Radiation Oncologist Singapore

Portrait of Dr. Johann Tang, a leading Radiation Oncologist in Singapore, specializing in cancer treatment

Dr Johann Tang

Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist
Medical Director of ME Novena Specialist Group Pte Ltd
MBBS (Aust), FRANZCR (Radiation Oncology)

Dr Johann Tang is the Senior Consultant and Medical Director of ME Novena Specialist Group Pte Ltd. at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and an Assistant Professor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore.

Dr Tang’s journey towards being a radiation oncologist in Singapore started with him obtaining his medical degree from the University of Newcastle, Australia, in 1998 and completing his house officer training at the Hunter Area Health Service before returning to Singapore to complete his National Service in the Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps. Thereafter, he did his specialty training in Radiation Oncology in Singapore at the National University Hospital (NUH).

After obtaining his fellowship from the Royal Australian College of Radiologists (FRANZCR) in 2007, Dr Tang underwent breast brachytherapy fellowships at the University of Wisconsin as well as prostate brachytherapy, skin, and paediatric fellowships at the Peter Maccallum Cancer Institute, Australia.

In 2021, Dr Tang underwent a fellowship at the New York Proton Centre with Dr Charles Simone in head and neck, re-irradiation, paediatric, prostate, and lung cancers.

Dr Tang has been at NUH for 18 years and has a wealth of experience treating a wide variety of cancers, such as breast cancer, gynaecological cancers such as cervical and endometrial cancers, upper gastrointestinal cancers such as oesophageal, stomach, and pancreatic cancers, lower gastrointestinal cancers such as rectal and anal cancers, head and neck cancers such as nasopharyngeal, oral, and larynx cancers, prostate cancer, lung cancers, brain cancer, lymphomas, sarcomas, and paediatric cancers.

Dr Tang was the radiotherapy service head for gynaecology, breast, paediatric oncology, and brachytherapy. His subspecialties and main research interests included breast, gynaecological, brain, and paediatric tumours.

As the Research Director at the NUH Radiation Oncology Department, Dr Tang’s accolades include developing and championing a strong research culture, authoring numerous publications, and being a committed referee for several international journals. He has won several research prizes and has been awarded multiple research grants. As a clinician committed to offering the best and latest treatment to all patients, Dr Tang spearheaded and developed breast brachytherapy (Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation APBI) as well as Interstitial Imaged Guided Cervical Brachytherapy services. These were the first of their kind, only available at NUH Singapore then.

On top of being a caring and experienced radiation oncologist in Singapore, Dr Tang is passionately involved in nurturing and developing the next generation of aspiring oncologists. He is the co-chair of the Euro Asia Breast Brachytherapy School, a teaching faculty member of the Australian Paediatric Radiation Oncology Group, and an invited external examiner at the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr Tang formerly served on national committees as the Vice President of the Chapter of Radiation Oncologists and an executive member of the Academy of Medicine Singapore and the Singapore Society of Oncology. He is currently a Council Member of the Faculty of Radiation Oncology Council, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, and the first Singaporean to be Associate Editor of the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology (JMIRO).

More About Dr Johann Tang

Photo of Dr Johann Tang in an Event

Aside from being an experienced radiation oncologist in Singapore, Dr Tang is passionately involved in education. He is currently the co-chair of the Euro Asia Breast Brachytherapy School, part of the teaching faculty of the Australian Paediatric Radiation Oncology Group, and is an external examiner in radiation oncology to the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons. Besides being the former Research Director at the National University Hospital Radiation Department, Dr Tang actively mentored resident radiation doctors, authored various publications, and was a referee for several international journals. Dr Tang has also won several research prizes and is the holder of several research grants.

Dr. Tang’s Accreditation in Radiation Oncology

Professional Affiliations

  • Registered with the Singapore Medical Council (08768H)
  • Registered with the Singapore Specialist Accreditation Board (Radiation Oncology)
  • Registered with the Australian Medical Board (MED0001183963)
  • Member of the Singapore Medical Association
  • Member of the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS)
  • Member of European Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ESTRO)
  • Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (Radiation Oncology)
  • Fellow and Faculty of Radiation Oncology Council Member of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist (FRANZCR – Radiation Oncology)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology

Photo of Dr Johann Tang in an Event 2

Dr Tang served on numerous international committees for radiation oncologists. Some of these include being elected as a Council Member for the Faculty of Radiation Oncology Council, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist (RANZCR), Member of the Paediatric Steering Advisory Committee to RANZCR, Associate Editor of the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology (JMIRO), Vice President of the Chapter of Radiation Oncologist, Academy of Medicine Singapore, and Executive Member of the Singapore Society of Oncology. Apart from his dedication to providing effective treatments as a radiation doctor, Dr Tang also believes in promoting medical education to other radiation oncologists for the continuous development of radiotherapy in Singapore and overseas.

Awards and Prizes

  • 7/2009- 8/2009. Awarded by the Ministry of Health, Human Manpower Development Programme (MOH HMDP) for “development of a comprehensive breast cancer brachytherapy programme” at the University of Wisconsin, USA
  • 1/2005- 7/2005. Awarded by the Ministry of Health’s Human Manpower Development Programme (MOH HMDP) for “training in prostate and skin cancer” at the Peter Maccallum Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology Centre, Australia
  • Awarded the Blackwell Wiley Best Poster Prize. “Patient Preference for Radiotherapy Fractionation Schedule in the Palliation of Symptomatic Unresectable Lung Cancer.” Tang JI, Back M, Shakespeare T, Lu JJ, Mukherjee R, Wynne C, Liang S. Presented at the 57th Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist Annual Scientific Meeting, Singapore.
  • Awarded the Novartis Best Breast Cancer Research Oral Presentation Prize. “To Compare Dosimetric Outcomes Using a Volume-Based Template Approach and a Non-Template Ultrasound Guidance Freehand Approach in Women undergoing Multicatheter Interstitial Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation,” JI Tang, PW Tan, YI Tan, and SA Buhari presented at the 61st Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth.

Key Clinical Appointments

Current Employment (1st Jan 2019 till now) Senior Consultant and Medical Director of ME Novena Specialist Group Pte Ltd at Mt Elizabeth Novena Hospital.

1 Jan 2014 – 31st Dec 2018: National University Hospital (NUH) Position: Senior Consultant in Radiation Oncology Key Appointments

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
  • Faculty Council Member for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist
  • Department of Radiation Oncology Research Director
  • Vice President of Chapter of Radiation Oncology, Academy of Medicine Singapore
  • Co Chair of Euro Asia Breast Brachytherapy School
  • Key Opinion Leader for Elekta on Breast Brachytherapy
  • Member of the Paediatric Steering Advisory Committee to Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist (Radiation Oncology)
  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist (Radiation Oncology) Paediatric Oncology Teaching Faculty
  • Committee member of the Singapore Society of Oncology (SSO)

1 Jan 2009 – Dec 2013: National University Hospital (NUH) Position: Consultant in Radiation Oncology Key Appointments:

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. Appointed since 2010
  • Department of Radiation Oncology Research Director
  • Site PI for RTOG clinical trials
  • National Cancer Institute of Singapore Training and Education committee chairperson
  • NUH GP forum executive member
  • Trans-Tasman Research Oncology Group Singapore Representative
  • Lecturer for Radiation Therapist at Nanyang Polytechnique
  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist (Radiation Oncology) Paediatric Oncology Interest Group Committee Member

Dr Johann Tang with Radio Therapy Doctor

Dr Tang has a vast number of years of clinical experience in Radiation Oncology and is fluent in English, Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Indonesia, Cantonese, and Hokkien. He has taken care of patients from many regional and overseas regions, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, and Russia.

Clinical Highlights/Achievements:

  • Planning and development of a new clinical service, “Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation for Early Stage Breast Cancer,” Currently, NUHS is the first institution in Southeast Asia to offer such treatment. We have presented and published results showing equivalence to major American and European academic medical centres. We have conducted several teaching courses on Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018). Recognised key opinion leader of APBI.
  • Planned and developed the Department Radiation Oncology Treatment Protocol (3rd Ed., 2008)
  • Developed and drove the gynaecology brachytherapy programme for 3D brachytherapy in cervical and endometrial carcinoma. Pioneered outpatient interstitial cervical brachytherapy as a routine clinical practice. Currently, NUHS is the only centre in Singapore to offer Advanced Outpatient 3D Image-Guided Interstitial Cervical Brachytherapy. Have presented and published results that are comparable to major USA and European centres.
  • Enhanced the paediatric oncology services through offering more streamlined care for radiation therapy services through improved waiting times, non-use of anaesthesia through play therapy, and the formation of a specialised core of radiation therapists for paediatrics.

Invited Speaker:

  • Invited Speaker for the Annual Federation of Asian Radiation Oncology (FARO) Meeting, 2016, 2018
  • Invited Speaker: Bangladesh Oncology Club Meeting, 2015, 2017
  • Invited Speaker for the Chinese Association of Brachytherapy 2017
  • Invited Speaker for the Chinese Gynaecology Meeting, 2016, 2017
  • Invited Speaker for the World Congress of Brachytherapy on Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation, 2016
  • Invited Speaker for the Chinese Seed and Brachytherapy Meeting 2016
  • Invited Speaker for the Asia Pacific Interventional Radiology (APIVR) 2014 for Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation
  • Invited Speaker for the BrachyNEXT 2014 for Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation
  • Invited Speaker for the ELEKTA Educational Symposium 2014 for Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation
  • Invited Speaker for the Singapore Radiological Society Meeting 2012 for Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation
  • Invited Speaker for the Société Internationale d’Oncologie Pédiatrique (SIOP) Teaching Course 2011 for Wilms Tumour
  • Invited Speaker for the 1st Asia-Pacific Breast Cancer Symposium 2011
  • Invited Speaker of the Asian Breast Diseases Association for Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation 2011
  • Plenary Speaker for the Indian Brachytherapy Meeting, 2010: Brachytherapy 2010 and Beyond New Delhi, India
  • 2nd National Breast Conference Meeting, Hue, Vietnam, 2009. “Advances in radiation treatment for breast cancer”
  • Guest speaker at Sabah GP meeting, Sabah 2008. “Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation: New Developments in Breast Cancer Treatment
  • Guest speaker for the Singapore Cancer Society at various community events
  • Faculty for the RANZCR Paediatric Course for 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017

Examiners:

  • Invited External Examiner in Radiation Oncology for the College of Radiologist, Bangladesh.
  • Examiner for Undergraduate Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore.

Journal Reviewer:

  • Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology
  • Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy

Dr Johann Tang 3D CRT

Dr Tang is recognised as an experienced radiation oncologist in Singapore. He is accredited for 3D Conformal External Beam Radiotherapy (3D CRT), Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), Paediatric Radiotherapy, Breast brachytherapy or Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI), Gynaecology (cervix and endometrial) interstitial image-guided brachytherapy, and Prostate brachytherapy.

Publications

  1. PATIENT SATISFACTION WITH DOCTOR-PATIENT INTERACTION IN A RADIOTHERAPY CENTER DURING THE SARS OUTBREAK.TANG JI, SHAKESPEARE TP, ZHANG XJ, LU JJ, LIANG S, WYNNE CJ, MUKHERJEE RK, BACK MF.Australas Radiol. 2005 AUG;49(4):304-11.
  2. INTERPRETING THE IMPROVED OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM METASTASES MANAGED IN CLINCIAL TRIALS COMPARED WITH STANDARD HOSPITAL PRACTICE TANG JI, BACK M, SHAKESPEARE T, LU JJ, MUKHERJEE R, WYNNE C, LIANG S. Australas Radiol. 2005 Oct;49(5):390-5
  3. A PROSPECTIVE DOSE ESCALATION TRIAL OF HIGH-DOSE-RATE BRACHYTHERAPY BOOST FOR PROSTATE CANCER: EVIDENCE OF HYPOFRACTIONATION EFFICACY? TANG JI, WILLIAMS SG, TAI KH, DEAN J, DUCHESNE GM. Brachytherapy. 2006 OCTDEC;5(4):256-61
  4. EFFICACY OF AN INTEGRATED CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (QI) PROGRAM ON RADIATION ONCOLOGIST (RO) CLINICAL PRACTICE. Leong CN, Shakespeare TP, Mukherjee RK, Back MF, Lee KM, Lu JJ, Wynne CJ, Lim K, Tang J, Zhang X. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006 Dec 1;66(5):1457-60
  5. DOES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY OUTPATIENT INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES ADVERSELY AFFECT PATIENT SATISFACTION WITH DOCTOR-PATIENT INTERACTION? SHAKESPEARE TP, TANG JI, SHEN L, LU JJ, MUKHERJEE RK, LEE KM, WYNNE CJ, BACK MF. Singapore Med J. 2007 Mar;48(3):246-51.
  6. PATIENT PREFERENCE FOR RADIOTHERAPY FRACTIONATION SCHEDULE IN THE PALLIATION OF SYMPTOMATIC UNRESECTABLE LUNG CANCER. JI TANG, MICHAEL BACK, THOMAS SHAKESPEARE, JIADE J. LU, RAHUL MUKHERJEE. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2008 Oct;52(5):497-502
  7. INFLUENCE OF THE WAY RESULTS ARE PRESENTED ON RESEARCH INTERPRETATION AND MEDICAL DECISION MAKING: THE PRIMER COLLABORATION RANDOMIZED STUDIES. Shakespeare TP, Gebski V, Tang J, Lim K, Lu JJ, Zhang X, Jiang G. Med Decis Making. 2008 Jan-Feb;28(1):127-37.
  8. BMI AND PATIENTS’ CT MEASUREMENTS AS A PREDICTOR OF BENEFIT OF IMRT FOR RADIOTHERAPY OF THE SUPRACLAVICULAR FOSSA Koh V, Tang JI, Choo BA, Tan CW, Lim BK, Shen L, Lu JJ. Onco Targets Ther. 2013 Nov 21;6:1701-6.
  9. ADJUVANT RADIOTHERAPY FOR ENDOMETRIAL CANCER–A COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF RADIOTHERAPY TECHNIQUE WITH ACUTE TOXICITY. Koh YV, Tang JI, Choo BA, Koh MS, Lee KM. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 2014;35(2):128-33.
  10. MULTI-CATHETER INTERSTITIAL ACCELERATED PARTIAL BREAST IRRADIATION – TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A GOOD INSERTION.Tang JI, Tan PW, Koh VY, Buhari SA. J Contemp Brachytherapy. 2014 Mar;6(1):85-90
  11. COMPARING A VOLUME BASED TEMPLATE APPROACH AND ULTRASOUND GUIDED FREEHAND APPROACH IN MULTICATHETER INTERSTITIAL ACCELERATED PARTIAL BREAST IRRADIATION. Koh VY, Buhari SA, Tan PW, Tan YI, Leong YF, Earnest A, Tang JI. J Contemp Brachytherapy. 2014 Jun;6(2):173-7
  12. OUTPATIENT COMBINED INTRACAVITARY AND INTERSTITIAL CERVICAL BRACHYTHERAPY: BARRIERS AND SOLUTIONS TO IMPLEMENTATION OF A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMME – A SINGLE INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE. Tan PW, Koh VY, Tang JI. J Contemp Brachytherapy. 2015 Jun;7(3):259-63.
  13. ASSESSING RADIATION EXPOSURE OF THE LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING ARTERY, HEART AND LUNG IN PATIENTS WITH LEFT BREAST CANCER: A DOSIMETRIC COMPARISON BETWEEN MULTICATHETER ACCELERATED PARTIAL BREAST IRRADIATION AND WHOLE BREAST EXTERNAL BEAM RADIOTHERAPY. Chan TY, Tan PW, Tan CW, Tang JI. Radiother Oncol. 2015 Dec;117(3):459-66
  14. ACCELERATED PARTIAL BREAST IRRADIATION IN AN ASIAN POPULATION: DOSIMETRIC FINDINGS AND PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A MULTICATHETER INTERSTITIAL PROGRAM. Koh YV, Tan PW, Buhari SA, Iau P, Chan CW, Shen L, Tan SH, Tang JI. ONCO TARGETS THER. 2016 SEP 8;9:5561-6.
  15. PROTON THERAPY FOR EARLY STAGE PROSTATE CANCER: IS THERE A CASE? Chan TY, Tan PW, Tang JI. ONCO TARGETS THER. 2016 SEP 9;9:5577-86.
  16. FEASIBILITY STUDY OF TOXICITY OUTCOMES USING GEC-ESTRO CONTOURING GUIDELINES ON CT BASED INSTEAD OF MRI-BASED PLANNING IN LOCALLY ADVANCED CERVICAL CANCER PATIENTS. Koh V, Choo BA, Lee KM, Tan TH, Low JH, Ng SY, Ilancheran A, Shen L, Tang J. BRACHYTHERAPY. 2017 JAN – FEB;16(1):126-132
  17. INTENSITY-MODULATED RADIATION THERAPY FOR EARLY-STAGE BREAST CANCER: IS IT READY FOR PRIME TIME? Chan TY, Tan PW, Tang JI. BREAST CANCER. 2017 MAR 20;9:177-183.
  18. NOVEL ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUE FOR COMBINED INTRACAVITARY AND INTERSTITIAL BRACHYTHERAPY FOR CERVIX CANCER IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING. Leong YH, Tan KHS, Choo BA, Koh VY, Tang JI. J CONTEMP BRACHYTHERAPY. 2017 JUN;9(3):236-241.

Why Choose Dr Johann Tang

Dr Johann Tang is an experienced radiation oncologist and cancer doctor who aims to deliver the highest level of care to his patients, especially when it comes to radiation therapy and cancer treatment. As a cancer specialist in Singapore, he is dedicated to understanding each patient’s condition and providing holistic, customised care that is both effective and compassionate. With ethics and empathy at the core of our practice, we strive to understand your individual needs and provide care that is compassionate and responsive.

Experienced Radiation Oncologist

Dr Johann Tang is a highly experienced radiation oncologist and cancer specialist in Singapore, with over 20 years of experience treating various cancers in both adults and children and several accolades to his name. Prior to entering private practice, where he is currently a senior consultant and medical director. Dr Tang was at NUH for 18 years, from 2001 to 2019. Dr Tang spearheaded and built up the breast brachytherapy (Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation APBI), outpatient interstitial image-guided cervical brachytherapy, and paediatric radiation therapy services at NUH to provide an array of the latest and best cancer treatment options for patients. As a cancer doctor, Dr Tang is also passionately involved in research, having authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and won several research prizes.

Evidence-based Treatments

Dr Johann Tang and his team utilise technology that has proven to be effective in cancer treatment. Having decades of experience in treating and researching the disease has enabled Dr Tang to remain current and on top of best practices and novel techniques, providing his patients with full assurance that they are receiving the most effective treatment available.

Patient-centered Care

Dr Johann Tang’s patients are his top priority. He journeys with them from diagnosis until the completion of treatment. With Dr Tang, all patients can be fully assured that their clinical needs and well-being are attended to. Dr Tang is also passionately involved in research, having authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and winning several research prizes.

"I guarantee my very best expertise delivered with compassion and dignity as we journey TOGETHER to BEAT this dreaded illness."

- Dr Johann Tang

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Contact Dr Johann Tang

ME Novena Specialist Group
@ Mt. Elizabeth Novena Hospital

  • 38 Irrawaddy Road #08-36/7/8/9 Singapore 329563
  • drjohanntang@gmail.com
  • Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 12:00pm

    Sat: 8:30am-12:00pm

    Sun & Public Holidays: Closed

ME Novena Specialist Group Pte Ltd
@ Proton Therapy SG

  • Amnios Building 1 Biopolis Drive, #01-01 Singapore 138622
  • drjohanntang@gmail.com
  • Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 12:00pm

    Sat: 8:30am – 1:00pm

    Sun & Public Holidays: Closed

ME Novena Specialist Group
@ Mt Alvernia

  • 820 Thomson Road, #06-65/66 Mount Alvernia Hospital Medical Centre Block D Singapore 574623
  • drjohanntang@gmail.com
  • Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 12:00pm

    Sat: 8:30am-12:00pm

    Sun & Public Holidays: Closed

ME Novena Specialist Group Pte Ltd
@ Farrer Park Hospital

  • 1 Farrer Park Station Road, #11-01 Connexion Singapore 217562
  • drjohanntang@gmail.com
  • Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 12:00pm

    Sat: 8:30am-12:00pm

    Sun & Public Holidays: Closed