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Thursday, 08 Sep, 2022
Witnessing the Comfort Medicine Brings
Tong Haotian is pursuing studies in medicine as part of the MD Class of 2026 at Duke-NUS Medical School. He shares how the Shaw Foundation Scholarship and his experiences with palliative care doctors have been preparing him for this new journey.
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Haotian is part of the Class of 2026 cohort of 72 MD students at Duke-NUS. He previously completed a Bachelor of Science at Tsinghua University, China.
What made you want to pursue a career in medicine?Besides it being a childhood dream, becoming a doctor means something more special to me now.
The world has been a strange place since 2020, and my grandma was diagnosed with late-stage gastric cancer amidst this chaos. With her heart problems complicating any potential surgery and COVID complicating hospital visits, we decided to move her back home on a palliative plan recommended by the doctors.
I was initially against the plan, partly because I blamed myself for not noticing sooner the weight loss and change in appetite. If only… But then together we travelled a bit, we talked a lot, and finally I cared for her till her last breath. Working with palliative care is like one long journey, not into death and suffering, but into farewell, acceptance, and all the fond memories. The doctors and nurses were like bright sunshine in the dim lights of the ward, respecting and supporting us at every turn.
The world since 2020 is indeed bizarre, but I will find hope and faith, not by curing all the problems, but by knowing that we tried our best to preserve life and also dignity, and by sharing a piece of the meaningful life-stories of my future patients. I find this to be the best tribute to my grandma I can think of.
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Haotian with his grandmother.
What medical specialty do you wish to pursue upon graduation?I want to decide only after trying different things, but for now I have my eyes on medical oncology or haematology due to the cutting-edge research that brings about transformations to the best patient care practices.
However, there is also the wisdom of knowing when not to, knowing when to find peace, to comfort rather than cure, and to have the difficult conversation. These are prime examples of medicine as both a science and an art: to cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always.
How is the Shaw Foundation Scholarship helping in your journey? As an international student, relocating abroad is a daunting adventure and commitment, especially in this ever-changing, post-pandemic world. Medical school is not cheap, and my parents are both teachers with modest pay. I would like to express my deepest thanks to the kind people at the Shaw Foundation. Your help has made it easier for me to make up my mind and pursue my dream here in Singapore. It has enabled me to commit to a career here and to one day give back to the people who raised me. I’ll keep close the thought of being helped and channel that thought to drive my passion for helping future patients.
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Haotian (right) on stage with Prof Ian Curran, Vice Dean, Education, during the White Coat Ceremony on 19 August 2022.
Duke-NUS believes in the transformative value of welcoming students from diverse academic backgrounds. What perspectives might your previous experiences bring to your study of medicine?Previously, I studied biological science and philosophy for my bachelor’s degree.
My foundational knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology gives me a head start in studying clinically relevant concepts, while previous training in basic research enables me to read journals, discover exciting projects, and carry out sound research. Like many students with a similar background, I feel the science training during undergraduate studies paves the way towards studying medicine.
On the other hand, philosophy has brought me many unique perspectives. Reflections on the human condition, human suffering, and human understanding form an anchor for me to really go the extra mile when the going gets tough. My previous experience in ethics and religious studies gives me some clarity in finding common ground with others when it comes to morals and spirituality. My training in logic and semantics enables clear, methodical analysis of patient accounts and complex situations.