Co-Chair, SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network; Singapore

Mr Ellil Mathiyan Lakshmanan is the Co-Chair of the SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network (SPAN) and is a double-cancer survivor. It has been 10 years since his diagnosis and treatment. He now dedicates his time to helping others through Patient Advocacy, social work, and fundraising. He has extensive experience in working with patient support groups, journeying with patients from diagnosis to rehabilitation after treatment. This enables him to provide an important perspective during patient engagement for SPAN projects, working closely with the healthcare teams in the hospital to achieve improved patient-centric outcomes. In addition to his other roles in SPAN, he has also helped develop the curriculum, and is one of the facilitators, for the Patient Advocate Communication Training (PACT) workshop. He is a multiple award winner, including the Inspirational Hero Patient Award 2015 (CGH), Inspirational Patient Award 2017 (SGH) Singapore Patient Advocate Award 2018 (TTSH), Singapore Cancer Society Outstanding Volunteer Award 2018. The SGH-NCCS Colorectal Cancer Support Group, of which he is Volunteer Leader, also won the Inspirational Support Group Award (SGH) in 2017. He is co-founder and current President of the Ostomy Association of Singapore and has leadership roles in the Colorectal Support Groups in Singapore General Hospital, Changi General Hospital, and Singapore Cancer Society.