The Singapore Integrated Programme for Hand Surgery is a six-year national residency programme that trains doctors to become thoughtful, skilled and compassionate hand surgeons.
Singapore is one of the few countries in the world where Hand Surgery is recognised as a standalone surgical specialty with its own structured training pathway. Our programme reflects this distinctive national model, an integrated training pathway across National University Health System, National Healthcare Group and Singapore Health Services.
Our greatest strength is our people — residents, faculty, therapists, nurses and clinical teams who work together to restore function and independence for patients with hand and upper limb conditions. Residents join a close national community of surgeons and educators, learning across different institutions while growing into confident, reflective and patient-centred specialists.
Why Hand Surgery?
Hand surgery is where precision meets purpose.
The hand is central to how we work, communicate, create, care for others and interact with the world. Conditions affecting the hand and upper limb can have a profound impact on a person’s independence, livelihood and quality of life. As a hand surgeon, you restore not only anatomy, but also function, confidence and dignity.
Hand surgery combines:
It draws on principles from Orthopaedic Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Neurosurgery, Microsurgery and Rehabilitation Medicine. This makes it an ideal specialty for doctors who enjoy anatomy, problem-solving, technical precision and multidisciplinary care.
A National Training Environment
The strength of the programme lies in its national design.
Residents train across Singapore’s three public healthcare clusters:
Each cluster contributes faculty, clinical exposure, operative experience, mentorship, teaching and academic opportunities. Together, they provide residents with access to the full breadth of public-sector hand surgery practice in Singapore.
By rotating across different institutions, residents learn from varied patient populations, clinical teams and surgical approaches. This helps them develop a broad, balanced and adaptable approach to patient care.
Breadth of the Specialty
Hand Surgery is broad and evolving specialty. Residents are exposed to a wide range of clinical problems, operative techniques and subspecialty interests.
Areas within Hand Surgery include:
| Area | Examples of Conditions and Procedures |
|---|---|
| Trauma and Reconstruction | Hand and wrist injuries, fractures, tendon injuries, soft tissue loss, complex reconstruction |
| Wrist Surgery | Wrist pain, ligament injuries, carpal instability, write arthroscopy, denegerative wrist conditions |
| Peripheral Nerve Surgery | Nerve compression, nerve injuries, nerve repair and reconstruction, brachial plexus-related conditions |
| Congenital Hand Surgery | Birth difference of the hand and upper limb, paediatric hand conditions, reconstructive procedures |
| Microsurgery | Replantation, free tissue transfer, vascular repair, nerve repair |
| Tendon and Soft Tissue Surgery | Tendon repair, tendon transfers, contracture release, soft tissue reconstruction |
| Arthritis and Joint Reconstruction | Degenerative and inflammatory joint disease, joint replacement, fusion and reconstructive procedures |
| Tumour and Infection | Benign and malignant lesions, hand infections, complex soft tissue and bone involvement |
| Burns and Contracture Management | Scar contractures, post-burn reconstruction, functional restoration |
| Functional Reconstruction and Rehabilitation | Restoring grip, pinch, sensation, motion and return to work or daily activities |
Hand Surgery is a broad and evolving specialty. Residents are exposed to a wide range of clinical problems, operative techniques and subspecialty interests.
Why Train With Us?
Integrated National Training
Residents train within a uniquely integrated national programme across NUHS, NHG and SingHealth. This provides exposure to diverse healthcare settings, clinical practices and surgical philosophies across Singapore.
High Case Volume and Clinical Diversity
Training across multiple institutions gives residents experience with both common and complex cases, including emergency hand trauma, elective reconstruction, tertiary referrals, microsurgical cases, congenital conditions, wrist disorders, nerve surgery and rehabilitation-focused care.
Balanced Surgical Perspectives
Residents learn from the faculty across different institutions and develop an appreciation of varied approaches to clinical decision-making and operative management. This helps residents become adaptable, thoughtful and well-rounded surgeons.
Progressive Responsibility
The programme is structured to support increasing clinical and operative responsibility. Residents develop confidence and independence while receiving close supervision, feedback and mentorship.
Strong Mentorship Culture
Our faculty are committed to teaching and longitudinal mentorship. Residents are guided not only in surgical technique, but also in clinical reasoning, communication, professionalism, research and leadership.
Our Residents
Our residents are central to the programme.
They train as part of a close national community, learning from peers and faculty across all three clusters. The programme supports residents as they grow from junior doctors into independent surgeons with sound judgement, technical precision and a deep commitment to patient-centred care.
Residents are encouraged to be curious, reflective and engaged, to ask questions, seek feedback, participate in teaching and contribute to the development of the specialty.
Programme Structure
The Singapore Integrated Programme for Hand Surgery spans six years.
| Phase | Training Focus |
|---|---|
| Years 1 to 2 | Surgery-in-General residency, providing a strong foundation in general surgical principles, perioperative care, emergency management and core clinical skills |
| Years 3 to 6 | Dedicated Hand Surgery residency training, including rotations through participating institutions and exposure to advanced subspecialty areas |
This structure ensures that residents first build a strong grounding in general surgical care before progressing into specialised hand surgery training.
Throughout the programme, residents gain experience in:
Research, Teaching and Academic Development
Adj Asst Prof Renita Sirisena
Programme Director (NUHS/NUH),
Integrated Programme for Hand Surgery, NUHS
Adj Asst Prof Mala Satku
Associate Programme Director (NHG/TTSH),
Integrated Programme for Hand Surgery, NUHS
Cl Asst Prof Darryl Chew
Associate Programme Director (SingHealth/SGH),
Integrated Programme for Hand Surgery, NUHS
Adj Asst Prof Sandeep Jacob Sebastin
Core Faculty (NUHS/NUH),
Integrated Programme for Hand Surgery, NUHS
Adj Asst Prof Soumen Das De
Core Faculty (NUHS/NUH),
Integrated Programme for Hand Surgery, NUHS
Cl Asst Prof Robert Yap Tze-Jin
Core Faculty (SingHealth/SGH),
Integrated Programme for Hand Surgery, NUHS
Cl Asst Prof Rebecca Lim
Core Faculty (SingHealth/SGH),
Integrated Programme for Hand Surgery, NUHS
Who We Are Looking For
We welcome medical students and junior doctors who are curious about surgical training and are drawn to the functional importance of the hand and upper limb.
Applicants should demonstrate:
Hand surgery may be especially suited to doctors who enjoy both fine technical work and longitudinal patient care, from initial assessment and surgery to rehabilitation and functional recovery.
For Prospective Applicants
If you are considering a career in Hand Surgery, we encourage you to seek clinical exposure early.
A posting in Hand Surgery can help you understand the specialty’s pace, breadth, technical demands and patient impact. You will have the opportunity to observe how hand surgeons manage acute injuries, reconstruct complex defects, restore nerve and tendon function, treat congenital and degenerative conditions, and work closely with therapists to help patients recover meaningful function.
Medical students and junior doctors who are interested in Hand Surgery are encouraged to reach out to learn more about clinical exposure, residency training and the application process.
Programme Director, NUHS
Adj Asst Prof Renita Sirisena
renita_sirisena@nuhs.edu.sg
Associate Programme Director, TTSH
Adj Asst Prof Mala Satku
satkunanantham.mala@nhghealth.com.sg
Associate Programme Director, SGH
Cl Asst Prof Darryl Chew Ee Ming
darryl.chew.e.m@singhealth.com.sg
Programme Coordinator
Ms Phoebe Lum
phoebe_lum@nuhs.edu.sg
