Clinical Practice
In the first two clinical years, senior residents will be rotated through various rotations involving different tumour types, the length of each clinical rotation ranging from two to four months. Each rotation will be devoted to one to two main disease sites with close supervision from faculty. Senior residents will be required to attend diligently the multi-disciplinary tumour boards for that particular rotation.
A unique feature of the programme is the autonomy and flexibility afforded to our senior residents to organise and schedule their own continuity clinic patients. Throughout their training, senior residents accumulate patients to their continuity clinic panel, and are looked upon as the patient’s primary oncologic physician, with significant clinical decision responsibilities. This ensures that by the end of senior residency, they are extremely well prepared for clinical practice.
Education
In addition to inpatient and outpatient clinical rotations, senior residents rotate through other departments such as Radiation Oncology, Malignant Haematology, and Palliative Care ensuring comprehensive training. Educational sessions for senior residents include a twice-weekly core lecture series, journal clubs, board review sessions, medical grand rounds, and annual in-training examinations in Medical Oncology to prepare senior residents for the exit exams.
Research
The NCIS through its research arm, Haematology-Oncology Research Group (HORG) and collaborative efforts with the Cancer Science Institute, Singapore (CSI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) provides a rich menu of research opportunities for senior residents to pursue during their dedicated research. Multiple programmes in respective solid tumor groups, pharmacogenetics, drug development, and supportive care, provide senior residents with opportunities for either basic science, translational and clinical research. There are over 200 clinical trials at the NCIS and senior residents are involved in writing and development of clinical trials. Past and current senior residents have been very successful in publishing their research in peer-reviewed journals and presenting abstracts and oral presentations at national and international conferences.