"The knowledge that every surgery I perform has a direct and lasting impact on a person's well-being is what propels me to go the extra mile. From alleviating pain to restoring function, seeing the tangible outcomes of my efforts is immensely gratifying. This responsibility to restore health and improve the quality of life for my patients is a driving force that keeps me committed to excellence in every aspect of my work. I am also motivated by the relationships I build with my patients and the trust they place in me. It's a privilege to be part of their healthcare journey."
Dr Sujith Wijerathne graduated from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2008 and joined the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore in 2009. He began his training in General Surgery at NUH in 2010 and obtained the qualifications of MRCS (Edinburgh) in 2012 and MMed (Surgery, NUS) in 2016.
He completed his advanced specialist training in General Surgery in 2017 and obtained his Fellowships in General Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS) and the Academy of Medicine Singapore (FAMS). Dr Sujith was accredited as a specialist in General Surgery by the Specialist Accreditation Board, Singapore, in 2017. To expand his administrative portfolio, he pursued an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from National University Hospital Singapore (NUS) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2023.
As a General Surgeon, Dr Sujith has special interests in Minimally Invasive Surgery, Complex Hernia Surgery, Robotic Surgery, Thyroid, Adrenal, and Endocrine Surgery, as well as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy.
Improving the delivery of surgical services
Dr Sujith has been involved in the setup and development of the surgical services at Alexandra Integrated Hospital, Singapore since June 2018.
He plays key roles in leading the clinical services planning for surgical services at Alexandra Hospital and in the integration of the surgical services in the NUHS cluster. He assumed the role of Head of General Surgery at Alexandra Hospital in October 2023.
For Dr Sujith, the most rewarding aspect of his work in both surgical and planning aspects is witnessing the positive transformations that these efforts make in patients' lives. He is also dedicated to continuous learning opportunities and collaborations with his peers to drive improvements in the field.
A passion for teaching
Dr Sujith has been a Clinical Lecturer for the Department of Surgery at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore since 2015 and currently holds the title of Adjunct Associate Professor of Surgery.
He has a keen interest in both undergraduate and postgraduate education and training. He has organised a number of basic laparoscopy, advanced laparoscopy, suturing, and specialty-specific workshops for surgical residents at NUH and also outside of Singapore.
Dr Sujith has authored numerous publications and book chapters on minimally invasive surgery, hernia, and endocrine surgery. He has also presented his research work frequently at international meetings and has won several awards for his work.
He is an active member of the Singapore Medical Association (SMA), Endoscopic & Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia (ELSA), Asia Pacific Hernia Society (APHS), and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). Under the ELSA outreach programme, he has contributed to a number of international basic and advanced laparoscopy workshops in the South and Southeast Asian region as an instructor.
