Clin Assoc Prof Frederick Koh

A/Prof Frederick Koh is a Consultant in the Department of Colorectal Surgery, Division of Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital (SKH). He is also an NMRC-funded Surgeon-Scientist and Principal Investigator in the SKH Musculoskeletal Regenerative Laboratories and leads the SingHealth Duke-NUS Muscle Health Programme. Frederick is also the Deputy Vice Chair of Research, Surgery Academic Clinical Programme (ACP) and Deputy Research Director of SKH.

His clinical interests include the various aspects of colorectal surgical oncology, surgical nutrition, prehabilitation, intestinal failure and complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Dr Koh is well-versed in both laparoscopic and conventional open techniques of surgery.

Other than clinical contributions, Dr Koh places emphasis on the importance of Academic Surgery. He is published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and enjoys both clinical as well as basic science research, pertaining to the field of General and Colorectal Surgery, Sarcopenia and Artificial Intelligence in Endoscopy. He holds a PhD on the effects of Sarcopenia in Surgical Patients and leads the SingHealth Duke-NUS Muscle Health programme. He also is the Clinical Lead for team Mechanistic Investigation and Clinical Innovation for Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Therapy (MAGNET), which was funded by NMRC OF-LCG, awarded in 2025. His clinical and research contributions have also been recognised with Key-Opinion-Leader positions with Global Industrial Partners such as Abbott International, Hyphens Pharma, Pharmacosmo and Medtronic. His contributions to academia was accorded the 28th Yahya Cohen Memorial Lectureship in 2025 by the College of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine, Singapore.

A/Prof Koh also believes in Clinical Education and is active in the development of future doctors and specialists. He was awarded the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence AY 18/19 by NUS. His contributions to Clinical and Research Education have been recognised with the Role Model Certificate of Commendation and Wong Hock Boon Society, Singapore Medical Association Charity Fund Outstanding Mentor Award. He was conferred the position of Clinical Associate Professor by Duke-NUS Medical School in 2023 and Visiting Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London in 2025.

• PhD  (Clinical and Translational Sciences) (Singapore)
• Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh)
• Fellow of the Academy of Medicine (Singapore)
• Master of Medicine (Surgery)
• Membership Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh)
• ​Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Singapore)

• 28th Yahya Cohen Memorial Lectureship and Award, 2025
• SingHealth Publish! Award 2025
• Talent Awards - Transition Award, 2025
• Clinical Investigator Advancement Award 2024
• OpenGov Asia Award, 2024
• You Sparkle! Award - Gold, 2024
• SingHealth Medical Student Talent Development Award - Project (Supervising Faculty), 2023
• Most Popular Abstract – Basic and Translational Science/All categories, 2022
• Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Prize (Group) – supervising mentor, 2022
• Outstanding Mentor Award, 2022
• Singapore Health Service Quality Awards - Gold, 2022
• You Sparkle! Award - Silver, 2022
• SingHealth Family Target Zero Harm Award (Team Award), 2020
• SingHealth Medical Student Talent Development Award - Project (Supervising Faculty), 2021
• Best Presenter, 2021
• Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, 2018/19
• Outstanding Mentor Award, 2017
• Role Model Certificate of Commendation, 2014

• Tan KK, Frederick H Koh, Tan YY, Jody Liu, Richard Sim. Long-term outcome following surgery for colorectal cancers in octogenarians: a single institution's experience of 204 patients. J Gastrointest Surg. 2012 May;16(5):1029-36. PMID: 22258874. JIF 3.267
• KK Tan, Frederick H Koh, Charles B Tsang, Dean C Koh. Laparoscopic versus an open colectomy in an emergency setting: a case-controlled study. Ann Coloproctol. 2013 Feb;29(1):12-6. JIF: 0.56
• Koo YX, Kang ML, Auyong A, Liau GZ, Hoe J, Long M, Koh A, Frederick H Koh, Liu R, Koh G.  Malnutrition in older adults on financial assistance in an urban Asian country: a mixed methods study. Public Health Nutr. 2014 Dec;17(12):2834-43. JIF: 4.022
• Chan DK, Soong J, Frederick H Koh, Tan KK, Lieske B.  Predictors for outcomes after super-selective mesenteric embolization for lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding. ANZ J Surg. 2016 Jun;86(6):459-63. JIF 1.872
• Frederick H Koh, Lieske B, Tan KK, Charles B Tsang, Dean C Koh. Endowrist versus wrist: A case-controlled study comparing robotic versus hand assisted laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2014 Oct;24(5):452-6. JIF 1.719
• Tan J, Frederick H Koh, Charles B Tsang, Dean C Koh. Robotic versus standard laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: a comparative study of short-term and oncological outcomes. Robotic Surgery: Research and Reviews 2014:1 13–18
• Frederick H Koh, Soong J, Lieske B, Cheong WK, Tan KK. Does the timing of an invasive mesenteric angiography following a positive CT mesenteric angiography make a difference? Int J Colorectal Dis. 2015 Jan;30(1):57-61. JIF 2.571
• Lee CL, Lu J, Lim TZ, Frederick H Koh, B Lieske, Cheong WK, Tan KK. Long-term outcome following advancement flaps for high anal fistulas in an Asian population: a single institution's experience. J Gastrointest Surg. 2012 May;16(5):1029-36. JIF 3.452
• Frederick H Koh, Wong J, Tan JK, Tan KK, Cheong WK, Lieske B. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is safe and benefits octogenarian patients with malignant disease: a matched case-control study comparing laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2015 Jul;30(7):963-8. JIF 2.571
• Frederick H Koh, Kow AW. Minimally Invasive Whipple's Technique for Laparoscopic-Assisted Pylorus-Preserving Pancreaticoduodenectomy. J Am Coll Surg. 2017 Feb;224(2):e1-e3. JIF 6.113

More publications can be found here.

Research Publications

• Ang SW, Liew J, Dharmaratnam VM, Yik VYJ, Kok S, Aftab S, Tong C, Lee HB, Mah S, Yan C, Teh BT, Koh FH. Diagnostic performance of various radiological modalities in the detection of sarcopenia within Asian populations: a systematic review. Ann Coloproctol. 2025 Feb;41(1):27-39.
• Jin-Yang Sia, Crystal; Wee, Shei-La; Au-Yong, Phui-Sze; Lie, Sui-An; Tan, Winson J.; Foo, Fung-Joon; Kam, Jiunn-Haur; Lee, Daniel JK; Koh, Frederick H. Analgesia efficacy of erector spinae plane block in laparoscopic Abdominal surgeries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Surg. 2024 Apri 3. DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000001421
• Wu J, Chi H, Kok S, Chua JMW, Huang XX, Zhang S, Mah S, Foo LX, Peh HY, Lee HB, Tay P, Tong C, Ladlad J, Tan CHM, Khoo N, Aw D, Chong CXZ, Ho LML, Sivarajah SS, Ng J, Tan WJH, Foo FJ, Teh BT, Frederick H Koh. Multimodal prerehabilitation for elderly patients with sarcopenia in colorectal surgery. Ann Coloproctol. 2023 Mar 31. doi: 10.3393/ac.2022.01207.0172. Epub ahead of print.
• Jain SR, Kandarpa VL, Yaow CYL, Tan WJ, Ho LML, Sivarajah SS, Ng JL, Chong CXZ, Aw DKL, Foo FJ, Frederick H Koh. The Role and Effect of Multimodal Prehabilitation Before Major Abdominal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. World J Surg. 2023 Jan;47(1):86-102. JIF: 3.282
• Tan VZZ, Peck EW, Sivarajah SS, Tan WJ, Ho LML, Ng JL, Chong C, Aw D, Mainza F, Foo FJ, Frederick H Koh. Systematic review and meta-analysis of postoperative pain and symptoms control following laser haemorrhoidoplasty versus Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy for symptomatic haemorrhoids: a new standard. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2022 Jul 29. doi: 10.1007/s00384-022-04225-4. JIF: 2.796