Dr Elizabeth Ang
Registrar
Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology
My training experience in University Children's Medical Institute (UCMI)
When I finally decided that I wanted to train in Paediatric Medicine, there was nary a doubt where I wanted to do it. University Children's Medical Institute (UCMI), has had a fine tradition of excellence in teaching. The senior staffs make the apprenticeship of medicine a top priority. They are clinically and academically the best in Singapore, yet approachable enough to be a phone call away when managing a difficult patient. The teaching atmosphere trickles down to the junior staff level, where each guides the next junior level along.
Of course, the learning comes at a price- hard work in order to be on our toes at all times. How else can we match up to the cream of the crop of medicine that comprises our seniors? Protected time for our learning is definite (daily, and often twice daily!), but behooves us to prepare and read beforehand. Even then, seniors’ constant questions (at grand ward rounds, case presentations, journal clubs, symposia) ensure our minds are active and enquiring.
The department is the only paediatric unit in Singapore providing renal replacement therapy for children. We are also THE centre for paediatric renal and liver transplants. Patients come from all parts of Singapore and Asia (and sometimes beyond!) to receive such service, and we in turn, learn from managing them. Even in the realm of general paediatrics, I have had sufficient interaction with many patients, some of whom swear by our department and will travel across the whole of Singapore just to see our doctors.
Although I am nearing the end of my formal training in Paedatrics soon, I cannot imagine leaving this work family of mine. I suppose after the excitement of training the best of the best has come and gone, the feeling of family and having grown up here remains and will keep me here.
Dr Cindy Ho
Registrar
Division of Endocrinology
My training experience at Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital
NUH University Children's Medical Institute has a reputation of being a place with excellent teaching and training for medical students and Paediatricians to be. After having experienced the department firsthand, I truly believe that NUH is the best place in Singapore to be trained as a paediatrician.
As cases are diverse, we think through them critically which make NUH an excellent place for learning. In fact, this is the only hospital in Singapore that manages children on dialysis and in my estimation, some of the most complicated nephrology cases are thus referred here for management. 3 years in this department has helped me develop my competence and confidence in the practice of Paediatrics and I look to many more years of learning in this department.
Additionally, the doctors in University Children’s Medical Institute are dedicated to both patient care and to work excellence. There is a real desire to be the best doctors to their patients, and the best tutors for their students! This has inspired me to follow suit, even as a junior doctor.
The teaching culture is deeply embedded in the department and the training program is both rigorous and well-structured. We have learning activities every morning and most afternoons. These range from learning through case presentations of patients managed, lectures on important topics, journal reviews, to mock resuscitation scenarios that trainees are put through to learn how to stay calm during emergencies. Every subspecialty rotates to take on teaching every month so that the trainees have good exposure to breadth of sub-disciplines in Paediatrics.
Teaching is also regularly conducted at the bedside and in outpatient clinics. Whenever trainees are taking examinations, they can be sure to receive extra tutorials from dedicated tutors who sacrificially give up their time to help prepare them for the exams. I was one of the recipients of such selfless gestures. I remember being at a Professor’s house practising examination questions until 2am in the morning! During my preparation for clinical exams, many have also gone out of their way to help me and my peers, for which I am profoundly grateful.
I’m exceedingly thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to learn under the wings of the outstanding clinicians and teachers of this department. They have been both mentors and friends. They have guided me not in my pursuit of clinical knowledge and skills, but also lent a listening ear, a helping hand and have given me sound advice. Many of them are role models to me, paediatricians that I aspire to be like. I have also enjoyed working with my fellow trainees, who are an eager and dedicated group and also great fun to hang out with outside of work!
Without a doubt, NUH University Children's Medical Institute is one of the best places to train as a Paediatrician!
Dr Elizabeth Tham
Paediatrics Trainee
I first joined NUH Paediatrics as a house officer in 2007. I found Paediatrics a welcome change compared to my first posting in adult medicine where most patients had strokes, sepsis, angina and the seemingly never-ending list of geriatric problems.
No doubt, the thought of having to look after children and very small babies was initially terrifying. But I had very supportive seniors who were always ready and willing to lend a helping hand whenever I and my fellow HOs were unsure about anything – from helping to do difficult practical procedures to explaining complicated clinical conditions. Everyone, from the medical officers to the senior consultants, was friendly and approachable – no question was ever too silly or simple for them to answer!
As a medical officer, I chose to come back to NUH Paediatrics because of their excellent training program. We see a great variety of cases here– from the bread and butter cases like asthma, gastroenteritis and upper respiratory tract infections to complicated, challenging and rare conditions as well. Life in the wards is always interesting with so many new things to learn each day. Teaching is also heavily emphasised in the department. We have protected time every day for formal tutorials and lectures, but teaching goes on even in informal settings like ward rounds. We are encouraged to think through and analyse problems on our own as well. In this way, we quickly learn to manage our patients and make independent decisions.
Working in the Children’s Emergency has also been a very enjoyable and multi-faceted experience. Many of the children we see are otherwise healthy with minor ailments such as fever, upper respiratory tract infections or gastroenteritis. We also see children with orthopaedic and surgical conditions which we would otherwise not manage in the general inpatient wards. Many of these children are well enough to go home after a short course of treatment in the CE. There is also the occasional adrenaline rush of managing a P1 (priority 1) standby requiring resuscitation and intubation!
Working with children is definitely a different experience compared to adult patients. They are more fragile and need a lot more care and close monitoring. The younger children are very adorable and there is always much pleasure interacting and playing with them! There are also patients with chronic diseases such as renal failure and diabetes. We must always consider the significant impact that their disease has on their schoolwork and relationships with family and peers when planning their long-term management. Compliance issues are especially a problem in the adolescent years as well.
Overall, my experience working in NUH Paediatrics has truly been an enriching, enjoyable one. The department is a small but close-knit one. Working with the same colleagues over the last few years has made me feel like I am part of a big family. Anybody who loves children and enjoys the challenges and excitement of working with them will always be welcomed here.
Dr Christelle Tan
Paediatrics Resident
The NUH pediatric residency programme has been a truly exciting and enriching experience for me.
The four month rotation in pediatrics, in particular, has trained me to think critically and read around the myriad of interesting patients we see here. The strong culture of learning while serving our patients makes working particularly enjoyable and fulfilling. The weekly structured teachings, regular presentations and monthly assessments keep me focused and provide very useful feedback in helping me pace my learning. Also, the closely knit department with extremely helpful and dedicated seniors who are very patient and passionate in teaching makes working here a great joy.
It has been a steep learning curve for me and will continue to be but I am confident in the training provided to help equip me with the knowledge and clinical skill to achieve good patient care as a pediatrician in the future. All in all, I am glad that I have chosen to do my residency here.
