Finding the sweet spot of care through research and innovation

For CGH Endocrinology Consultant Dr Sumitro Harjanto, medicine has always been more than a profession — it is a deeply personal calling shaped by family, values, and a desire to make a difference.

Dr Sumitro shares about his early days as a doctor at CGH.

Dr Sumitro began his medical career as a junior doctor at CGH, stepping into a fast-paced environment that challenged and shaped him daily. The early years were demanding but transformative, as he learnt to navigate difficult decisions, communicate with empathy, and stay calm in moments where every second mattered.

“My first clinical mentor at that time was actually our current Chairman, Medical Board (CMB). He spent a lot of time training us and sharpening our clinical intuition. It left a very strong impression and grounding on how a clinician should be,” he shares.

“It also taught me that medicine is never done alone. You grow because your colleagues support you, challenge you, and show you what good care looks like.”

Growing up, Dr Sumitro had witnessed his aunt, also a doctor, care for ill family members with unwavering patience and compassion. Her ability to comfort and guide others left a strong impression on him.

“I wanted to be able to understand, manage and care for my family’s health the way my aunt cared for us,” he shares.

That was how the former computational biology graduate pivoted to medicine, and subsequently, a specialisation in endocrinology. His final posting to endocrinology had struck a chord, with its focus on metabolic health, hormones, and chronic disease management.

“Endocrinology appealed to me because it’s about understanding systems — how one imbalance can affect the whole body, the whole life. It’s detective work with a human touch,” he explains.

“Helping patients manage chronic conditions over time — walking that journey with them — that’s what made endocrinology feel right.”

Dr Sumitro shares about why he chose to specialise in endocrinology.

Dr Sumitro shares his thoughts on research and innovation to advance care.

As his career progressed, Dr Sumitro also became involved in research, innovation, analytics, and data projects, welcoming the opportunity to shape healthcare beyond the bedside.

“In clinical work, I can treat the patient, and it makes a difference to this patient. Research and innovation can impact the entire medical community, which makes a difference to all the patients they treat. Both are necessary,” he says.

“I see research and innovation as two sides of the same coin. Research drives new discoveries, and innovation rides on this knowledge and technology. This can be applied to our clinical work and then perhaps we can come up with new ways of doing things that can help our patients.”

Today, Dr Sumitro remains grounded by the same motivations that inspired him in his youth – to be a steady, reassuring presence in moments of uncertainty.

“What keeps me going is simple — knowing that I can make someone’s life a little easier, a little clearer, a little better. That is a privilege I never take for granted.”

“CGH is a place where I learnt and grew as a clinician. What I’ve experienced is all but one-tenth of its legacy, but I can already see amazing changes and improvements. We are genuinely an organization that cares about people, and I hope this will be a place where I can grow old with my Changi family.”

Discover how Dr Sumitro collaborates with Endocrinology Head and Senior Consultant Clin Asst Prof Troy Puar to enhance care through research here.