Dr Chiam was born and schooled in Singapore before moving to Brisbane in 1989 to start medical training at University of Queensland.  He graduated with honours in 1994 before moving to Townsville to complete an internship at Townsville General.  Dr Chiam completed basic and advanced general surgical training under Royal Australasian College of Surgeons from 1998 to 2006, obtaining Fellowship of RACS in 2006.

He commenced work as Staff Specialist General Surgeon at Cairns Base Hospital in October 2006 and commenced private practice - Cairns Surgical Care,  in May 2008.

Interests include:

• Gallbladder and biliary tract surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy and exploration of common bile duct)
• Upper GI surgery (Stomach, small intestine, spleen)
• Breast surgery including breast cancer
• Colorectal surgery, including bowel cancer
• Thyroid and parathyroid surgery
• Hernia repairs – laparascopic and open (inguinal, femoral, incisional & ventral)
• Skin cancer surgery
• Miscellaneous (haemorrhoids, pilonidal sinus)