Dr David Tan Boon Harn
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) for gynaecological, gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and lung cancers. Medical Director of AARO. Fellowship-trained in gynaecological brachytherapy, with more than 15 years of clinical experience and a pioneering role in Singapore’s liver and pancreas SBRT programmes.
Dr Tan graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2005 and trained in radiation oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore from 2007. In 2011 he received the HMDP Award for advanced training in Clinical Oncology in the UK at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, training under renowned experts in stereotactic radiosurgery and brachytherapy. He obtained his FRCR in 2013 and FAMS in 2014. During ten years at NCCS he set up the centre’s Liver and Pancreas SBRT programmes — formulating protocols, training the stereotactic team, and chairing multidisciplinary discussions as a pioneer of stereotactic radiotherapy in Singapore.
Regionally, Dr Tan is a key opinion leader in SBRT. He served as Singapore’s National Project Coordinator for the IAEA’s regional SBRT project (2014–2020), conducting the project’s first regional training course attended by 17 member states, and sits on the council of the Federation of Asian Organizations for Radiation Oncology (FARO). He chaired the Radiation Oncology Sub-section of the Singapore Radiological Society for eight years, held an adjunct assistant professorship at Duke-NUS, and remains a co-investigator in an international IAEA-led trial comparing SBRT with TACE in liver cancer.
Kind, patient, unhurried.
Dr Tan’s consultations are unhurried and considered. He takes the time to understand each person’s condition and personal needs: what matters to them, what they’re afraid of, and what they need to hear in plain terms.
You won’t be rushed through your appointment, or talked at in jargon. Armed with his technical expertise and the latest scientific evidence, Dr Tan offers a customised treatment plan based on your individual condition — explained by the same person who walks you through it.
For complex cases, Dr Tan convenes a multidisciplinary review with your surgeon and medical oncologist before recommending a path. The decision is collaborative — but it is always yours.
You may benefit most if you have:
These are the situations Dr Tan most commonly sees — but every case is different. If you’re unsure whether radiation oncology fits your situation, our care team can help you decide.
Gynaecological cancer
Cervical, uterine and ovarian cancers — Dr Tan is fellowship-trained in image-guided gynaecological brachytherapy alongside modern external-beam techniques.
Liver, pancreas or GI cancer
Dr Tan set up the Liver and Pancreas SBRT programmes at NCCS and sub-specialises in oesophageal, stomach, colorectal and hepatobiliary cancers.
Lung cancer
Considering SBRT for early-stage disease, or seeking precision-radiation options where surgery carries elevated risk.
Brachytherapy
Internal radiation delivered from within the tumour — a core expertise, particularly for cervix and endometrial cancers.
A second opinion
Already under another oncologist’s care and want to confirm whether radiation is the right next step — or hear an experienced view on your treatment plan.
Non-surgical alternatives
You’ve been told surgery carries high risk, or you’d prefer to avoid it. Modern radiation can match surgical outcomes for many cancers — without the recovery time.
A career in detail.
Medical Director of AARO and Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist, leading the group’s clinical direction.
More than 15 years of clinical experience. Sub-specialises in gynaecological, lung, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers, with core expertise in SRS/SBRT delivered in 1–5 sessions.
Dual-trained in chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Well-versed in 3D-CRT, IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SRS, SBRT, DIBH radiotherapy and image-guided gynaecological brachytherapy.
NUS medical graduate (2005). Trained at the National Cancer Centre Singapore from 2007; ten years of public-sector service, where he established the Liver and Pancreas SBRT programmes.
HMDP Award for advanced training at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, UK, under leading experts in stereotactic radiosurgery and brachytherapy. FRCR (UK) 2013; FAMS 2014.
Singapore National Project Coordinator for the IAEA regional SBRT project (2014–2020); conducted its first regional training course for 17 member states. Council Member, Federation of Asian Organizations for Radiation Oncology (FARO).
Co-investigator in an international IAEA-led trial of SBRT versus TACE in unresectable liver cancer. Guest editor, “Advances in Stereotactic Radiosurgery”, Chinese Clinical Oncology (2017); reviewer for surgical, oncology and radiotherapy journals.
Chaired the Radiation Oncology Sub-section of the Singapore Radiological Society (2016–2022). Former Adjunct Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS. Member of ASCO, ASTRO, ESTRO and ISRS.
Recent academic work.
Dr Tan has published in major oncology journals on SBRT, brachytherapy, and gastrointestinal and gynaecological cancers — including chapters in Springer’s Multidisciplinary Management of Rectal Cancer and Modern Management of Cancer of the Rectum, and papers in Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology and the Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy. A full list is available on request.
Request publication list→Book a consultation with Dr David Tan.
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