The 2003 outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) put Tong Jen Lo on the front lines of public health. As a medical officer at Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore, where he had trained as a clinician, he was soon working closely with infectious disease experts investigating the outbreak.

Previously, as a public health specialist trainee at the Ministry of Health, Lo had worked on a national health survey to determine the prevalence of chronic diseases, as well as on a project to expand the international research network on emerging infectious diseases. However it was the 2003 experience with SARS that truly underscored for him the necessity for an effective public health system.

Lo comes to the Bloomberg School eager to develop a foundation in public health in preparation for a leadership role in Singapore’s health system. “With the necessary skills and knowledge,” Lo says, “I will be able to formulate policies to prevent disease and promote health.”