Nanyang Technological University Singapore Chinese Medicine, together with The HEAD Foundation and Singapore General Hospital, will be organising the inaugural International Roundtable for Tuina Advancement on 16 May 2025.
Theme: Global Tuina Advocacy, Research and Collaboration
Aim: The International Roundtable for Tuina Advancement seeks to gather researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders to collaborate on the global development of Tuina. As a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Tuina has demonstrated its value in promoting health, managing pain, and treating various health conditions. However, its practice and recognition vary worldwide. The event will examine the current global landscape of Tuina, identifying areas where it is effectively integrated into healthcare systems and where gaps remain. Through a cooperative process, discussions will focus on key issues such as prioritising research into Tuina’s effectiveness and potential applications, identifying innovative funding opportunities, and examining strategies to increase Tuina’s accessibility, particularly in underserved regions. The aim is to create an actionable roadmap for enhancing Tuina’s global presence, raising awareness, and securing the necessary resources for Tuina’s sustainable advancement.
Guest of Honour: Dr Teo Ho Pin, Chairperson of the TCM Practitioners Board, Singapore
This event is organised in partnership with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
International Roundtable for Tuina
Advancement 2025
Programme
16 May (Fri)
08:30 – 09:00
Registration
09:00 – 09:20
Opening
Welcome Message by the Organisers
Opening Speech by the Guest of Honor
Group Photo Taking
09:20 – 09:45
Keynote: Global Perspectives on Tuina Advancement — Bridging Tradition and Innovation for Future Development
Prof Tay Boon Keng
09:45 – 10:10
Multicentre Tuina Clinical Trial for Chronic Nonspecific Lower Back Pain: Design, Outcomes, and Implications
Prof Celia Tan / Dean Chen Jiaxu
10:10 – 10:35
National Policies, Regulations, Roles, and Future Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Singapore
Prof Lim Shih Hui
10:35 – 11:05
Tea / Coffee Break
11:05 – 11:30
Tuina in North America: Status, Challenges, and Opportunities
Dr Michael Mueller
11:30 – 11:55
Tuina in Europe: Development, Integration, and Future Prospects
Speaker: Dr Secondo Scarsella / Dr Sven Schröder
11:55 – 12:20
Clinical Applications of Tuina in the Chinese Healthcare System
Speaker: Professor Guo Yi
12:20 – 12:45
Capacity Building through AI & Robotics Innovations in Tuina Therapies
Speakers: Prof Wang Jingui / Ms Ho Chin Ee
12:45 – 13:00
Closing
Closing Speech by Prof Linda Zhong
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 17:00
Closed-Door Roundtable Discussion & Planning Session
THF Advisory Panel for Tuina Advocacy & Advancement and Invited Experts
Meet the Speakers
Dean Chen Jiaxu is the Director of the Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Formula-Pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), School of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Jinan University in Guangzhou. He is a Distinguished Professor of the Changjiang Scholars Programme and is committed to teaching, research and clinical work in TCM diagnostics. His research interests are on the standardisation of TCM diagnoses and the biological basis of syndromes. With over three decades of dedication to TCM, Dean Chen also champions the fusion of traditional therapies with contemporary technologies. He has advocated for the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics in Tuina therapy, aiming to enhance treatment accessibility and alleviate the workload of TCM practitioners worldwide.
Professor Guo Yi is the Dean of the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TUTCM). He also holds editorial positions, including membership on the editorial board of the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. With a specialisation in Tuina therapy, Prof Guo’s work has significantly contributed to the integration of Tuina with modern medical approaches. Notably, he has been involved in studies exploring the neuroimmune mechanisms underlying acupuncture and Tuina, providing insights into their efficacy. In addition to his research, Prof Guo is dedicated to the education and dissemination of TCM knowledge. He actively participates in training programs and international collaborations, fostering the development of Tuina and TCM practices globally.
Professor Lim Shih Hui is the Head of Traditional and Complementary Medicine at the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) and Senior Consultant in the Department of Neurology at the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH). As one of the few Western-trained physicians to formally study acupuncture, Prof Lim studied both English and Chinese literature on the subject and has played a pivotal role in integrating TCM practices within Singapore’s healthcare system. His dedication led to the establishment of an acupuncture unit within the Department of Neurology at SGH in 1998, primarily addressing pain conditions like neck and lower back pain. It then expanded to manage other ailments like stroke and insomnia and evolved into the Pain Management Centre in 2007. As the Registrar of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB), Prof Lim also oversees the regulation and professional standards of TCM practitioners to enhance TCM services and safeguard patient interests.
Dr Michael R. Mueller is the Section Head of Integrative Medicine within the Division of General Internal Medicine and holds the position of Assistant Professor of Medicine. Dr Mueller obtained a Doctor of Medicine degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, followed by residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as a Master of Science in Human Nutrition from Columbia University. He oversees the Mayo Clinic’s Integrative Medicine and Health Program, focusing on the incorporation of evidence-based complementary therapies into conventional medical practice. Dr Mueller also co-directs the annual “Mayo Clinic Practical Integrative Medicine: Renew, Rejuvenate, Inspire & Connect” conference, which aims to educate healthcare professionals on the latest research and applications of integrative therapies. His clinical interests include non-pharmacologic approaches to pain management, mind-body interventions, and the integration of traditional healing practices into modern healthcare.
Dr Secondo Scarsella is the President of the Accademia Italiana di Medicina Cinese (AIMC) and holds the position of a Visiting Professor at the Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. He specialises in maxillofacial surgery and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with a particular emphasis on Tuina therapy. Dr Scarsella has organised and taught numerous courses in Italy, including seven basic and three advanced Tuina courses, as well as programs in Chinese pharmacology and cosmetic TCM. His scholarly contributions include co-authoring the book Tui Na that was published in 2011 and Basi di Medicina Cinese e Clinica di Tuina, a foundational text for Tuina education in Italy. Through his clinical practice and academic work, Dr Scarsella has significantly advanced the understanding and application of Tuina therapy within both Italian and international contexts.
Dr Sven Schröder* serves as the founding Medical Director of the HanseMerkur Centre for TCM at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), an institution dedicated to integrating clinical practice, research, and education in TCM. He received his education through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin (DGTCM) and the Societas Medicinae Sinensis (SMS), complemented by extended study visits with senior practitioners in Hangzhou and Shanghai. Beyond his clinical work, Dr Schröder lectures in the TCM master’s program at the University of Porto and has held professorial roles at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Jiangxi University of TCM. His research focuses on the neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects of TCM therapies. Dr Schröder is also the chair of the Quality Circle for Acupuncture and TCM of the Hamburg Medical Chamber and leads the German delegation in the ISO process for TCM standardisation.
*Dr Sven Schröder will be speaking via Zoom.
Professor Celia Tan is an esteemed physiotherapist and healthcare leader, renowned for her extensive contributions to allied health education, rehabilitation services, and healthcare innovation internationally. As an administrator, Professor Tan has helped to establish clinical, education and research units in SingHealth (SHS) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Prof Tan is currently Senior Director of Special Projects and has served as Group Director of Allied Health at SHS for three terms (nine years). She is also the Co-Lead for Capacity Building for the SHS Duke-NUS Global Health Institute which organises medical missions to Asian countries, particularly in the ASEAN region. With a keen interest in research on spinal pain, innovative robotics and exercise therapy for chronic diseases, she is also actively involved in teaching at PGAHI and the new College of Allied Health under SHS to provide much needed continuing clinical training for local and overseas Asian Allied Health professionals, educators and researchers.
Professor Tay Boon Keng is the Emeritus Consultant of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). He held various overseas faculty positions including a Visiting Professor to Ningxia College an Taishan College and a Senior Visiting Consultant to Liaocheng Affiliated Hospital in China. Prof Tay has also been involved in the evaluation of EMMA (Expert Manipulative Massage Automation), an AI-powered Tuina massage robot developed to address the shortage of qualified TCM practitioners and physiotherapists in managing chronic low back pain. He highlighted the potential of such automated solutions to alleviate manpower constraints and enhance patient care in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Through his involvement in such interdisciplinary projects, Prof Tay contributes to the integration of innovative technologies with traditional and modern medical practices.
Professor Wang Jingui serves as the President of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM and renowned for being the academic leader of the “Tianjin Viscera Tuina” school. His clinical approach emphasises the integration of external therapies like Tuina with internal treatments such as herbal medicine, particularly in managing complex conditions like spasmodic torticollis. Prof Wang has led significant research initiatives, including randomised controlled trials on abdominal Tuina for chronic fatigue syndrome. He has also contributed to studies exploring the efficacy of acupuncture in treating stroke-associated pneumonia, supported by the Tianjin Tuina Research Institute. Beyond his clinical and research endeavours, Prof Wang has engaged in academic exchanges and training programmes with institutions such as Udayana University in Indonesia
Associate Professor Linda Zhong is a prominent scholar and practitioner in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), currently serving as the Director of Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and the Director of the NTU Chinese Medicine Clinic, leading the Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine programme. Her clinical expertise spans various areas, including rheumatological diseases, gynaecological disorders, and gastrointestinal conditions. She was involved in the development and clinical trials of EMMA (Expert Manipulative Massage Automation), an AI-powered Tuina massage robot. Prof Zhong has also designed and conducted over 50 clinical studies, focusing on evidence-based approaches to TCM interventions. Her work has been recognized with several accolades, including the Qi Huang Young Scholar award from the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.
