Home > Programs > Obstetrics & Gynaecology > Curriculum > FAQ

FAQ

What makes our program unique and different from other training programs?

We are well funded for simulation training, and conduct obstetric emergencies drills at our newly built Simulation Centre at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (YLLSOM). Other workshops include the Anatomy of Complications Workshop, and minimal access surgery training at the Khoo Teck Puat Advanced Surgery Training Centre. We also have a high faculty to resident ratio (1 core faculty to 2 resident, and 2 faculty to 1 resident) to ensure adequate and constant educational supervision. As an academic department linked to YLLSOM, we are successful in many grant applications to allow an extensive research curriculum for our residents. Located in the western cluster where the local demographics reveal a young reproducing population, NUHS attracts an obstetric case mix of both low and high risk. We are also one of the leading institutions in the region to have ventured into robotics for major gynecological surgery.

How would you describe your OBGYN program?

Our program is firmly committed to providing holistic medical training to develop evidence-based and compassionate OBGYN clinicians, in a vibrant academic environment and a culture of continual improvement. Translational research is particularly strong in the program with regular Science Tuesdays sessions wherein scientists and clinicians come together to translate bench research into innovations that improve the care of mothers, fetuses, and the aging women.

What criteria are you using to select the Residents?

We are looking for self-motivated, diligent, conscientious, enthusiastic and dynamic individuals to join our Residency program. As our OG department is a massive team of multi professional colleagues, residents joining our department must be good team-players, with initiative and able to work with different members of our dynamic team.

In addition to looking at residents’ academic performance and any previous OBGYN related experience, we are also assessing potential candidates on the NUHS TRICE values. Our residents all possess our NUHS Core Values, Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence. They must show commitment to the care of our patients and the education of our next generation of doctors.

Individuals who wish to have an academic career with solid clinical training in OG, coupled with strong educational and research opportunities in an academic enviroment are particularly suitable.

What criteria are you using to select the Residents?

Individuals who wish to have an academic career with solid clinical training in OG, coupled with strong educational and research opportunities in an academic enviroment are particularly suitable.

What career paths are available after my residency?

Residents may enter OBGYN residency on the clinician track or the clinician scientist track. Residents with a research inclination contemplating an academic career should consider going onto the clinician scientist track. There are no great differences between the clinician and clinician scientist curriculum in the first 4 years of residency training; clinical competencies and assessment modalities will be the same on both tracks.

Clinician Track: After graduating from the 4 years residency program, the clinician track resident will enter the final 2 year advanced program where the resident has further exposure to the different subspecialties (maternal fetal medicine, benign gynecology, reproductive endocrinology and gynecologic oncology). Upon completing the final 2 years advanced program and satisfying the exit criteria of the Specialist Accreditation Board Singapore, the resident will be certified as an OBGYN specialist in Singapore. OG Clinicians in NUH are renowned for their high standards of holistic care anchored on evidence-based medicine. Our clinicians also have education of the next generation of doctors as a key goal.

Clinician Scientist Track: After graduating from the 4 years residency program, the clinician scientist resident will enter the advanced program. The advanced program is at least two times longer than residents on the clinician track, involving a heavy focus on academic research (basic science / clinical / grants application) leading to a higher degree (MD, PhD). The Clinician Scientist Track resident is required to satisfy the exit Specialist Accreditation Board Singapore at the end of the advanced program before becoming a certified OBGYN specialist in Singapore. The Clinician Scientist Track trained specialist is likely to pursue an academic career in a university department.

Is there a compulsory research requirement?

Being a university academic institution, research requirement is compulsory for residents on both clinician and clinician scientist tracks. Residents are expected to demonstrate scholarly activity annually, and scholarly activities are part of the annual evaluations.

All residents are encouraged to present their research findings at international conferences. When accepted for any presentations, the department will fund the sponsorship for the residents to present their work to the international audience. Impactful publications that improve the care of women are expected to result from these presentations.