Dr Tong Weihan, NUHS Ophthalmology Residency programme, 2020 Cohort
"Prior to working at NUH, I heard of the strong teaching culture and looked forward to working here. After a posting in Ophthalmology, my interest was piqued. Under the tutelage of my senior colleagues, I gained invaluable skills and experience in clinical practice. The more I learnt, the more I was captivated by the sheer amount of knowledge needed to understand the organ that grants us the gift of sight. I also witnessed the deleterious effects of vision loss on a person's quality of life, and the extraordinary changes an Ophthalmologist could create by restoring their sight. I hoped that one day, I would also be able to do the same for my patients.
For the NUHS Ophthalmology Residency Programme, the training is structured with passionate teachers in the department, among both consultants and fellow residents. A resident gets general Ophthalmology exposure early on, followed by sub-specialty exposure as one progresses in training. The clinical cases seen here are diverse and complex, each with great learning value. Many patients often require management by Ophthalmologists of different sub-specialties and in certain cases, multi-disciplinary management with colleagues from other specialties are required in order to provide the best patient care. Apart from diverse clinical exposure, there is also a strong culture of research in NUHS. This pushes clinicians to strive for clinical excellence, to provide the best care for our patients by practising evidence-based medicine.
Surgery is another key component of the programme, with direct supervision and guidance, encouraging your progression to become an independent surgeon. There are ample opportunities to hone your surgical skills with early exposure to cataract phacoemulsification surgery starting as early as year one of residency. This important hallmark of the programme undoubtedly contributes to earlier acquisition of surgical skills for residents to become competent Ophthalmic surgeons in the future.
It is said, and true, that learning never ends, not even for the most eminent among us. During residency here, learning and training will become an enjoyable part and parcel of your daily life, honing you to become a competent Ophthalmologist."