Dr Julian Theng Thiam Siew (born 1968) is a Singaporean ophthalmologist and businessman. He is the founder of the private practice, Eagle Eye Centre and the joint owner of EagleWings Group with his sister, Lisa Theng.[1] The EagleWings Group oversees lifestyle businesses like EagleWings Yacht Charters[2], EagleWings Loft, and the independent boutique cinema, EagleWings Cinematics.[3][4]

Julian Theng
Julian Theng.jpg
Born1968
EducationBachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Master of Medicine (Ophthalmology)
Alma materNational University of Singapore

Background

Julian Theng was a student-athlete having represented his schools in athletics, table-tennis and tennis at the primary, secondary and pre-university levels.[5] He was also a national athlete in Singapore's tennis team.[6] In 2016, Julian Theng was one of the recipients of the ASEAN Teochew Entrepreneur Award for his success with Eagle Eye Centre.[7] Outside of his professional career as an eye surgeon, he has served as a deacon in Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church.[8]

Early life & family

In several media interviews, Julian Theng has shared that he wanted to be a doctor from young.[9][10] As a youth, he helped his parents administer insulin injections to his diabetic grandmother.[11] Julian Theng has an older sister, Lisa Theng, who is a lawyer by profession,[12] an older brother who is in the IT business and a younger brother who is also a doctor.[13] As of July 2020, he is married with two sons and a daughter. His oldest child, Joanna Theng, is an actress who has appeared in several Singaporean dramas on MediaCorp Channel 8.[14][15]

Education

Julian Theng was a student at Anglo-Chinese Junior School and Anglo-Chinese School.[16] He then attended National Junior College[17] and furthered his studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree in 1992.[18]

Postgraduate studies

Julian Theng then pursued his post-graduate studies in Ophthalmology.[19] With a Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS), he also has the professional qualification to practice as a surgeon in Edinburgh. Additionally, he holds a FROphth (Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists) qualification in London.[20]

Medical career

As a cornea specialist,[21] Julian Theng is trained in cataract surgery, Lasik and refractive surgery and also, cornea transplants.[22] Before founding his private practice, Julian Theng worked at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) for over a decade as a consultant.[23][24] In 2004, he was one of the two Singaporean doctors who performed a new type of surgery on a blind teenager from Thailand in an attempt to restore his eyesight.[25][26] During his tenure at SNEC, Julian Theng was under the direction of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan who he had described as a mentor.[27] Minister Vivian Balakrishnan officiated the opening of Julian Theng's private practice in 2006.[28]

 
Dr Julian Theng pictured with Dr Lim Wee Kiak in 2016. Photo credit to Joseph Nair/Business Times.

Eagle Eye Centre - Founder & medical director (2006 - present day)

Julian Theng founded Eagle Eye Centre in 2006 with his colleague, Lim Wee Kiak.[29][30] As of 2020, the latter is a politician and the member of parliament (MP) for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC). The two operated out of a unit at Mount Alvernia Hospital.[31][32] In 2009, Eagle Eye Centre was featured in the media by the likes of MediaCorp Channel 8[33] and Channel News Asia[34] for being the first clinic in Asia to offer new procedures for myopia correction. In 2011, Julian Theng operated on Chen Yi Xi, the son of MediaCorp artistes, Xiang Yun and Edmund Chen.[35] The successful operation was documented by The Straits Times. Eagle Eye Centre has 15 doctors[36] and operates from seven clinics in Singapore as of July 2020.[37]

EagleWings Group

Julian Theng and Lisa Theng are the joint owners of EagleWings Group which has three business arms - EagleWings Yacht Charters, EagleWings Loft and EagleWings Cinematics. According to the group's LinkedIn profile and website, EagleWings Cinematics' motto, “Light your world” was inspired by the Bible passage “You are the light of the world"​ and "let your light shine”.[38][39]

 
The owners of EagleWings Group. Photo from SuperYacht Times.

Involvement at King Albert Park Mall (2016 - present day)

Julian Theng and Lisa Theng were heavily involved in the renewal of KAP strata mall. In 2016, the pair rented three units for EagleWings Loft which was a food and beverage business for their yacht charter.[40] In 2018, the sibling duo joined the mall's Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST).[41] Since then, the EagleWings Group and its related tenants have occupied more than twenty units in the mall.[42] As of 2020, KAP Mall houses the 153-seater EagleWings Cinematics,[43] an Eagle Eye Centre clinic and JoMaChi, an apparel store run by Julian Theng's three children.[44]

EagleWings Yacht Charters (2016 - present day)

Julian Theng and his sister, Lisa Theng bought their first Sunreef yacht in 2015 after attending the Singapore Yacht Show.[45][46] They intended to use the yacht for extended family gatherings and decided to rent it when it was not in use.[47] According to the business' website, EagleWings Yacht Charters has two boats available for private hire as of July 2020.[48]

References/ Citations

  1. Ong, Yunita. "King Albert Park strata mall to house cinema, more shops". Business Times. November 29, 2018. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  2. "3 unconventional new venues to hold a wedding or party!". Home & Decor. May 8, 2016. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  3. "EagleWings Group". LinkedIN. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  4. "INTRODUCTION OF EAGLEWINGS GROUP". EagleWings Group. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  5. "In the balance". The Straits Times. July 29, 1986. Accessed on 28 July 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  6. "Dr Julian Theng Thiam Siew". Eagle Eye Centre. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  7. "ASEAN TEOCHEW ENTREPRENEUR AWARD". Sgtea. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  8. "Dr Julian Theng Thiam Siew". Eagle Eye Centre. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  9. Young, Elaine. "Eye on the ball". The Straits Times. January 17, 2007. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  10. Ah Cai La Kopi - SG 50 Memory Project. "Julian Theng". YouTube. July 23, 2015. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  11. Yap, Sara. "In Plain Sight". Prestige. June 3, 2015. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  12. Tan, Daphne and Ian De Cotta. "These 5 People in Singapore Prove You Can Make Your Hobby into a Business". The Peak Magazine. July 15, 2016. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  13. Cua, Genevieve. "Transformative vision". Business Times. April 7, 2020. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  14. Chen, Sabine. "Feminine athleisure style for Sunsilk model Joanna Theng". The Straits Times. June 1, 2017. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  15. Lee, Jocelyn. "Which Star Was Almost Thrown Off A Building By School Bullies?". 8 Days. October 27, 2017. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  16. "Dr Julian Theng Thiam Siew". Eagle Eye Centre. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  17. "In the balance". The Straits Times. July 29, 1986. Accessed on 28 July 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  18. "Dr Julian Theng Thiam Siew". Eagle Eye Centre. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  19. "Dr Julian Theng Thiam Siew". Eagle Eye Centre. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  20. Ibid.
  21. "Dr Julian Theng". Mount Alvernia Hospital. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  22. Yap, Sara. "In Plain Sight". Prestige. June 3, 2015. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  23. Young, Elaine. "Eye on the ball". The Straits Times. January 17, 2007. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  24. "Dr Theng Thiam Siew Julian". Mount Elizabeth. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  25. Lee, Steven. "1st tooth-in-eye op done here". The Straits Times. February 26, 2004. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  26. Frances, Joy. "A tooth for an eye... so he may see again". Today. February 24, 2006. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  27. Cua, Genevieve. "Transformative vision". Business Times. April 7, 2020. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  28. Vivian Balakrishnan. "Happy and proud to see how Dr Julian Theng's Eagle Eye Centre has grown...". Facebook. November 28, 2014. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  29. Cua, Genevieve. "Transformative vision". Business Times. April 7, 2020. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  30. "Setting its sights further". Business Times. July 22, 2016. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  31. Ibid.
  32. Chuah, Daphne. "Did you know that the sun could damage your sight?". Today. June 8, 2007. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  33. eagleeyecentre. "Eagle Eye Centre featured on Ch8-News 8 10PM - 18Nov.wmv". YouTube. November 18, 2009. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  34. eagleeyecentre. "CNA-ST-10pm-18Nov.wmv". YouTube. November 18, 2009. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  35. Low, Fiona. "More choosing partial cornea transplants". The Straits Times. July 8, 2011. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  36. "Doctors". Eagle Eye Clinic. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  37. "Contact & Location". Eagle Eye Centre. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  38. "EagleWings Group". LinkedIN. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  39. "INTRODUCTION OF EAGLEWINGS GROUP". EagleWings Group. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  40. Cua, Genevieve. "Transformative vision". Business Times. April 7, 2020. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  41. Ong, Yunita. "King Albert Park strata mall to house cinema, more shops". Business Times. November 29, 2018. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  42. Ibid.
  43. Lui, John. "New independent cinema to open in King Albert Park area". The Straits Times. November 21, 2018. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  44. "JoMaChi". JoMaChi.co. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  45. "3 unconventional new venues to hold a wedding or party!". Home & Decor. May 8, 2016. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  46. Fottles, Gemma. "The Eagle has landed: On board the first Sunreef Supreme". SuperYacht Times. June 24, 2016. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  47. Koh, Jeremy. "Yacht charter trade buoyed by rise in boat numbers". The Straits Times. May 2, 2016. Accessed on 28 July 2020.
  48. "OUR YACHTS". EagleWings Yacht Charters. Accessed on 28 July 2020.