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Clin Asst Prof Ravishankar Asokkumar

Clin Asst Prof Ravishankar Asokkumar

MBBS, MRCP (UK), FRCP (London), FASGE (USA), Specialist Certification in Gastroenterology (MRCP Gastroenterology,  UK)

Senior Consultant

Specialty: Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Sub-specialties: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy, Early Gastrointestinal Cancer, Colon Cancer Screening, Advanced Endoscopic Imaging, Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) & Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD), Bariatric and Metabolic Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal Stenting

Conditions Treated by this Doctor:
Bariatric Surgery Weight Regain Treatment (TORE, ROSE), Capsule Endoscopy, Colonic Polyps, Colorectal Cancer Screening, Complex Colonic Polyp Resection, Endoscopic Gastroplasties (ESG, POSE-2), Endoscopic Weight Loss Procedures, Fatty Liver Diseases, Functional Dyspepsia, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Gastrointestinal Luminal Stenosis, Intra-gastric Balloon Implantation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Liver Cirrhosis, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Subepithelial/Submucosal Lesions, Viral Hepatitis.

Clinical Appointments

  • Senior Consultant Gastroenterology & Hepatology Singapore General HospitalSingapore General Hospital

Academic Appointments

  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
  • Clinical Lecturer, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
  • Clinical Teacher, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine

Profile

Dr. Ravishankar Asokkumar is a Senior Consultant gastroenterologist and advanced therapeutic endoscopist at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and Clinical Assistant Professor at the Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore. He is experienced in managing common and complex gastrointestinal disorders including obesity, colonic polyps resection, colon cancer screening, early gastric and esophageal cancer resection, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, liver disease, viral hepatitis and inflammatory bowel disease. 

He established the first ever bariatric endoscopic program for weight loss in Singapore at the Obesity Centre, SGH. Under this program, he performs the minimally invasive endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty procedure, primary obesity surgery endoluminal procedure, gastric balloons, post gastric bypass stoma reduction and post gastric sleeve resuturing procedure for weight reduction. He is the first Gastroenterologist in Singapore to be recognized as the National fellow by World Obesity Federation.

Dr. Ravishankar graduated with MBBS (Gold Medal) from Madras Medical College, India in 2007, and completed his postgraduate degree in Internal Medicine (MRCP, United Kingdom) in 2011. He started his ACGME-I accredited residency training in Gastroenterology at Singapore General Hospital and obtained specialist accreditation in Gastroenterology and Hepatology in 2016. He also completed his Gastroenterology Specialist certification by Royal college of physicians of the United Kingdom in 2016.  He pursued further training in Gastroenterology and completed his fellowship in Bariatric and Advanced therapeutic endoscopy at the renowned HM Sanchinarro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.

Dr. Ravishankar has published extensively in peer-reviewed, high impact factor medical journals and authored several book chapters. He has collaborated internationally, and is a regular invited faculty in medical conferences both locally and internationally. He is a faculty in the Gastroenterology, Senior Residency training program and is a trainer for advanced endoscopic procedures for fellows. 

Dr. Ravishankar holds academic appointments in the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical and NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine. He has a strong interest in medical education and research and was bestowed with the Fellow recognition by the American Society of Gastroenterology and Royal College of Physicians, London.


Education

  • ​Specialist Accreditation in Gastroenterology, Singapore Medical Council - 2016
  • Speciality Certificate in Gastroenterology, MRCP (UK) - 2016
  • Membership of the Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom - 2011
  • Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Madras Medical College, India - 2007

Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships

  • Clinical Lecturer, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore
  • Adjunct Research Fellow, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore
  • Member, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
  • Member, Gastroenterological Society of Singapore

Awards

  • ​Pitch for funds award  (2015)
  • Residency in SingHealth Excel Award (2015)
  • Indian Medical Association Award (2007)
  • University Gold Medallist, Madras Medical College, India (2007)
  • University Rank First, General Surgery, Madras Medical College, India (2007)

Research Interests

Publications

PUBLICATIONS

  • Asokkumar R, Kaltenbach T, Soetikno R. Use of over-the scope clip to treat bleeding duodenal ulcers. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 2015 Oct 27. pii: S0016-5107(15)03035-7. doi: 10.1016/j.gie2015.10.019
  • Tan XA, Asokkumar R, Soetikno R. Disseminated primary esophageal malignant melanoma: A possible venous route of metastasis. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 2016 Feb 5. pii: S0016-5107(16)00119-X. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2016.01.057
  • Soetikno R, Asokkumar R, Sim D, Sato T, Kaltenbach T.  Use of over the scope clip to treat massive bleeding at the Transitional zone of the Anal Canal- A case series. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2016 Jan 22. pii: S0016-5107(16)00067-5. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2016.01.041
  • Asokkumar R, Soetikno R. Misplaced “Bear Claw” in a bleeding gastric ulcer: What next? Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 2016 Mar 12. pii; S0016-5107(16)00280-7. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2016.03.019
  • Asokkumar R, Tan D, Khor CJ, Soetikno R. Direct visualisation of biliary stricture through a colonoscope in a patient with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 2016 Sept; 84(3): 532-3. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2016.03.1492
  • Ong AM, Chua LT, Khor CJ, Asokkumar R, Namasivayam V, Wang YT. Diaphragmatic Breathing Reduces Belching and Proton Pump Inhibitor Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Nov 2. pii: S1542-3565(17)31307-1. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2017.10.038
  • Asokkumar R, Ang TL. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of difficult-to-access liver abscesses. Journal of Interventional Gastroenterology. 2016 (In print)
  • Asokkumar R, Chin YK. “Fish-Mouth Papilla”. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 (In Print)
  • Jonathan Teh, Thinesh Lee Krishnamoorthy, Lim Chee Hooi, Ravishankar Asokkumar. Large intramural hematoma and gastric ulcer after EMR of a small gastric polyp. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2017.12.003 (In Print)


Non-Peer Reviewed Publication

  • Asokkumar R, Schwender B, Soetikno R. Hemospray in the treatment of bleeding malignant duodenal ulcer. Hemospray.Cookmedical.com (2015)


CONFERENCE PRESENTATION

  • Aaron G, Asokkumar R, Salazar E. Clinical Nutrition. Are we ignorant or negligent? GI Hep Scientific Meeting, Singapore 2017  - Oral Presentation
  • Soetikno R, Asokkumar R, Khor CJ. Delayed endoscopic closure of giant gastric perforation.  American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy-World cup, Digestive Disease Week, Chicago, 2017 – Oral Presentation
  • Salazar E, Asokkumar R, Tan D, Khor CJ, Soetikno R. Treatment of Iatrogenic Duodenal perforation using over the scope clips. American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy- Learning Center, Digestive Disease Week, Chicago, 2017
  • Asokkumar R, Mesenas SJ, Soetikno R. Endoscopic features of Cronkhite Canada syndrome. American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy- Learning Center, Digestive Disease Week, Chicago, 2017
  • Asokkumar R, Soetikno R. Treatment of ectopic varices using undiluted N-butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate glue injection. American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy- Learning Center, Digestive Disease Week, Chicago, 2017
  • Asokkumar R, Khor CJ, Mesenas SJ. Endoscopic treatment of an uncommon oesophageal stricture. American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy- Learning Center, Digestive Disease Week, Chicago, 2017
  • Asokkumar R, Soetikno R. Misplaced “Bear Claw” in a bleeding gastric ulcer: What next? American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy- Learning Center, Digestive Disease Week, San Diego, 2016
  • Asokkumar R, Tan D, Khor CJ, Soetikno R. Direct visualisation of biliary stricture through a colonoscope in a patient with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy- Learning Center, Digestive Disease Week, San Diego, 2016
  • Asokkumar R, Soetikno R. Glue injection for bleeding gastric varices. Gastroenterology Society of Singapore-Scientific meeting, Singapore, 2016. Oral Presentation
  • Asokkumar R, Khor C, Soetikno R. Endoscopic management of gastrointestinal bleeding. Gastroenterology Society of Singapore- GI Hep meeting, Singapore, 2015. Oral Presentation 


SELECTED POSTER PRESENTATION

  • Khanna J, Asokkumar R. New onset ulcerative colitis following resection of sigmoid cancer.  New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology, Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, 2017
  • Aaron G, Asokkumar R, Salazar E. Clinical Nutrition: Are we ignorant or negligent? United European Gastroenterology Week, Spain, 2017
  • Asokkumar R, Chang PE. Does portal hypertension occur in Cowden syndrome? An answer to an uncommon presentation. Asia Pacific Association of the Study of Liver, Turkey, 2015
  • Asokkumar R, Chang PE. Spleen size: A predictor of variceal bleeding in myleoproliferative disease with portal hypertension. Asia Pacific Association of the Study of Liver, Turkey, 2015
  • Chang PE, Asokkumar R, Sharma M, Tan CK. Prevalence, aetiology and clinical characteristics of non-cirrhotic portal   hypertension in a South- East Asian cohort. Asia Pacific Association of the Study of Liver, Turkey, 2015
  • Tan AV, Asokkumar R. Dengue related pancreatitis: An uncommon association.  Society of Hospital Medicine-Annual Meeting, Boston, 2015
  • Asokkumar R, Low SC, Lim KT, Thng CH, Chung YF, Ooi PJ, Kong SC, Mesenas SJ, Ong WC, Ng KY, Tan D. Evaluation and management of autoimmune pancreatitis in a multi ethnic population: Experience from a tertiary centre in Singapore. Asia Pacific Digestive Week, Bali, 2014
  • Asokkumar R, Ong WC, Kong SC, Steven M, LingKL, Tan D. Endoscopic use of 19-22G fine needle biopsy device to diagnose esophageal metastasis from primary breast cancer presenting as esophageal stricture- A case report. Asia Pacific Digestive Week, Bangkok, 2012
  • Asokkumar R, Hwang W, Linn YC, Goh YT, Lee JJ, Loh Y. retrospective analysis of conditioning regimen and transplant related mortality in patients with MDS undergoing HSCT. Singapore Society of Hematology, 2011
  • Asokkumar R, Hwang W, Linn YC, Goh YT, Lee JJ, Loh Y. Outcome of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Annual Scientific Meeting, Siingapore, 2011

Research Trials

  • ​A Randomized Prospective Comparison of the new EUS- Guided Acquire Needle Biopsy and EUS-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration for Suspected Solid Gastrointestinal Lesions
    Asokkumar R, Tony L, Tan D, Khor C, Soetikno R