Dr Seo Woon Li, NUHS Paediatric Residency Programme, 2012 Cohort
"We achieve only because we stand on the shoulders of giants- this could not speak more truth about our residency journey.
Back then, barely out of medical school, having to choose a sponsoring institution and a residency programme was just that bit daunting. Without actual work experience, how would I know if I was a good fit for NUHS Paediatrics?
In all honesty, there was a little blind faith. But much of the decision was influenced by my experience as a medical student receiving lectures and tutorials from the faculty, then as a student intern bumbling about with the night call team trying not to be their stumbling block.
Eminent yet unassuming, knowledgeable and dedicated would be how I would describe the faculty. You would think that an illustrious list of achievements would make a faculty unapproachable, yet the truth could not be further from that. As a student, intern, young resident, and then a graduate and now a consultant in my own right, the same faculty served as the family of this second home. We grew under their wings whilst they guided us as we found footing in this demanding yet tremendously fulfilling specialty.
I would go so far as to say that I do not hesitate to regard many of the faculty, once professors, mentors, and teachers, now as friends. We bond over food and coffee, apart from shared experiences in caring for the sick.
The nurturing culture runs deep in this family, as residents themselves become tutors and mentors to the younger. Most of all, we become friends. Working with friends, rather than with people you regard as colleagues, makes a night resuscitation, a challenging procedure on a fragile kid, or a mentally gruelling management of a complex medical condition not just bearable, but fulfilling.
Looking back, was I a good fit for the residency programme?
Someone who loves children, who would not hesitate to sacrifice a little of themselves for others, and who enjoys a little challenge would find joy in these six-odd years. More than that, the programme, faculty and coordinators grew with and found the best in me. So that beyond graduation, the giants whose shoulders we stand on become someone who we begin to try to be. "
Dr Nicholas Ng, NUHS Paediatric Residency Programme, 2013 Cohort
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I first joined the NUHS family when I began my Paediatric Residency training after completing my undergraduate medical education at Imperial College London. From the time I arrived here, I have been thoroughly impressed at the commitment of the institution in delivering the best possible training for residents in a stimulating and nurturing environment. This all started at the OBS orientation where we got the opportunity to break bread with hospital leadership and quickly got to know fellow residents across different programmes. Up till today, six years later, the friendships formed over those few days continue to permeate through the corridors of the hospital.
A key strength of NUHS which is heavily embedded within the Paediatric Residency Programme lies in its mentorship of residents. I have been extremely blessed to have been a product of this system, where I have been mentored by dedicated teachers, who are in themselves masters in their clinical or research fields, who strive to see their mentees succeed and would proudly allow us to stand tall on their shoulders.
Aside from ensuring that residents achieve clinical excellence, NUHS Residency also provides distinction track programmes to further develop the interest and passion that residents may have in the areas of medical education, research or innovation and quality in healthcare. I have been fortunate enough to have been part of some of these programmes and can testify to the devotion that the institution has in equipping residents to be the best that we can be, and to empower us to realise our full potential in the areas we are most passionate about.
I made a decision to join the NUHS family and have never once regretted being part of this family which embraces and exemplifies the NUHS core values. Thank you NUHS!"
Dr Jann Sy, NUHS Paediatric Residency Programme, 2017 Cohort
"Joining the NUHS Paediatric Residency Programme has given me opportunities to expand my clinical acumen, work closely with medical educators and train at the forefront translational research.
Working in a tertiary hospital, I regularly manage not only general paediatric patients who are admitted for common conditions such as respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, eczema, or asthma, but I also help in the management of complex patients who require high level care such as transplant patients (kidney, liver, bone marrow), and patients with rare conditions from each Paediatric subspecialty. Although, it is intimidating to manage these complex patients, I am privileged to work closely with specialists who are open and available for consultation. The department is close-knit and I feel comfortable in making consultations without the apprehension of being reprimanded.
As NUH is the main teaching hospital of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, I also participate in educating the next generation of physicians in various tutorials, formative clinical assessments, and daily ward work. In this programme, I not only have improved my skills as an educator, but also have had the extremely gratifying experience to watch these young budding doctors learn the skills they need to achieve their goals and provide the best care they can to their patients.
Lastly, I also find working in a department that employs cutting-edge technology such as CAR-T-cell therapy, latest advancements in pediatric kidney and liver transplantation very exciting, and there are plenty of opportunities to not only learn from leaders in these fields, but also potentially do research with them.
In all, the list of what the residency programme offers is extensive – from emergency, ambulatory, inpatient, subspecialty to intensive care services and what drew me to NUH Paeds was the close-knit department with excellent training in clinical practice and medical education, a broad patient load from general to complex cases, and potential to do research."