0000000000000581

8. “Reducing surgical site infection in colorectal surgery using mechanical bowel preparation and oral antibiotics: a comparative study in the era of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol ”

G Lei, L Tan, SK Mantoo, DJK Lee

Indian J Surg 2022. Published online: 29 November 2022

doi: 10.1007/s12262-022-03626-7

9. “A transdisciplinary geriatric surgery service: essential practices admidst a pandemic for elderly patients with colorectal cancer ”

WSW Tang, JQH Wong, SWK Chan, P Ng, KY Tan, DJK Lee

ANZ J Surg 2023; 93(3): 782-783

doi:10.111/ans.18207 

10. “Low skeletal muscle mass predicts poor prognosis of elderly patients after emergency laparotomy: A single Asian institution experience. ”

EWK Tan, JY Yeo, YZ Lee, R Lohan, WW Lim, DJK Lee

Ann Acad Med Singap 2022; 51:766-73.

doi: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2022158

11. “. A 10-year review on older patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery: surgeon-led geriatric service and good quality surgery are drivers of good outcomes. ”

KS Chan, DJK Lee, YD Kok, WW Chen, XC Lim, L Tan et al

J Gastrointest Surg 2024; 28(1): 40-46

doi: 10.1016/j.gassur.2023.11.001