Prof Seow graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1981 and obtained his higher surgical qualifications in 1987. He subsequently sub-specialized in colorectal surgery in 1989 where he worked with the world class surgeons of St Marks’ Hospital in London. At that time, there were no specialized departments of colorectal surgery in this part of the world. Prof Seow returned to Singapore after training intent on turning Singapore into a surgical colorectal powerhouse.

In his first year, he helped establish the first colorectal surgery department in Asia which offered patients the latest surgical techniques at the Singapore General Hospital.