Hand Surgeon & Upper Limb Specialist in Singapore
Over 25 Years of Expertise
Dr. Jonathan Lee Yi-Liang is a Lead Consultant Hand Surgeon in Singapore with over two decades of clinical experience. He is known for his precise surgical technique and deep anatomical knowledge, aiming to restore hand function while minimising scarring, discomfort, and downtime.
Clinical Practice
Dr. Lee practises at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, providing dedicated care to local and international patients seeking treatment for hand, wrist, and upper limb injuries. His clinical focus covers both acute injuries and chronic conditions affecting function, mobility, and quality of life.
He provides specialist care in the diagnosis and treatment of:
Hand, wrist, and finger fractures
Tendon, ligament, and nerve injuries
Trigger finger and tenosynovitis
Joint dislocations and soft tissue injuries
Nerve compression syndromes (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome)
Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint conditions
Sports injuries involving the hand, wrist, or upper limb
Reconstructive microsurgery of the hand and peripheral nerves
A Surgeon Who Understands the Athlete’s Mindset
Outside the operating theatre, Dr. Lee is an avid sports enthusiast who trains regularly in Muay Thai, strength conditioning, and gym workouts. He is also a certified diver and enjoys skiing. These personal experiences have given him a real understanding of what it means to stay active — and what it’s like to face the setbacks of sports injuries.
Having gone through his own injuries and recovery, Dr. Lee knows firsthand the physical and emotional challenges that come with getting sidelined. This perspective shapes how he cares for his patients, offering treatment plans that are practical, empathetic, and focused on helping athletes and active individuals get back to doing what they love — safely and confidently.
Education and Surgical Training
Dr. Jonathan Lee’s journey into surgery was shaped not just by textbooks, but by personal conviction. Born into a family of doctors, he grew up immersed in the rhythms of clinical life — sparking an early fascination with the human hand and its intricate anatomy.
He earned his medical degree from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland in 1995, and was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2000. He went on to complete his Master of Medicine in Surgery at the National University of Singapore in 2001.
Dr. Lee’s broad-based training spanned General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Plastic Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Neurosurgery — disciplines that collectively built his expertise in managing complex conditions of the upper limb.
Recognised for his steady hands and sharp clinical judgment, he was selected for Singapore’s rigorous Advanced Surgical Training in Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery — a four-year programme reserved for surgeons with the highest potential. He completed this training with distinction and was conferred the title of Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS). Today, he is a MOH-accredited Hand Surgery Specialist, trusted by patients and peers alike for his deep technical expertise and unwavering commitment to care.
Research & Contributions to Hand Surgery
Dr. Jonathan Lee Yi-Liang is actively involved in advancing the field of hand surgery through extensive research and education. He has published over 20 scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals, contributing valuable insights to the diagnosis and treatment of complex hand and upper limb conditions.
His research accomplishments have been recognised both locally and internationally:
Second Prize, Best Free Paper – Singapore Society for Hand Surgery (SHSS) Annual Scientific Meeting, 2005
Second Prize, Best Free Paper – SHSS Annual Scientific Meeting, 2006
Third Prize, Best Free Paper – SHSS Annual Scientific Meeting, 2002
Top 10 Most Downloaded Articles – Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume), 2006
Invited Speaker – Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH) Annual Congress, Greece, 2007
Dr. Lee has also presented his research at numerous international conferences across Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, and the USA, further cementing his role as a hand surgeon in Singapore with global recognition.
Commitment to Education and Teaching
In addition to his research, Dr. Lee actively engages in medical education. He volunteers as a speaker and instructor for public health forums, hospital doctors, general practitioners, and junior physicians. He is also an Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course instructor at the SAF School of Military Medicine, Singapore.
Leadership in Hand Surgery
Dr. Lee has held key leadership roles within Singapore’s hand surgery community. He served on the executive committee of the Singapore Society for Hand Surgery (SHSS) and was an executive board member of the Chapter of Hand Surgery under the College of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine Singapore — contributing to the advancement of clinical standards, training, and education in the field.
Awards and Recognition
During his years in Singapore’s public healthcare system, Dr. Lee’s dedication to patient care and service quality earned him several awards:
SGH Service Quality Award (August 2006)
Service with a Heart Award (January 2007)
10-Year Long Service Award, Singapore General Hospital (August 2007)
Consistently positive patient feedback through SGH’s “Making a Difference” initiative
