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Dukies on Campus

me+SH follows the journey of five students who were in the pioneering Duke-NUS class of 2007

YEAR 1: Igniting the Spirit
The first year at Duke-NUS is a rigorous immersion in the basic sciences; the building blocks of medicine. History and physical examinations are integrated with the basic science content being studied. In this way, students are fully prepared to begin their clinical rotations in the second year.

EUNIZAR OMAR
If I were a superhero…I would like to be able to manipulate time. I could slow time down if I needed more of it or fast forward through boring or painful moments. I could also rewind time to review and change past mistakes.

DANIEL YONG
If I were a superhero… I would want to be like Wolverine. Soft and furry on the outside, but made of titanium inside.

How did you feel on your first day as a medical student?
Eunizar Omar (EO): I was nervous and wondered if I would be able to cope but also felt very blessed and privileged to have been so warmly welcomed into the Duke-NUS family.
Daniel Yong (DY): Excited that I was embarking on a whole new journey!

How were TeamLEAD sessions like to you?
EO: TeamLEAD sessions were often intense and sometimes very heated, but usually a healthy exchange between faculty and students.
DY: Besides sharing knowledge, we also have to maximise each other’s “skills” and balance team dynamics. It can be both fun and frustrating at times. I was glad that I had a team to help me with learning.

What first year moment was particularly memorable to you?
EO: The donor memorial ceremony. It reminds me to be thankful to patients and their families, who, despite their sufferings have put aside their needs and willingly helped us on our journey to becoming good doctors. 

How has your experience as a medical student helped you grow both personally and professionally over the past four years?
EO: Being able to interact with patients gave me a greater appreciation for what I have and has helped improve my communication skills. Professionally, being immersed in clinical research has really opened my eyes to the unique challenges faced by clinician scientists.
DY: Although I started medical school as a “mature” student, I feel that I have grown as a person. I’ve learnt to accept that there are certain things that are beyond me in terms of what a doctor can do for a patient, but I should always strive to do the best within my capabilities.

How does it feel now that you’re only weeks away from offi cially becoming one?
DY: Just as excited as my first day as a medical student. I will be starting the journey for real! A little calmer and wiser, but the enthusiasm remains the same.

YEAR 2:Involving Patient Care
In the second year, students focus on becoming effective clinicians by going on a series of core clerkship rotations. The clinical rounds have been designed to develop students’ clinical skills in history taking and physical examinations and the ability to appropriately use resources to diagnose patients.

Prof Lim Shih Hui is a Senior Consultant at the National Neuroscience Institute. Having taught the pioneering batch since 2007, Prof Lim is proud to say that he knows almost everyone in class. The Neurology clerkship coordinator is responsible for planning the students’ clerkship curriculum, ensuring that they receive adequate exposure to the field in the short three to four weeks. Under his guidance, aspiring medical professionals are imbued with the pioneering qualities to “always be prepared to take on new challenges, go into uncharted territories and find new ways to do things better.”

We talk to one of them, Shera Chaterji.

SHERA CHATERJI
If I were a superhero…I would want my superpower to be ‘super speed’. This will give me the ability to dash from one patient to another during busy night calls and attend to emergencies quickly.

Why did you decide to become a doctor?
My undergraduate degree in bioengineering gave me a glimpse into the world of medicine through courses in anatomy and physiology and working on medical devices and biomaterials. It was towards the end of my course that I realised that I wanted to be involved in patient care in a more direct manner.

Can you describe your experience in your medical clerkship?
My medical clerkship in the second year was the fi rst time that I was directly in charge of patients and responsible for reporting their progress to the team. My team strongly believed in teaching and would pause to explain the complexities of diagnoses and management plans despite their busy schedules. This is something that I will always be grateful for and will endeavour to recreate a similar learning environment whenever I have the opportunity.

Tell us a bit about your work in second year with Prof Lim Shih Hui, your neurology clerkship leader!
Prof Lim has been a very inspiring and dedicated teacher who is also a mentor and role model for many of us. He devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy to hone our clinical
skills despite his numerous other commitments. Prof Lim will also be involved in our Hooding Ceremony at graduation, and it is our humble way of saying ‘thank you’ to a great teacher
who has been there for us every step of the way.

What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had in your second year?
My most fun experience was during my neurology clerkship. My fellow classmates and I developed a great working relationship and camaraderie while we saw patients with a wide variety of conditions.

YEAR 3: Focusing on Clinical Research
Duke-NUS’ unique third year provides students an unparalleled opportunity to do in-depth research in their area of particular interest for a full year. It allows individuals to gain scholarly experience in research, explore and clarify long-term career goals, and develop a creative, insightful approach to medicine.

Dr William Hwang, a Senior Consultant at the Department of Haematology at SGH recalls his experience guiding students Ann Mei and Liming on their third-year research projects. Helping students deal with setbacks and find their own innovative solutions to problems are his goals as a mentor. He believes that these qualities are what make the future pioneers in medicine. One memorable moment he shares was seeing the delight in her eyes when Ann Mei was told her paper was accepted by Bone Marrow Transplantation. “That was worth it!” he exclaims.

WONG ANN MEI
If I were a superhero…I would want to have the ability to heal and provide comfort —that’s the reason why I study medicine.

Why did you decide to become a doctor?
I became interested in studying clinical medicine in my final year of undergraduate studies when I took up pathology. Once you understand the basis of how disorders arise, you can tailor treatments for the individual. The whole process poses intellectual challenges and the doctor-patient relationship is also extremely satisfying.

Can you describe your experience in your research year?
It was an excellent educational experience as I was able to learn how to publish a paper and present in an academic setting. My project was to determine the optimal dosage and route of administration of chemotherapy in stem cell transplant that will decrease the side effects in patients while providing the best efficacy.

Dr Hwang is an extremely supportive mentor who led me in the correct direction and taught me critical skills in research. Furthermore, I was allowed to attend his clinic so as to better
understand the clinical aspect of stem cell transplants. He taught me how to be a better doctor in terms of medical knowledge and doctor-patient relations.

What perspective has research given you in your future career as a clinician?
It taught me how to practise evidence-based medicine and better critic scientific journals. I was taught not to believe everything published at face value, but to dive down to the nitty-gritty details and decide for myself if the evidence presented is trustworthy.

What’s the most memorable experience with your Duke-NUS classmates?
Role-playing different types of patients with my classmates in preparation for our clinical skills exam. Despite all the stress, we bonded and made each clinical encounter fun and filled with laughter. It made me realise the importance of teamwork and friendship.

YEAR 4: From Student to Clinician
In their fourth and final year, students prepare to enter the world of clinical medicine and enhance their preparation for internships and residencies through clinical rotations. By the time of graduation, students’ clinical experiences would have created a context that bridges the gaps between course material and clinical practice.

Dr Tan Thiam Chye, a Consultant in KKH’s O&G Department is the Clerkship Coordinator that helped Tat Xin tailor his six-week sub-internship. Dr Tan believes in building confidence in students as they mature into clinicians. “Humility and a positive learning attitude are most important in medicine,” he adds.

“As a pioneer class, all eyes are on these students, so it is necessary that they exhibit even more humility in their lives and work.” Outside class, Dr Tan even had the chance to witness a surprise marriage proposal between Tat Xin and his fiancée during a research presentation in Spain. It certainly was “a touching moment”.

EE TAT XIN
If I were a superhero…I would like to be able to help people forget all their worries and be happy with a snap of my fingers.

Why did you decide to become a doctor?
The loss of my grandparents to cancer made me very curious about this deadly disease when I was a teenager. I went on to obtain a degree in science and spent a year doing research in cancer biology. These experiences further crystalised my interest and belief that being a doctor is the most effective way to help people battle illnesses.

How was your fourth year medical clerkship like?
The fourth year has been a whirlwind of early mornings, overnight calls, and a first-hand taste of what Residency will be like. I am particularly grateful to all the Consultants who have taken the time and effort to impart precious knowledge and skills amidst the busy ward rounds and clinics. I am equally grateful to my seniors who helped me through the challenging
sub-internships.

Tell us a bit about your experience with Dr Tan Thiam Chye!
Dr Tan tailored the programme to allow me to have maximum exposure to various departments in KKH and constantly encouraged me to stretch my limits. He is an exceptional mentor and was instrumental in a decision making for Residency application and my subsequent decision to pursue my career in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

How does it feel now that you’re only weeks away from officially becoming a doctor?
I’m both excited and apprehensive of what lies ahead. Nonetheless, I look forward to finally graduating and taking the first baby steps in Medicine.

(L-R): Duke-NUS Pioneer Class Medical Students Ee Tat Xin, Shera Charterji, Wong Ann Mei, Eunizar Omar and Daniel Yong. Photo by Bryan Tan, Duke-NUS

Extracted from me+SH (Mar-Apr 2011), a SingHealth Publication