- The 2024 Duke-NUS White Coat Ceremony was held at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium, Academia on 2 August 2024
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Ms Lim Yu Wen hopes to apply her background in architecture to healthcare innovation // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS
Mr Muhamad Amir Thaqif Shah aspires to be a paediatrician // Credit: Chua Li Min, Duke-NUS
The journey of becoming a clinician began vibrantly for Duke-NUS’ largest cohort yet during the White Coat Ceremony, not just as a celebration but a significant milestone for the 78 aspiring doctors of the Class of 2028.
From engineers to architects, this diverse group shares a common passion: to transform healthcare and impact lives. Mr Muhamad Amir Thaqif Shah, transitioning from biomedical engineering to paediatrics, exemplifies this spirit. He said, “I want to aid children in overcoming their illness, and to provide them and their families with a positive experience.”
The event, graced by about 400 attendees including prominent figures from Duke-NUS and the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, also welcomed numerous guests virtually.
Duke-NUS Dean Professor Thomas Coffman, encapsulated the sentiments of the day in his opening remarks. “This is always an exciting occasion, where today we formally welcome the Duke-NUS incoming Class of 2028.”
He added: “And we are welcoming you not just as new medical students, but also as our future colleagues in the medical profession,” he stated.
With 78 students donning white coats this year, the Class of 2028 is Duke-NUS’ largest cohort yet, which also includes 22 students admitted via the conditional admissions pathway—a route designed for outstanding students from partner undergraduate programmes to pursue graduate-entry medicine seamlessly.
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Duke-NUS Dean Prof Thomas Coffman delivers the opening remarks
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Ms Dan Yuet Ruh is among seven graduates admitted to this year’s MD class via the NTU conditional admissions pathway // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS
One of these students is Ms Lim Yu Wen, who joined Duke-NUS after completing her undergraduate degree in architecture at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. “Being able to apply my background in architecture to innovation for the healthcare field would be a privilege,” said Ms Lim.
Emphasising the white coat as a symbol of duty and compassion, Prof Coffman added: “The coat marks its wearer’s commitment to helping those in need, with the power to cure sometimes, to relieve often and to comfort always.”
Equally important, Prof Coffman stressed is a clinician’s dedication to the “humanistic side of medicine”, a sentiment keenly shared by Class of 2028 student Ms Dan Yuet Ruh, a violinist and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) President Research Scholar. Ms Dan is among seven graduates admitted via the NTU conditional admissions pathway, a first for the School.
“Playing the violin has taught me how to channel my feelings and experiences into genuine connection, without which communication and empathy would be impossible. Both are qualities I believe a good doctor would benefit from,” she said.