Celebrating collaborative successes in clinician-scientists’ development

Attendees of the annual celebratory lunch organised by the Centre for Clinician-Scientist+ Development pose for a light-hearted commemorative photo with Duke-NUS Dean Prof Thomas Coffman (front row, left of centre), Vice-Dean for Academic Medicine Clin Assoc Prof Chow Wan Cheng (front row, centre) and Centre Director Prof Roger Vaughan (front row, right of centre) // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS

For clinician-scientists, defined as much by their research prowess as by their perseverance, having a supportive network of peers with shared experiences is essential. That was the resounding message at the celebratory lunch held on 15 May, which recognised 29 individuals from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC) who received clinician-scientist and transition awards from the National Medical Research Council over the last three grant calls.

Another main takeaway was the importance of making connections. “The thing that I want you to take away from today is to make sure that you make friends,” encouraged Professor Roger Vaughan, the director of Duke-NUS’ Centre for Clinician-Scientist⁺ Development, whose team had organised the event at the Furama Hotel.

With this annual celebratory event, the School not only recognises individual achievements but also reinforces the collaborative foundation essential to the success and growth of the AMC’s research endeavors.

“Research is a fundamental part of our Academic Medical Centre and you are its lifeblood.”
Prof Thomas Coffman

To reinforce these collaborative foundations, the 18 recipients who attended the event, were invited to the stage to introduce their research, share their experiences and advice.

Clinician-Scientist Award recipient Assistant Professor Teo Wan Yee, who studies paediatric brain tumours, spoke to the experience of many in the room when she said: “My research journey is long but it is good and I would like to encourage the young ones here to keep on persevering.”

And perseverance in the face of an unsuccessful grant application is easier when the experience can be shared with others, noted Duke-NUS Dean Professor Thomas Coffman: “You’re a special community. You all understand the things that you are going through to get to where you are. And I think having this kind of peer support, an opportunity to talk to like-minded people is really important.”

For those who enrolled in the Centre for Clinician-Scientist⁺ Development’s tailored mentoring programme, many cited the benefits of the fresh perspective their mentors brought. Associate Professor Andrea Kwa, a pharmacist by training who also received a Clinician-Scientist Award, highlighted that the fresh lens and eyes that the team at the Centre provided helped to strengthen her proposal.

Prof Roger Vaughan encourages the community of clinician-scientists, who attended the celebratory lunch, to make friends and build connections // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS

Asst Prof Teo Wan Yee speaks about her successes and her rejections // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS

Assoc Prof Andrea Kwa talks about the benefit of having someone outside of the infectious diseases field review her proposal // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS

Addressing the group of clinician-scientists, Prof Thomas Coffman shares moments from his own journey and the satisfaction that he has gained along the way // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS

She is among a group of allied health professionals who are blazing the trail for health professionals from more diverse backgrounds to join the clinician-scientist community.

Celebrating these trailblazers, Vice-Dean for Academic Medicine, Clinical Associate Professor Chow Wan Cheng, emphasised the importance of expanding the clinician-scientist pathway to more health professionals.

Clin Assoc Prof Chow Wan Cheng emphasises that this event has no closing remarks as attendees should continue their conversations // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS

Asst Prof Sharon Sung describes her research, which brings together experts working in many different SingHealth institutions, illustrating that research is a team sport // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS

“I am waiting for our first nurse-clinician-scientist,” she quipped while addressing the audience.

Beyond the celebratory event, which brings members of the AMC’s research community together, just doing research also strengthens the community Assistant Professor Sharon Sung from Duke-NUS Health Services and Systems Research Programme observed.

“It’s really a team sport,” she said, adding: “What we have been able to do is grow a community of clinician-scientists and I think that’s probably one of the most valuable things.”

And this community of clinician-scientists, pursuing investigational research, is at the heart of the AMC’s success, Prof Coffman said.

“Research is what drives the spirit of curiosity and innovation across the AMC and you all are critical to that. You’re role models. People look at you. You’re going to be paving the way, inspiring the broader pipeline of people doing this going forward.”

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Celebrating collaborative successes in clinician-scientists’ development

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