Dr Thomas Coffman is Dean of Duke-NUS Medical School and Professor in its Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Signature Research Programme. He is also the James R. Clapp Professor of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center where he spent almost 18 years as Chief of the Division of Nephrology and served as Senior Vice-Chair in the Department of Medicine. An international leader in the field of nephrology, Dr Coffman is a Past-President of the American Society of Nephrology. He is also a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians, and served on the Nephrology Subspecialty Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr Coffman's research interests include the renin-angiotensin and prostanoid systems, and diabetic nephropathy. Dr Coffman was conferred the 2014 Excellence Award for Hypertension Research from the AHA Council on Hypertension recognising researchers who have made a major impact in the field of hypertension and whose research has contributed to the improved treatment and greater understanding of high blood pressure. He also received the 2014 Distinguished Faculty Award from the Duke Medical Alumni Association.