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Class of 2028

Fri, 2 Aug, 2024

Stepping into medicine: Duke-NUS Class of 2028 dons their white coats

The 2024 Duke-NUS White Coat Ceremony was held at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium, Academia on 2 August 2024

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.

Duke-NUS Dean Prof Thomas Coffman delivers the opening remarks

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.

Group Photo 01 (White Coat Ceremony 2024)

Highest Qualification

69
Undergraduates
7
Masters
2
PhD

Citizenship

57
Singaporeans
3
Singapore Permanent Residents
18
Internationals

Academic Background

Science

Engineering

Law

Others

includes students with multiple majors

Before the new students stepped up to receive their white coats, the audience also heard from some of them through a specially produced video. From the clip, it was clear that diverse as their backgrounds may be, they are united by their passion for medicine.

Prof Fong Kok Yong leads the new Class in reciting the Hippocratic Oath

Dr Kok Chun Yen (Class of 2023) introduces the new Class

After the inspiring segment, alumnus Dr Kok Chun Yen (Class of 2023) took to the stage to offer some words of encouragement to his juniors before he introduced the new Class.

As Dr Kok read out the students’ names, bursts of applause filled the auditorium as Duke-NUS’ newest medical students received their white coats from Vice-Dean for Education Associate Professor Shiva Sarraf-Yazdi and Senior Associate Dean Professor Chan Choong Meng on stage.

A palpable shift rippled through the audience as the Class rose to their feet to recite the Hippocratic Oath, led by special guest Professor Fong Kok Yong, SingHealth Deputy Group CEO (Medical & Clinical Services) and Duke-NUS Governing Board member.

Student Gowning (White Coat Ceremony 2024)

Student Gowning 02 (White Coat Ceremony 2024)

Assoc Prof Shiva Sarraf-Yazdi and Prof Chan Choong Meng confer the white coats on the students // Credit: Duke-NUS

“The Hippocratic Oath sets out a set of values, a code of medical ethics, which guide physicians in the practice of medicine. Although written nearly two and a half thousand years ago the Oath is as relevant today as it ever was and provides all physicians with sound guidance as to how they should practice medicine solely for the benefit of their patients.”
Prof Fong

Standing side by side, the newest students pledged to uphold the highest standards of medical practice and patient care as one, joined by their seniors and mentors in the auditorium.

As the ceremony approached its finale, the audience heard from Associate Professor Devanand Anatham, Director of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Medical Humanities Institute, who spoke about how students can overcome their fears in medical practice.

Asst Prof Suzanne Goh, reminds students about the impact of touching lives with medicine

Assoc Prof Devanand Anatham giving the closing remarks

“The courage that is reflected in our School’s values is about how this fear is confronted, acknowledged, shared and finally overcome with diligent practice, mentorship and camaraderie—from the realisation that we are all in the same boat.

“Be brave. Be not afraid. Be courageous,” said Assoc Prof Anatham in his closing remarks.

Before bringing the event to a close, Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Associate Dean for Medical Curriculum Assistant Professor Suzanne Goh left the students with this reminder: “Remember, medicine isn’t just about treating diseases; it’s about touching lives too.”

Hear from the Class of 2028

“My aspiration to improve the quality of life for amputees through innovative prosthetic technologies stems from my research in 3D bioprinting and regenerative medicine. I have always been fascinated by the intersection of engineering and medicine in solving pressing problems in healthcare. One of my notable projects was bioprinting a functionally active human meniscus, which highlighted the potential of combining living cells with biomaterials to create functional and biocompatible solutions.”
Abhay Menon

“I believe [my research experience] will be very valuable for my time at Duke-NUS and in my future work as a doctor. Doctors are often the first to encounter and have the opportunity to identify newly emerging infectious diseases, as we saw with the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducting research on COVID-19 has helped me understand the process of viral infection, which could enhance my ability to recognise and respond to new infectious diseases in the future."
Wang Huwen

“Being able to apply my background in architecture to innovation for the healthcare field would be a privilege. Already, we see various housing models emerging to enable our seniors to thrive. It makes me think about what our future healthcare facilities and living environments will look like. I think there’s still space for more investigation and growth in this area.”
Lim Yu Wen

“Learning the violin is a matter of the head and the heart— it requires strict discipline, and an almost empathetic understanding of the composer and the music I’m playing. Playing the violin has taught me not only that perfection, or even ability, only comes after years and years and years of actual blood sweat and tears, but also how to channel my feelings and experiences into genuine connection, without which communication and empathy would be impossible to achieve. Both are qualities I believe a good doctor would benefit from.”
Dan Yuet Ruh