20 Facts About Balaji Sadasivan

Balaji Sadasivan was a Singaporean politician and neurosurgeon.

Balaji Sadasivan attended Raffles Institution, Siglap Secondary School and National Junior College, and studied medicine at the University of Singapore.

Balaji Sadasivan trained at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, from 1985 to 1989, and became a Fellow of Harvard University in 1990.

Balaji Sadasivan worked as a neurosurgeon until 2001, publishing over 50 book chapters and journal articles.

In March 2008, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reshuffled his cabinet, from which time Balaji Sadasivan retained only his portfolio at the Foreign Affairs Ministry until his death in 2010.

Balaji Sadasivan was born on 11 July 1955 in Singapore, the son of Indian immigrants.

Balaji Sadasivan trained at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, between 1985 and 1990, obtaining a diploma from the American Board of Neurology Surgery and becoming a fellow at Harvard University in 1990.

Balaji Sadasivan worked at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard, and at the Children's Hospital Boston in Boston, Massachusetts.

Balaji Sadasivan joined Tan Tock Seng Hospital as a consultant neurosurgeon in 1991, where he reorganised the way stroke patients were treated, arranged for the neurosurgical intensive care unit to be computerised, introduced stereotactic brachytherapy for dealing with brain tumours, and chaired the National Neuroscience Institute's planning committee.

Balaji Sadasivan worked with medical device manufacturer Siemens to develop image-guided surgical systems.

Balaji Sadasivan published more than 50 scientific papers and chapters in neurology books.

The electoral division, helmed by the Lee Hsien Loong, was not contested, and Balaji Sadasivan was declared elected to Parliament on 25 October 2001.

Balaji Sadasivan was regarded as one of the "Super Seven" Members of Parliament who were made officeholders upon election, and served as Minister of State for the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport.

Balaji Sadasivan worked to combat the spread of HIV, advocating education about the disease in schools and workplaces, and early and regular HIV testing.

Balaji Sadasivan brought in universal antenatal testing for HIV, and spoke out against discrimination on the ground of HIV status.

Balaji Sadasivan conceived an active ageing centre in Ang Mo Kio Town Garden East, which was slated to open in 2010.

Balaji Sadasivan acted as Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts from 30 May 2006 to 31 March 2008.

Balaji Sadasivan was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and underwent surgical removal of a malignant tumour in 2008.

Balaji Sadasivan relinquished his Information, Communications and the Arts portfolio with effect from 1 April 2008, remaining as Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Balaji Sadasivan is survived by his wife, Dr Ma Swan Hoo, his son Dharma Yongwen and daughter Anita Jiawen, and five siblings.