Among the 89 students making up the Class of 2023, 74 received their Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees, 13 received their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees and two received combined MD-PhD degrees.
Next, she talked about the key attributes clinicians need to thrive: adaptability to scale obstacles and seize new opportunities; bravery to go into unchartered territories; compassion for all patients and the self; and determination through difficulties. “If you forget everything else… never give up,” she concluded.
Following Prof Ng’s inspiring remarks, Dr Nurul Ain Binte Rejap, Duke-NUS alumnus from the Class of 2022, officially presented the Class of 2023, as the graduands walked on stage as students and left as doctors, holding the newly earned scrolls they had just accepted from Ms Indranee.
Afterwards, the MD graduates rose to their feet to recite the Hippocratic Oath, led by Vice-Dean for Education, Professor Ian Curran. Clinical faculty members joined them in the recitation of this ancient oath that continues to capture the essence of the doctor-patient relationship.
Taking to the stage next, PhD class speaker Dr Lim Mei Chee posed a thoughtful question to her fellow graduates: “As we often look to understand the human body, how much do we know our own selves and what we can do as a person?”
Dr Lim’s response to her own question was both heartfelt and inspiring. For her, there had been moments during her PhD journey where a lack of knowledge or the absence of positive results felt insurmountable. But it was in overcoming these self-doubts that many of them grew into people “full of grit and sheer willpower”. Before handing over to the MD class speaker, Dr Lim encouraged everyone by saying, “Don’t forget, we are tough too… And we will continue to survive and thrive in anything we choose to do next.”
MD class speaker Dr Michelle Ko reflected on the different ways everyone took care of each other during the pandemic. She recalled classmates and faculty members welcoming international peers into their homes for festive celebrations, while various interest groups formed and bonded during a time when isolation could have easily set in.
“As we step out of these doors, I hope that you’ll never forget the Duke family we’ve built over the past four years,” Dr Ko said. “Please continue looking out for one another, sharing useful resources, and collaborating with each other during your clinical or academic pursuits.”
As the ceremony came to a close, the newly minted doctors left the auditorium, with their hoods, proudly holding their scrolls. The atrium reverberated with echoes of their excited conversations as they posed for a rousing class photo, making it clear that while they may have completed their journey at medical school, they will have each other as they step into the next chapter of their careers.