Coming together to celebrate and appreciate the contributions of alumni were two great reasons for the Duke-NUS Alumni Social Night. Organised by the Duke-NUS Alumni Relations department, the Alumni Social Night on 9 March 2016 was held at Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar in Clarke Quay.

A rousing success on its debut, the Alumni Social Night saw a bigger turnout than expected, so much so that the catering figures had to be increased at the last minute! Guests got to enjoy delectable Spanish cuisine over drinks and convivial company. Alumni were entertained musically by students as the student emcees held the night together.

Leveraging on the relaxed, informal atmosphere, a birthday cake magically appeared for Dr Bianca Chan (MD 2011) and Dr Mara McAdams (Assistant Dean, Student Affairs), whose birthdays fell in March. The duo was lured onto the stage on the pretext of playing a game, all in the name of good fun of course!

That night, Dean Thomas Coffman took the opportunity to personally present certificates of appreciation to recognise several alumni members who have selflessly and generously given their time on numerous occasions to help their juniors despite heavy personal and professional commitments.

On the importance of maintaining close and strong ties with our alumni, Dean Coffman had this to say. "Their journey with the School does not end at graduation. It is crucial that we know their journey in residency, as it ensures the school continues to prepare future doctors adequately. They are the accomplishments of the school and they represent qualities the school aims to cultivate in its students." He added, "The clinician scientists the school aims to groom have a long journey ahead, and we wish to ensure they are supported and engaged throughout their careers."

A pleasantly surprised award recipient was Dr Zhou Yi, who was initially unsure if she could even attend the event due to her busy schedule. "I feel appreciated, as part of the Duke-NUS family and it motivates me to want to contribute more. I appreciated the help and good advice I got from seniors when I was a student, and I want to help my juniors. They remind me of myself just one or two years ago," she shared, as she applauded the event organiser for the chance to also catch up with her former classmates.

Noting the surprisingly strong turnout as well was Dr Leong Dalun, another award recipient. "Usually, I would meet a handful of classmates at other events. It is rare for so many of us to be here," he mused. On a more serious note, he also shared that his motivation to offer his time to his juniors stemmed from his personal belief that "a good school will have support from a strong alumni network. I believe a strong bond between the school and its alumni members is essential and I just want to play my part in forging a stronger connection. I benefited from alumni involvement as a student, so I am doing the same for my juniors now. I hope my juniors will do the same for their juniors in future as well."

Below the surface of the evening's merriment, it was evident that the ties between the alumni and the school run deep and strong.