Dr Yong Mong Tan: Endocrinology pioneer calls time on four-decade career

The ‘founding father’ of endocrinology services in North Queensland, Dr Yong Mong Tan, is stepping down after more than 40 years of dedicated service. Discover how his work has shaped thousands of lives.

Dr Yong Mong Tan, a pioneer of diabetes and endocrine services in North Queensland, is getting ready to retire over 40 years in Townsville. Picture: Supplied

The ‘founding father’ of endocrinology services in North Queensland, Dr Yong Mong Tan, is stepping down after more than 40 years of dedicated service.

Over his illustrious career, Dr Tan transformed healthcare in the region, establishing vital diabetes and endocrinology clinics that have changed thousands of lives.

“Retirement brings both a sense of sadness and relief — sadness that I am leaving my colleagues and friends and saying goodbye to my lifelong career, but also relief as I look forward to a more relaxed pace in life,” he said.

Arriving in Townsville in 1977 from Singapore, Dr Tan started out as a resident medical officer at the Townsville General Hospital and found the transition to the small town a shock.

“It was a bit of a cultural shock when we first arrived in Townsville; coming from a large city in Singapore, Townsville looked a bit like a small village, but we very quickly felt at home at the hospital,” he recalled.

FLASHBACK: Dr Yong Mong Tan started out as a resident medical officer at the Townsville General Hospital in 1977. Picture: Supplied

After completing further training, he returned in 1984 when the Endocrine Society of Australia reached out.

“The secretary of the Endocrine Society of Australia rang me one day and said Townsville needed an endocrinologist,” Dr Tan said, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Putting in long hours, sometimes until 9pm, Dr Tan built endocrinology services from the ground up.

“The highlight of my career has certainly been starting endocrine services in the region, as well as starting our multidisciplinary diabetes and endocrine in pregnancy antenatal clinic and the high-risk diabetes foot clinic so that we can address the special needs of these patients,” he said.

Dr Tan said he’s proud of the strong team he leaves behind.

“I’m very pleased to be leaving at a time when the endocrinology team is stronger than ever – it’s one big, happy family,” he said.

Colleagues praised his legacy, with Dr Kunwarjit Sangla calling him a “teacher, researcher, an astute clinician, and a wonderful human being.”

Dr Tan’s impact will live on through the clinics he built and through his daughter Joanne, a senior staff specialist in the medical oncology department at Townsville hospital.

Originally published as Dr Yong Mong Tan: Endocrinology pioneer calls time on four-decade career