singapore medical society

Healing with Science,
Love and Wisdom
Careers@Home:
Healthcare Services
Alexandra Health offers multi-disciplinary and holistic care for the patient’s total
well-being. Established on 1 April 2008, Alexandra Health is a new healthcare
cluster that currently manages the 590-bed Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun. As
part of an integrated healthcare system to serve the community in the north,
Alexandra Health will also oversee the Yishun Community Hospital and a new
medical centre located in the Admiralty Integrated Development, which are opening
in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Our Specialties and Services are:
-
Acute & Emergency Care
Anaesthesia
Cardiology
Dental Surgery
Diabetes Clinic
Diagnostic Radiology
-
Laboratory Medicine
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Orthopaedic Surgery
Ophthalmology
Otolaryngology
Psychological Medicine
-
Endocrinology
Family and Community Medicine
Gastroenterology
General Medicine
General Surgery
Geriatric Medicine
-
Renal Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
Sports Medicine
Urology
Exciting opportunities await you back home
Leading the region with over 3,000 healthcare establishments, Singapore’s distinction in healthcare services stems from
our unwavering commitment to the advancement of the medical field and our world-class facilities solely dedicated to
the industry’s increasing needs.
Singapore’s healthcare industry has about 40,000 practising registered healthcare professionals – doctors, nurses, dentists,
and pharmacists. About two-thirds work in the public sector, while the remaining 34% are in the private sector. There are
also 2,120 full-time allied health professionals in the public sector, who include physiotherapists, clinical psychologist and
occupational therapists.
With the setting up of new hospitals, specifically Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in 2014 and Seng Kang General Hospital
in 2018, Singapore’s healthcare service providers are looking for top talent to fill a wide spectrum of jobs, including doctors
and allied health professionals.
Be a part of Singapore’s dynamic healthcare services industry.
Apply for positions back home today!
Contact Us
Contact Singapore engages overseas Singaporeans and global talent to work, live and invest in Singapore. We actively
link Singapore-based employers with professionals to support the growth of our key industries.
To find out more about the healthcare services industry and the career opportunities available, please visit
Contact Singapore’s website at www.contactsingapore.sg/industries/healthcare_services.
You can also contact our officers in London: [email protected].
Managing Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, building Yishun Community Hospital
and the medical centre at Admiralty Integrated Development.
www.ktph.com.sg
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Photo Credit: Nicole Yim, UCL
SMSUK Twitter Photo Contest Winner
Δ OUR SMSUK
08 The SMSUK
About Us
09 President’s Foreword Mr Clarence Yen
10 From the Editor Miss Samantha Low
Δ THE JOURNEY
12 The First Step Transitioning from Singapore to
the UK
14 Halfway There
Progressing on to clinical years
16 Nearly a Graduate Reflections of a final year student
Δ OUR YEAR IN EVENTS
18 Back in Singapore Pre-University Talks, Pre-departure
Fair, JurongHealth & Singhealth
Networking Dinners, Freshers &
Members Gathering, Med(UK)ated
2013.
24 Over in the UK
Pic-sical, Day Trip, Blood Drive,
Dental Dinner, Medical Museum
Tour, Weekend Trip
Δ TRANSFORMATION
33 A Change in Attitude The Medical Student Syndrome
34 A Change in Outlook
Project Ta-Om
36 A Change in Perspective
An Elective on the Amazon River
38 What I Love About My City
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 7
SINGAPORE MEDICAL SOCIETY
OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM
PRESIDENT’S
FOREWORD
Dear fellow members of the SMSUK,
The Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom (SMSUK) is a student-led, non-profit organisation founded in
1994. With approximately 600 active members and close to 800 lifetime members, the society represents the interests of
Singaporeans receiving medical and dental education in the United Kingdom. The society also reaches out to prospective
students enquiring about medicine or dentistry abroad, junior doctors and dentists in their foundation years, as well as
senior doctors who are practicing in the United Kingdom.
It is my honour to present to you Δdelta, the SMSUK Annual Magazine 2013/14.
This publication is the product of months of effort by the 19th Committee and I
hope that as you peruse the magazine, you will find articles narrating experiences
that you can relate to or have fond memories of.
The SMSUK logo has been modified thrice since its inception in 1998; the most recent change being implemented this
term by the 19th SMSUK Committee. The addition of the crown of a tooth sited above the stethoscope in red exemplifies
the inclusion of dental students, signifying that the SMSUK is a society for both medical and dental students alike. Together,
the crown and stethoscope also forms a heart, as we hope that the society occupies a valuable place our members’ hearts.
I strongly believe that the SMSUK is here for 2 purposes: to bond and to guide. Firstly, the society strives to tear down
interschool boundaries as members with a shared interest in medicine and dentistry are able to meet and mingle at
events. Secondly, and perhaps more relevantly as we progress through medical school, is to guide. The SMSUK aims to
relay pertinent information ranging from senior-to-junior and inter-university advice to changes in the Singapore healthcare scene; knowledge essential in guiding our future careers.
As we grow, the SMSUK grows alongside us. During my presidency, I watched the society evolve and witnessed our
members better identifying with the society and having a greater understanding of why we do what we do. It has been
an exciting year for the SMSUK and we hope that you have been able to appreciate and benefit from the many new initiatives and improvements made during our term. This magazine will offer you the chance to read about all the events
we have organised, but do also remember the other new implementations brought to you this term such as the Medical
News Mailer, increased member empowerment via online polls and feedback systems, the opening of the SMSUK online
shop and the usage of new social media platforms!
Nevertheless, I feel that our biggest achievement this term is the change in our members’ attitude towards the society.
Needless to say, this could only have been made possible with the support from our members, our sponsors and the
committee. I am thankful for the avid participation displayed by members for our events this year, despite the reduced
fresher intake, nudging us to constantly increase our event capacities.
I would also like to thank our Platinum sponsor: NUHS, our Gold sponsors: MOH Holdings, Contact Singapore, Alexandra
Health, JurongHealth Services, National Healthcare Group and SingHealth Services as well as our event based sponsors
for their continued support for the SMSUK. I greatly enjoyed the partnership we have shared over the past term, and
hope that the relationship we have established will serve to better future collaborations and promote greater mutual
understanding.
THE 19TH COMMITTEE
President: Clarence Yen
Vice-President (Social Media): Xin Kai Tang
Vice-President (Events): Clifford Lek
Executive Secretary: Yunshu Ma
Dental Officer: Stuart Lee
Wider UK Officer: Dulcena Yen
Thank you all once again. I truly hope that the SMSUK has impacted your lives as much as it has done for me. I will see
you guys at future SMSUK events!
Yours Sincerely,
Publicity Director: Samantha Low
Creative Director: G Natasha
Treasurer: Eric Lingga Makmur
Liaison Officer: Sean Lee
PR & Sponsorship Director: Rachel Seet
IT Director: Edmund Neo
8 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
Finally, it has been a privilege and a great pleasure to serve in the 19th SMSUK Committee together with 11 capable
individuals. Working together to better the society has been a learning process for all of us and we should be proud of
what we have achieved!
Clarence Yen
President
19th SMSUK Committee
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 9
From the Editor
In a blink of an eye, the academic year of 2013/14 has flown
by, concluding the nineteenth year since the Singapore Medical
Society of the United Kingdom was founded.
Change is the only constant in life.
Heraclitus
Over the years, the SMSUK has flourished with the help of many
and the society has been changing continuously, building up
from our foundations and improving on our accomplishments.
In mathematics and science, Delta (Δ or ∂) represents change; it
is the transformation we hope to see as future committees fill
in the shoes of their predecessors to better the society and bring
it to newer heights.
As individuals pursuing a future career in Medicine or Dentistry,
we go through a series of transitions extending from our university to working life - having to adapt quickly to our new surroundings when we first set foot in the UK, trying to cast away
our trepidations when we begin to meet patients in our clinical
years and grappling with the sheer magnitude of work as we
become fully-fledged doctors and dentists. Yet, these trying
situations serve to remind and challenge us to change for the
better, both as a medical professional and as a person.
Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
George Bernard Shaw
As we approach the second decade of service to our members,
the SMSUK wishes to be or have been a catalyst for that change
at some point in your university life. The 19th Committee hopes
to have successfully achieved that goal through the diverse
spectrum of events that were organised especially for you
during our term. As you flip through this magazine, take this
opportunity to relive the fond memories and reflect upon how
you have grown as an individual since commencing medical or
dental school. Thank you for your continued support and may
you always embrace change with courage and excellence!
Presenting to you the SMSUK Annual Magazine 2014 - Δdelta
Yours Sincerely,
Samantha Low
Publicity Director
19th SMSUK Committee
10 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
Editor In Chief
Samantha Low
Creative Director
G Natasha
Concept and Design
Clifford Lek
Contributing Writers
Dean Owyang
Cheng Jing Jie
Selina Chin
Faisal Abdul Aziz
Ivan Seah
Chen Chee Yang
Srishti Chhabra
Patricia Cheong
Find Us At
Website: http://www.sms-uk.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/
groups/smsuk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/smsuk_news
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/
Smsuk1
Email: [email protected]
ΔTHE JOURNEY
WE MAY STUMBLE AND FALL ALONG THE WAY, BUT EVEN THE LITTLEST
OF STEPS COUNT ON OUR QUEST TOWARDS ACHIEVING OUR GOALS.
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 11
2.
Why did you choose to
study there?
D: Initially, I was unsure as to which school to apply to
but I knew I was looking for a school away from bustling
cities like London and with a long history. I was recommended to apply for Queen’s, so I placed it as one of my
choices and things just progressed from there! The 29
hospitals in Northern Ireland are directly linked to our
medical school, enabling us students to gain lots of clinical exposure and experience at many different hospitals.
JJ: Many reasons – Imperial is ranked highly in the world
and in the UK for Medicine according to the 2013 QS
rankings. I was attracted by its holistic curriculum and
world-renowned professors. Of course, one cannot discount the fact that studying overseas gives one a breadth
of experience, not just socially and culturally but even in
terms of the patients that one sees in clinical years – an
overseas medical student is likely to be exposed to a
wider variety of cases, which helps to make one a more
adaptable doctor.
THE
FIRST STEP
We ask two first year students about their experiences
on beginning their education in the United Kingdom.
DEAN OWYANG
Year 1 Medical Student
Queen’s University Belfast
CHENG JING JIE
Year 1 Medical Student
Imperial College London
1.
Which medical school are
you studying at and where
is it located in the UK?
D: I’m currently a first year medical student at Queen’s University
Belfast. My school is in Belfast, Northen Ireland, far far away from
mainland UK!!
JJ: I am studying at Imperial College London, which has its main
campus right in the centre of three museums in South Kensington.
It is a five minute walk from Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park,
through which I walk every morning in order to get from my halls
to college.
12 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
3.
How different is your city
of study to Singapore?
D: It is very different! Firstly, the entire population of
Belfast consists of only about 280,000 people and 45%
are aged 30 and below! Northern Ireland itself only has
1.8 million people in total, a far cry from densely populated Singapore. We may not have an underground or the
SMRT, but there are buses to get around the city and trains
to get around the country.
JJ: I like Singapore for its familiarity but ultimately one
must admit that being a young city, Singapore lacks a
distinct character and identity, something that I feel
very strongly here in London. The weather is much more
pleasant here and the cold and low humidity means one
can walk for hours around without sweating and ruining
your clothes. However, things here are twice the price in
Singapore – everything is so expensive! The streets are
much noisier too, with sirens ringing often, and public
places can get rather unkempt. One thing I miss in London
is the sea, since it is a landlocked city and the River
Thames gives a very different vibe from the vast sea.
4.
Was adapting to a new
living environment difficult
for you? If so how did you
deal with it?
D: Initially it was quite difficult to get used to understanding the Irish accent and culture, especially their food (I
love my laksa and chicken rice!), but after a few weeks
things got much better as I made friends and got to know
the locals better. Eating out is relatively expensive, so
I began to cook simple meals for myself to get by! The
good thing about Queen’s is that there are much fewer
Singaporeans studying here as compared to most UK
universities, hence it encourages us to hang out with the
locals and that helped me to integrate much faster.
JJ: It was hardly difficult for me to adapt – it only took
perhaps a week or two to get used to things, and although
of course I still encounter new cultural differences or
experiences every day, they no longer challenge my
comfort zone as much as amuse me. It was not just the
foreign streets, the creaky spiral staircases up many restaurants, the abundant horse dung littering the streets
that needed getting used to, but also the idiosyncratic
British pronunciation and language – who knew Salisbury
was pronounced “saausbry”, and “pants” referred to “underpants”? I viewed these differences as interesting aspects
of this new life and took them in my stride. I like change,
so adapting was not hard; in fact, it was very enjoyable.
5.
If you could bring one
thing from Singapore with
you to the UK, what would
it be?
D: Maybe a machine that can produce all my favourite
local dishes with a click of a button! I miss local food as
much as I miss my family and being able to eat local food
like meepok or laksa once in a while will cure my homesickness while I study halfway across the world.
JJ: Cigarette legislation and taxes. I dislike smokers and in
the UK, they smoke in parks and bus stops - there seems
to be lots more of them on the streets than back home in
Singapore. Perhaps some taxes and law will help alleviate
this situation.
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 13
Hospitals everywhere
vary ever so slightly
from each other, and
it is up to you to keep
on task and seek and
exploit opportunities.
HALFWAY THERE
We ask Selina about her unique decision to pursue her preclinical studies at
Cambridge and her clinical studies at King’s.
I
knew what I was getting myself into when I decided to apply to
London for clinical school. I knew the dull stench of the tube platforms and how therapeutic it was to climb to the top of the tallest
monument at Trafalgar Square and people-watch. I also knew the
glories of the roast duck at Goldmine, and of a red velvet Hummingbird – or
Lola’s – cupcake. Four Seasons just doesn’t do their duck quite as well.
SELINA CHIN
YEAR 3 MEDICAL STUDENT
KING’S COLLEGE LONDON
It was by sheer luck that I was offered a place to read medicine at Cambridge.
My time there was nothing short of magical. People say that when you’re at
the University of Cambridge, you perpetually live in a postcard. I say there
is hardly an inch of exaggeration in that statement. We punted under arcs
of bridges and through overhanging willows, sipping Rosé and enjoying the
tang of strawberries. Come May week, the entire city centre transformed into
a joyful wonderland. We would sail through the River Cam in a boat made
with only cardboard and duct tape, then dress up in black tie for a night of
lavishness and ravishment – the May Ball.
For three years I lived and breathed this and I loved it. But I was greedy; I
wanted more, so I decided to move to London.
14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
On the first day of clinical school at King’s, I met fellow
Singaporean and Malaysian course mates, and we sat together
in the lecture hall. We split up for our different hospital placements, and I met another set of friends – people from my firm,
and people not from my firm but on the same placement as I
was. And, as expected of clinical school, I did not have a single
moment to feel like a newbie. We were thrown into deep
waters and expected to swim or die. All I remember of my first
two weeks is the constant fear of approaching patients for a
friendly chat. “I don’t want to wake them up or interrupt their
television programme,” I told my firm head. His face was an
expression of absolute bewilderment as he said, “You pay fees
to the hospital to talk to them. It is your right, you have nothing
to be scared about!”
And so I went. With each patient I talked to, I gained a little
more confidence. This is how I gradually found my place in
the hospital: patients liked me and sometimes looked up to
me, ward doctors befriended me and enthusiastically imparted
their knowledge, surgeons acknowledged my silent but determined existence in theatres, and nurses tolerated and aided me
along the way.
The day before we broke off for the winter holidays, my firm
head turned to me in theatre, and asked if I wanted to suture
the patient. With nervous hands and under watchful supervision, I gingerly worked through it. The registrar smiled at me
and said that she couldn’t tell it was my first time doing this.
I beamed with pride all the way to the bus stop. It wasn’t until
this moment when it finally struck me: it didn’t matter if I had
stayed in picturesque Cambridge or moved to busy London,
my primary goal here is in the hospital, to learn to be a good
doctor. Hospitals everywhere vary ever so slightly from each
other, and it is up to you to keep on task and seek and exploit
opportunities.
We encounter changes in our lives wherever we go, but it never
really is how it first appears to be. I hope this short article will
be an encouragement to all student doctors in times of fatigue
and despair. Keep going!
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 15
NEARLY A
GRADUATE
We approach Faisal, a final year dental student, to
reflect upon his 5-year journey towards becoming
a qualified dental surgeon.
FAISAL ABDUL AZIZ
I have been inspired by many of
my patients and this has always
been a continuous source of
encouragement for me to push
on with the endless amount
of work in dental school.
YEAR 5 DENTAL STUDENT
KING’S COLLEGE LONDON
S
o this is it, after four and a half years of dental
school - I am approaching my last six months
here in King’s College London. As I am in the
midst of stressing over finding a suitable final
year case presentation patient, preparing for clinical reasoning exams on children who do not brush their teeth,
and learning how to straighten crooked teeth, I decided
to stop and reflect by penning down my experiences and
thoughts.
I hope to impart some
advice to the younger
dental students/aspiring dentists out there on
what exactly to expect
in dental school. So here
goes.
The moment you start
your dental course, you
will soon realise that it
is no longer just another
university course. Dentistry will be your life. You will
spend long hours in the lecture theatres, laboratories
and clinics. Dentistry will start defining you and before
you know it, all your friends will suddenly have a dental
problem and they will start seeking you for advice. Most of
us start dental school around the age of 19 for girls and
21 for the men. After reflecting on where I am now, from
where I began four and a half years ago, I realise I am a
totally different person. Not just in terms of emotional
maturity but also physically (stress = eat = more bulbous!).
Dentistry requires the individual to attain a level of maturity at an early stage of your course. By the second year you
will have your own set of patients to care for. In my time
here, I have always been amazed by how much my patients
are willing to open up
to me. I have treated
patients who have
walked into my clinics in crutches having
experienced domestic
abuse, patients in their
mid-twenties looking
like they have aged a
lifetime due to their
drug abuse habits,
patients who burst out
crying the moment I
ask them, “How can I
help you today?” due to not having gotten enough sleep
the past three nights due to their dental pain.
appointment just so that he will not be five minutes late. I have
been inspired by many of my patients and this has always been a
continuous source of encouragement for me to push on with the
endless amount of work in dental school.
In dentistry, we also cover more than just teeth and oral health.
Modules such as sociology, psychology and dental public health
mould us into well-rounded dental surgeons, giving us an
understanding on the causes of diseases in relation to human
behaviours, as well as the social determinants of health. It has
made me understand issues such as the poverty cycle, including
the impact of social mobility and income inequality on an individual’s life.
The World Health Organisation has defined health as “a state of
complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely
the absence of disease of infirmary”. To achieve this, different
agencies are required to work together in tandem. As healthcare
professionals, I believe we have a large role to play in this goal
of making our population socially mobile. I will be returning to
Singapore this August to join the public healthcare sector as a
dental officer and after many years away, I am very much looking forward to going back home and serving the community in
Singapore.
It is not all doom and gloom though. I had a patient who
openly told me he is turning over a new leaf so that he
can provide for his three year old daughter, and a patient
who will sit in the waiting room one hour before his
16 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 17
ΔOUR YEAR IN EVENTS
PRE-UNIVERSITY OUTREACH PROGRAMME
K
ickstarting the term of the newly minted 19th SMSUK Committee was the
first Singapore event - the Pre-University Outreach Programme! Keen on
expanding our medical and dental student population here in the UK, many
SMSUK members took this opportunity to return to their alma maters to
share their experiences of studying in the UK with their juniors and to address any queries they might have.
This year, we visited a total of 7 Pre-Universities, namely Anglo-Chinese Junior College,
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Hwa Chong Institution, Raffles Institution, St.
Joseph’s Institution (International), Temasek Junior College and Victoria Junior College. At
most schools, an informative presentation elaborating on the practical aspects of applying to study in the UK as well as the social aspects of living in the UK was delivered to
the students by our very own committee members. Mock interviews, a new initiative this
year, were also scheduled in certain schools where the tables were turned for members,
who were once in the interviewee hot seat, as they assumed the roles of strict medical
or dental admission interviewers and had their chance to ‘grill’ their interviewees!
TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE &
RELIVE THOSE TIMES SPENT WITH THE SMSUK FAMILY
It was indeed refreshing to be surrounded by the enthusiasm and exuberance of the preuniversity students and it brought back fond memories of the time when we were once
standing at the crossroads just like them! While some students may find it daunting to
have to make such an important and potentially life-changing decision at such a young
age, the SMSUK seeks to be the supportive and advisory figure to guide them along in
making the best choice for their future.
Acknowledgements:
Alex Jen Wong
Alison Pua
Chen Zehong
Daniel Loh
Edmund Poh
Gareth Lim
Geethanjali Senthilkumara
Ignatius Chua
Jane Ong
Joanne Ong
Justin Chiam
Lee Wei Sheng
Lim Ju Yee
Kenneth Neoh
Kong Rui Ling
Natalie Tan
Nicholas Png
Shawaf Farmanullah
Thank you for volunteering!
BRITISH COUNCIL PRE-DEPARTURE FAIR
A
rmed with laptops, pre-departure guides, flyers and our brand new SMSUK
standee standing tall behind us, the committee was well prepared to answer
a whole different range of questions at the British Council Pre-departure Fair
2013.
A yearly event organized by the British Council, this fair saw the congregation of many
student-led Singaporean societies as well as other relevant organizations in the name
of providing assistance to all UK-bound university freshers, easing their transition into
the UK. We befriended close to 60 new students at our booth and encouraged them to
sign up with us to become official SMSUK members, so as to be kept within the loop of
our events! By introducing ourselves to the incoming batch of freshers at an early stage,
we hope to be there for them should they need a pillar of support at any time during
their university period!
JULY
IN SINGAPORE
18 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 19
AUGUST
IN SINGAPORE
JURONGHEALTH - SMSUK
NETWORKING DINNER
H
eld at the central location of Grand Park City
Hall, the JurongHealth – SMSUK Networking
Dinner was the first of two dinners, both held
in collaboration with two of our valued health
cluster sponsors.
Opening off the night’s programme was Dr Daniel Kwek
(Director of Medical Manpower), who shared a creative
and unforgettable ‘toilet roll’ story, entertaining the entire
ballroom of guests with the props he brought on stage.
Introduced by Dr Gerald Chua (Head of Department,
Medicine), surgical registrar Dr Bobby Tay and residents
Dr Alexandra Lau and Dr Deborah Chew shared with
the audience their reasons for choosing to work with
JurongHealth, what it is like to work there as well as their
personal experiences in their respective residencies. A/
Prof Cheah Wei Keat (Chairman Medical Board) then took
to the stage, lightening the atmosphere of the dinner
with an impromptu Q&A session speckled with friendly
and humorous banter between the doctors on stage. The
tables were also challenged by a quiz segment hosted by
our emcee, where they were tested on their knowledge
about JurongHealth, the Singapore healthcare system, as
well as facts about the UK.
Following the conclusion of the official programme for
the night, members were free to mingle and interact with
any of the clinicians present to gain further insight into
a particular specialty or residency programme. Guests
were all smiles as they were gifted with a souvenir upon
leaving the ballroom – a magnet printed with the group
photo of both the JurongHealth representatives and the
SMSUK members – a perfect end to an eventful night of
networking.
CONTACTSG - SMSUK
FRESHERS & MEMBERS GATHERING
A
fter recruiting our newest additions to the SMSUK family at the
British Council pre-departure fair, we were excited to integrate
them fully into our society by allowing them to meet their fellow
batchmates and seniors! This was made possible at the yearly
ContactSG-SMSUK Freshers and Members Gathering where both freshers and
members were brought together in one place to facilitate bonding and interaction!
A series of informative talks were conducted to introduce our new members
to the SMSUK as well as our sponsors. Guest speaker Ms Pauline Wong, from
Contact Singapore, presented on the services offered by Contact Singapore and
Dr Liem Yew Kan, the director of MOHH, elaborated on the Pre-Employment
Grant for both medical and dental students and working in Singapore after
graduation. We were pleased to have Miss Karen Leo, Senior Assistant Director
(Local Engagement) of the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU), there that night
to speak about OSU’s initiatives in engaging Singaporeans in the UK. Rounding
up the presentations was Dr Kiki Teo, an alumni member of the SMSUK and
a current House Officer in General Surgery at the Singapore General Hospital,
who spoke at length about her working experiences.
Following the conclusion of the presentations was the dinner and discussion
segment. Each University was allocated a space in the foyer of The Treasury
Building and attendees mingled amongst their universities over platefuls of
delicious food. Cheers to the new friendships forged!
SINGHEALTH - SMSUK
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT DINNER
T
he second of the networking dinners held over summer was the Singhealth – SMSUK Student Engagement
Dinner. In celebration of the newly unveiled SGH building, The Academia, the dinner was held right at this location, making the SMSUK one of the first societies to conduct an event at this venue!
The event was graced by clinicians representing a variety of departments in SGH, including Medical Oncology,
Ophthalmology, Cardiology and Anaesthesiology. The dinner commenced with a speech by the Chairman Medical Board,
Prof Fong Kok Yong, after which guests were ushered to a group
photo taking session and then invited to tuck into the sumptious
buffet dinner. Subsequently, 3 selected speakers from SingHealth,
Dr Lim Soon Thye, Dr Iain Tan Bee Huat and Prof Wong Tien Yin,
were invited to share some of their experiences with the audience.
Dr. Lim gave a personal account of his journey as a doctor, from
being a houseman to where he is now, while Dr Iain Tan delivered a
well-constructed presentation providing guidance on how one can
go about choosing one’s medical specialty. Lastly, Prof Wong shared
with the audience the importance of research in the field of medicine and emphasized on SingHealth’s culture for medical research.
The evening drew to a close as 6 lucky draw winners were announced and tokens of appreciations were given out to the
SingHealth Representatives. Everyone loves a prize!
20 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 21
MED
ATED
(UK)
ORIENTATION CAMP 2013
F
ollowing on from the success of the inaugural SMSUK Orientation Camp held last year,
MED(UK)ATED 2013 was organized this year in
hopes of it being both larger in scale and more
exciting and enjoyable for everyone. Set in an ancient
civilization plagued with disease and suffering, 45 SMSUK
freshers were taken under the wings of the 4 Greek Gods
exalted in the Hippocratic Oath: Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia
and Panacea, to see who could emerge as the sole victor
with the most power and intelligence to preserve life and
eliminate disease amongst mankind!
The upper floor of the chalet buzzed with discussion as
the freshers tackled a series of medically-related MCQs,
picture-based questions as well as a word search. On top
of that, each group bonded over creative brainstorming
for an OG flag design which would best represent their
Greek God.
Although the camp was hit by a torrential downpour
on Day 1, the rain was not heavy enough to douse the
enthusiasm of our Game Masters and freshers! As the dark
clouds slowly drifted away, the station games went ahead
as planned along the boardwalk of the Aloha Changi Fairy
Point Chalet where the OGlings popped balloons, danced,
did push-ups, memorized hand washing techniques and
drug names as well as snatched coloured pegs from each
other to do their OG proud.
Day 2 of MED(UK)ATED began at 9:30am with all the
4 OGs being sent off on an Amazing Race around
Singapore! From Pasir Ris to VivoCity to Marina Bay Sands,
the freshers pitted their wits and displayed teamwork to
solve clues and complete challenges. Bonus points were
also awarded to OGs that cheered loudly at stations and
completed extra missions such as doing ‘the Ellen dance
dare’ or ‘proposing to a member of the public’! To give the
OGs the hard-earned recognition they deserve, they were
greeted ‘Amazing-Race style’ complete with the iconic
background music, a finishing line, a ‘mat’ to jump onto as
well as our very own ’Phil Keoghan’ to announce the OGs’
position in the race upon arriving at the final stop – the
chalet!
After dinner, the OGs’ intelligence were then put to the
test by a quiz created by our very own SMSUK ‘professor’!
The barbeque organized for the night put a smile back on
those tired faces with hungry tummies and many seniors
22 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
joined in on the occasion to extend a wholehearted welcome to the newest
additions to their universities. Amidst the food, drinks and desserts, the winning OG was revealed close to the end of the night via a slow-motion foot race
acted out by the OGLs, where the only 2 OGLs who made it successfully to the
finish line represented the team that won!
Our newly MED(UK)ATED freshers bade each other farewell on Day 3 of the
camp, leaving with both fond memories and greater anticipation for the future
that awaits them in the UK. Although they would be dispersing across cities all
over the UK to pursue their education, we hope that SMSUK will be that bond
that ties them all back together.
This camp would not have been
possible without the help of:
Orientation Group Leaders
APOLLO
Natalie Tan & Arun Nair
ASCLEPIUS
Cheryl Saw & Chen Chee Yang
HYGIEIA
Jane Ong & Anthony Tan
PANACEA
Andrea Sng & Nataniel Tan
Games In-Charge
Dayna Sim
Quek Jing Xiao
Jasper Fong
Yip Hao Meng
Game Masters
Alison Pua
Joanne Ong
Audrie Lim
Kanchana Niruttan
Bryan Tan
Marc Lai
Chen Zehong
Ng Han Xian
Chew Lin
Ng Jing Qi
Claire Wong
Roxanne Teo
Esther Pang Subhasheenee Ganesan
Ivan Seah
Yvette Ang
Quiz ‘Professors’
Julian Lim
Gareth Lim
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 23
OCTOBER
IN THE UK
PIC(NIC) - (MU)SICAL
A
s the gloomy wet weather of London befell us
that fateful Saturday, the SMSUK picnic was
relocated from Regent’s Park to the Gustave Tuck
Lecture Theatre at UCL. But who says that we
can’t have fun without the sun? Sitting along the benches
of the lecture theatre famous for being a filming location
in the movie blockbuster, Inception, the party was brought
under shelter complete with lots of finger food, games and
music. Members chilled out with their friends as Despicable
Me 2 was screened, while others indulged in a game or two
of Bridge, Saboteur and Monopoly Deal.
Following the picnic, dinner was held at the Malaysian
Kopitiam restaurant in Chinatown, where we all enjoyed a
taste of home with our second family – fellow SMSUK members! It was then a short 10 minute walk to the theatre at
Royal Drury Lane for the highly anticipated musical event –
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! The audience was brought
along Charlie’s very colourful, magical and chocolate-y journey, with most of us craving for chocolate and sweets at the
end of the show as we relived our childhood alongside Roald
Dahl’s whimsical yet classic tale.
I really enjoyed the
SMSUK picnic because
the food was great and
the company even better!
-Jane Ong (University College London)
24 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 25
SMSUK-SAHPS
BLOOD DONATION DRIVE
A
midst the other networking sessions and fun-oriented group outings that the SMSUK had organised, the
inaugural blood drive was conceptualised as an event of a different nature, for members to bond over ‘giving’
back to society, as a society.
Teaming up with our future colleagues from the Singapore Allied Health Professionals Society (SAHPS), this blood donation drive was held over 3 days with a total of 20 SMSUK members coming down to the West End Donor Centre to do
their part for a good cause. A personal health screening was conducted between each member and a nurse to ensure that
all members were fit enough to donate blood before doing so. Once given the green light, members were then brought
to the donation area where slightly less than a pint of blood was donated per member and will be distributed to one of
the NHS blood centres across the UK.
NOVEMBER
IN THE UK
A pleasant surprise to many, members were presented with hand-packed goody bags after their donation. The centre
was also very generous with their supply of biscuits, fruits and drinks to reward their donors and refuel their energy
before they headed back out into the wintery cold. With the Christmas season beckoning, no gift is better than the gift
of blood. Many of us have learned about how donated blood is packaged in school and it was a nice feeling to be part
of the actual donating process. Our members have made the society proud by volunteering their time to donate blood
and help save lives!
SMSUK DAY TRIP
DRAYTON MANOR THEME PARK
T
he month of November ushered in not only earlier sunsets and dipping temperatures, heralding the start
of winter, but also the annual SMSUK
Day Trip! This year, members were
empowered to choose their own day
trip destination via an online poll
posted on our very own website. The
votes were in and there was a clear
winner – Drayton Manor Theme Park!
A chartered 55-seater coach brought
a whole busload of excited members from the University of London
Union building right to the doorstep
of the theme park where we met up
with several other Wider UK members
coming from the midlands!
Boasting a wide variety of thrill rides,
members were spoilt for choice upon
arrival at Drayton Manor. Scream your
heart out while being dropped 48
metres standing or sitting on the
Apocalypse! Feel the butterflies in
your stomach as the Maelstrom swings
and spins you at the same time! Get
wet on board Stormforce 10, the UK’s
first reverse chute water coaster! For
those weaker at heart and in stomach, there were milder rides such as
bumper cars, a whole ThomasLand
(yes Thomas the Train Engine!) worth
of kiddy rides, an arcade, a 4D cinema
and last but not least a zoo with,
amongst other animals, a surprisingly
entertaining and hyperactive gibbon.
As day slowly turned to night, only one
thought was on everyone’s minds –
the FIREWORKS! Promising a breathtaking display of fireworks on this
firework weekend, Drayton Manor did
not fail to deliver as the skies lit up in
26 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
a synchrony of red, green, blue, yellow
and purple matched with blockbuster
movie soundtracks. Despite the strong
winds and cold weather, members
stood by the bank of the lake, heads
tilted to the sky, as they admired the
25 minute long show. The end of the
fireworks signaled the end of our stay
at the theme park and 45 tired but
happy faces boarded the coach for the
return journey back to London.
It was a long day out in search of
a crazy adventure, a well-deserved
break for all our members!
DECEMBER
DENTAL ENGAGEMENT DINNER
IN THE UK
D
esiring to offer new events catering to our substantial dental student population, the SMSUK organised
its first dental engagement dinner last December. This inaugural dinner saw 20 of our dental members
converging on a Friday evening to exchange ideas and experience over a sumptuous Thai dinner. We even
had members come down all the way from Sheffield to join us! Adding to it all, the event was graced by Dr
Vivian Wong, a King’s College London graduate and current dental surgeon practising in Singapore. Conversation flowed
easily as we discussed the different dental education and needs in Singapore and the UK. Dr Wong also gave valuable
insights and advice into her experiences working in Singapore, which the final year students in attendance found very
useful. This dinner was a wonderful opportunity for our members in the dental community to interact and gain a deeper
insight into the profession.
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 27
JANUARY IN THE UK
SMSUK WEEKEND TRIP 2014
YORK
T
his academic year, the much-loved annual SMSUK
Weekend Trip whisked 56 of our members from
all over the UK to the charming and quaint town
of York! With everything from transport to accommodation, guided tours to recommended restaurants all
planned out and researched upon on their behalf, members
were truly able to enjoy a
hassle-free and relaxing
weekend in the company
of both their old friends
and new acquaintances.
HERITAGE
THE MEDICAL MUSEUM EXPERIENCE
W
hat does a 2000-year old city like London have
a wealth of? That’s right, heritage! A haven
for the museum-hoppers, this event brought
together a group of 35 like-minded members in
London to visit the museums that matter the most to us - the
medical museums.
in developing nursing into a reputable profession as documented by the items exhibited in this museum. The most
unexpected exhibition in the museum was definitely seeing
Florence Nightingale being portrayed as cartoon characters
in children’s books, political cartoons and even Japanese
Manga!
We began our trail at the Museum of the Order of St John,
where we were treated to a guided tour of the history of
the Order, from which our present-day St John Ambulance
Brigade arose. Members were brought around the grounds
and buildings of the Order, soaking in the magnificent 16th
century architecture, elegant antique furniture and exquisitely stained glass adorning the windows in the chambers
and hall.
Lastly, we paid a visit to the Freud Museum in Hampstead,
the final home of Sigmund Freud and his daughter Anna
Freud. Members had the chance to view the famous psychoanalytic couch, in which all of Freud’s patients reclined in,
as well as sit in a replica of Freud’s own armchair, specially
designed to provide maximum comfort for his unusual sitting posture (his leg draped over the arms of the chair). After
a full day of food for thought, we finally had food for our
stomachs at an authentic Spanish restaurant where members chatted over paella, tapas and sangria.
The next stop was the Old Operating Theatre & Herb Garret,
a small yet hugely popular museum boasting the oldest
operating theatre in Europe. It was indeed an eye-opening
experience, especially for those with an interest in surgery,
as we went back in time to witness how surgeries used to
be conducted under pre-anesthesia and pre-antiseptic conditions. After that, members put their rumbling tummies to
ease at Borough Market, conveniently located just around
the corner from the Old Operating Theatre!
The third destination on our trail brought us on a scenic route across the River Thames to visit the Florence
Nightingale Museum. Famously known as ‘the Lady with
the Lamp’, members were able to follow Florence’s journey
28 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
On the morning of the
22nd of February 2014,
our
members
from
Belfast,
Cambridge,
Cardiff, Glasgow, London,
Manchester, Newcastle,
Nottingham and St.
Andrews travelled via rail
or both plane and rail
(for our Northern Ireland
friends) to convene at the trip’s very first meeting point - the
York Railway Station. It was a picturesque walk along River
Ouse under the sun, a rare occurrence in the UK, as we made
our way towards YHA York to offload our bags and prepare
ourselves for the activities ahead!
First up was a guided walking tour through the rich cultural
heritage of York. We admired the fine Gothic architecture
of St. Mary’s Abbey, climbed up the Medieval Gateways of
York, treaded on the cobblestone paths of the Shambles and
finally revelled in the majesty of what is easily the most
famous attraction in York - the York Minster. After having dinner and warming up from the cold at the Red Chilli Chinese
Restaurant, we were ready for the next spooky adventure
in store - the York Ghost Tour! Spinning spine-chilling tales
of ghosts and ghouls, our very animated and entertaining tour guide led
us through the alleyways of York which
seemed much more
sinister shrouded in
darkness at night.
Whether or not they
believed the stories,
occasional screams
and gasps were let
out as members had
their fair share of
fun frightening each
other at opportune
times.
Hands up if you like chocolate! On Sunday, members paid a
visit to York’s Chocolate Story where they were brought on
a guided tour of the chocolate shop and were told about
Rowntrees and Terry, the famous chocolatiers of York. We
then had the chance to learn how chocolates are made from
cocoa beans, how to ‘listen’ to and taste chocolate and even
make our very own chocolate lollies! There was definitely no
lack of chocolates in a chocolate factory like this and we
were treated (and treated ourselves) at every stop to them.
IN THE UK
FEBRUARY
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 29
A MESSAGE
From your Wider UK Officer, Dulcena:
W
hen I was appointed as the Wider UK
Officer, I set out with two goals to
achieve during my term – to increase the
Wider UK participation in SMSUK events
and to push for an increase in Wider UK travel subsidy
(WUKTS). I am very pleased to say that both goals have
been achieved! This year, the 19th Committee has raised
both the percentage and cap of the WUKTS for many of
our events, enticing more Wider UK members to participate in our activities! The 20 university representatives
from all the Wider UK schools have also been extremely
helpful in conveying messages to members and gathering feedback from them and I am very grateful for their
efforts.
From your Dental Officer, Stuart:
I
t has been an extremely exciting year for us
dental students, with an increase in participation of dental students in SMSUK events. It has
been wonderful getting to know more dental
students around the UK, and incredibly encouraging to
see increased dialogue between medical and dental
students. The inaugural Dental Engagement Dinner
also gave us dental students an opportunity to interact
with graduate dentists and gain valuable insights into
our potential futures.
I hope that the dental students have enjoyed the
SMSUK events as much as I have, and will continue to
have a high rate of participation in future events.
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and support!
As the sun slowly began to set, the final debrief for this trip
was held at the National Railway Museum, located just next
door to the York Railway Station. Our group photo was taken
with numerous old-fashion British trains as the background,
the SMSUK banner in front and members huddled together
happily in between.
It was indeed a saddening yet touching moment as we had
our last few chats, hugged and bid each other goodbye before
departing on different trains back to our respective cities of
residence.
It was a fun-filled and enriching experience immersing ourselves in the enchanting city of York . More importantly, this
(Right) Photo Credit: Desiree Yen,
University of St. Andrews
SMSUK Twitter Photo Contest
Winner
30 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
trip enabled us to break down the geographical barriers
present within the society and bonded us even closer
together as one big SMSUK family.
I enjoyed the weekend trip to
York because I made a lot of
new friends, drank tea and
ate yummy ch-York-late!
-Sharon Zheng (St. George’s University of
London)
SMSUK EVENT ORGANISERS 2013/14
SINGAPORE EVENTS:
Pre-University Outreach Programme: Sean & Stuart
British Council Pre-departure Fair: Eric
JurongHealth-SMSUK Clarence
Networking Dinner: & Samantha
ContactSG-SMSUK F&M Gathering: Yunshu & Clifford
SingHealth-SMSUK Xinkai
Student Engagment Dinner: & Clarence
Med(UK)ated Orientation Camp: Clifford, Dulcena & Natasha
UK EVENTS:
Pic-sical: Natasha & Rachel
Day Trip: Samantha & Yunshu
SMSUK-SAHPS Blood Drive: Rachel
Dental Engagement Dinner: Stuart
Medical Museums Tour: Edmund & Stuart
Weekend Trip: Dulcena, Eric &
Sean
Elections:Clarence
Annual Dinner: Rachel, Edmund &
Xinkai
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 31
A CHANGE IN
ATTITUDE
THE MEDICAL STUDENT SYNDROME
L
ike all medical students, I
applied to medical school
hoping to utilize my
knowledge and skills one
day to help those in need. Having
the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life seemed like a
great cause to dedicate my career to
and that made me choose medicine.
As I proceed through my second
year of medical training, I look back
on how I fared as a student in
my first year. I consulted specialist textbooks, anatomy atlases and
even online resources. My notes
were obsessively colour-coded to
aid memorization. Large decks of
anatomy flash cards sit on my cupboard, looking well-worn and utilised. I had never study so hard in
my entire life.
ΔTRANSFORMATION
EVERY EXPERIENCE GAINED ON OUR JOURNEY LEAVES AN INDELIBLE
IMPRESSION THAT CHANGES US FOREVER.
32 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
Recently, while continuing my usual
studying habits, I stopped while I
was making notes about gastric carcinoma. This topic was close to my
heart as I knew someone who suffered and succumbed to this dreadful illness. Back then, Jane (Patient’s
name has been altered to retain
anonymity) was around my age,
working hard as a primary school
teacher to her widowed mom and
herself. Although she passed away
more than 7 years ago, my final
interaction with her remains vividly
etched in my mind. As I hugged her,
I could feel her bones protruding
through her skin. She looked so
weak with her sunken cheeks and
lifeless eyes. As a secondary school
student, I knew she was sick but did
not know how to help her. Gastric
carcinoma was a big word to me.
Today, I know that gastric carcinoma
is mostly caused by Helicobacter
Pylori infections. It arises from the
glandular epithelium of the gastric
mucosa and patients are usually
asymptomatic. By the time symptoms present themselves, the cancer is more often untreatable due to
metastases.
This knowledge can get me relevant
marks for the annual finals. But do I
really know what gastric carcinoma
means? Can I understand the grief
and anguish of a mother who has
lived past her daughter’s life? Can
I imagine how this disease robbed
Jane of her youth and dreams?
It was then that I realized, in my
pursuit for knowledge, I was oblivious to an entirely new perspective
of disease. This aspect was life. One
can only truly attempt to encompass
and embody the meaning of empathy by stopping and reflecting – it
isn’t taught in school. I understand
now that there is still much to learn
IVAN SEAH
YEAR 2 MEDICAL STUDENT
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
about becoming a good doctor. Neither
scholastic accolades nor academic
papers define a doctor. I was afflicted
with the “Medical Student Syndrome”.
The competition and necessity of doing
well in medical school had temporarily
blinded me to the obvious reasons for
studying medicine.
We study medicine to understand peoples’ situations. We study to empathize
and provide comfort to those who need
it. Most importantly, we study and hope
that, in the future, we can make a difference to those who need it.
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 33
CHEN CHEE YANG
A CHANGE IN OUTLOOK
PROJECT TAOM, CAMBODIA
D
uring the summer of
2013, 12 Singaporean
medical students came
together to launch a new
medical expedition to the village
of Ta Om, located in Siem Reap,
Cambodia.
Ta Om is an impoverished village
of nearly 1000 residents located
about 3-hour’s drive north-west of
Siem Reap. Being 17 km away from
the nearest highway and close to
the Thai border, Ta Om is very inaccessible, making opportunities for
work and education few and far
between. As a result, the villagers
are mostly uneducated, and rely on
casual employment and subsistence
farming to earn a living. Some of the
children are sent to towns and cities
to find work, where they are susceptible to exploitation.
As a pioneer project, our main aims
were to assess the healthcare situation in Ta Om, and improve relations
with local organizations and NGOs
near Ta Om so that an effective
healthcare plan can be developed
for the village in the coming years.
Our team focused primarily on
health education amongst villagers,
and with the help of translators in
Cambodia, we came up with our
own educational materials, which
we used at the school in Ta Om, as
well as other schools in the area
to teach them about diseases and
proper hygiene. We also distributed
hundreds of sanitation kits and mos-
34 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
quito nets amongst villagers who
came for the education sessions
at our own cost, so that they could
apply what they had learnt to their
daily lives, and hopefully influence
others around them. We finished the
final days of our expedition going
from house-to-house and conducting a health and environmental profile of 30 out of 155 houses in Ta
Om, from which we can use to track
the effectiveness of our assistance
over the coming years.
Throughout the course of the entire
expedition, unexpected adventures caught us at every corner and
brought us closer to the Cambodian
way of living. These included pushing our van through muddy terrain
during a thunderstorm, a burst tire
on the expressway, and cautiously
balancing on small boats made by
the villagers to cross the river connecting the village to the mainland.
Such incidences were not only a
source of excitement, but also tested
the team’s resilience, and bonded our
team closer together with laughter
and optimism at the end of each
eventful day.
We also had to be highly flexible in
order to cater to the local conditions
and changing expectations of the
villagers. Due to the then upcoming elections in Cambodia, our team
was advised against distributing the
items house-to-house for fear of
political reprisal and a mass distribution had to be organized instead,
which serendipitously turned out to
be the best way to manage the situation.
SRISHTI CHHABRA
&
YEAR 2 MEDICAL STUDENTS
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
Most importantly, however, was the
company. The times we shared were
priceless - visits to Angkor Wat, shopping at night markets, everyday jokes,
the hilarious banter during meals,
and the heart to heart talks at night.
It was every member’s sincere contribution, adaptability and positive outlook that turned potential obstacles
into opportunities and successes, and
we could not have done it without each and every one of them.
What was originally planned as a pilot
trip became a full-fledged expedition
when we realized we could do so
much more to help the village Ta Om.
Together with the Build Your Future
Today Centre (BFT), a developmentbased Cambodian NGO, we have
come up with a sustainable 4-year
development plan to create lasting change in the village of Ta
Om. The profiling data collected
by the team will be passed on to
BFT for further evaluation, and
also on to our next team so that
we may be better placed to help
the villagers of Ta Om in the future.
In this spirit, we feel we have not only
achieved our objectives for the trip, but
surpassed them, and we look forward
to the next trip and to build on what
we have achieved this expedition.
Dedicated to:
Anthony, Charlotte, Crystal, Dr Joy, Ethan, Felicia,
Han Xian, Jia Qian, Sarah,
Sudharsan, and Yi Xiu
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 35
A CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE
MY ELECTIVE ON
THE AMAZON RIVER
I
signed up for a 2-week
trip aboard the Amazon
Hope, a re-fitted ex Royal
Navy ship, as part of the
Amazon Hope project.
The project is organised
by the Vine Trust Organisation
and the Scripture Union of Peru,
and aims to provide a regular,
free primary medical and dental service to communities along
the Amazon River that are otherwise inaccessible by road. The
organisation currently has 2 ships
doing regular cruises down the
River, and is able to revisit each
community every 3 months. The
ships are well equipped, each
boasting its own pharmacy, dental
surgery, small operating theatre
and a number of treatment rooms.
My elective journey started with
a 13-hour flight to Lima and
then another flight to Iquitos,
where the Scripture Union of Peru
is based. There the medical and
dental teams met and got to
explore the city for a day before
setting off for the Amazon Hope.
Each trip allows a few medical
and dental students on board,
along with doctors, dentists and
nurses. Work started the morning after arriving on the boat. A
typical day starts at 7, with an
optional devotions service, followed by breakfast and a chance
to explore the village.
Clinics would start at around 9
am, interrupted by a lunch break
and a siesta break and would continue until the last patient was
seen. Villages vary quite greatly;
some larger ones consisted of
about 1500 people and had their
own nurse-led clinic. The smallest we visited only had 42 people
living there. If we were finished
before lunch, the ship would
sometimes move on to the
next village to continue afternoon clinics. Nighttime activities include movies, karaoke
and multiple games of Uno.
Clinically, it was a very enriching experience. Even as a medical student, I was expected to
36 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
run my own clinic, with the assistance of a translator. The independence was frightening at first,
but was greatly rewarding. There
also a distinct lack of diagnostic
equipment on board the boat.
Aside from urine dipsticks, BM
sticks and a handheld Doppler
probe, there were no other tests
available; which was challenging
but at the same time allowed me
to hone my clinical skills.
Many of the patients presented
with headaches and dizziness,
which the doctor explained was
mainly due to malnutrition, and
a difficult life. Some also just
wanted to stock up on free medication and multivitamins. There
is a heavy burden of infectious diseases, especially diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory infections, and
tropical diseases such as malaria and leishmaniasis.
There were many pregnancy checks, and teenage
pregnancy was quite common due to the lack of
family planning. Many patients also had cataracts,
pterygium and refractive errors that we were unable
to treat.
The Vine Trust organisation also does a River
Blindness trip with ophthalmologists and optometrists for those interested. Basic Spanish is extremely useful, most of the crew of the Amazon Hope
speaks some English, but translators are only given
to medical students and doctors during clinic hours.
The villagers do not speak any English at all, but
do greatly appreciate an introduction and some
attempt at communicating in their language.
Besides the clinical experience, the trip was culturally very exciting. South America is a huge country with multiple dialects and tribes and is very
culturally diverse. The Amazon is also still largely
unspoiled, and I got to experience quite a bit of
nature while I was there. I caught a glimpse of pink
dolphins, turtles, tarantulas and other strange fish.
Being out in the jungle without any access to the
modern world also allowed me to reflect on the
many things we take for granted, like electricity. Peru
is also home to many exciting destinations, after my
PATRICIA CHEONG
YEAR 5 MEDICAL STUDENT
KING’S COLLEGE LONDON
time on the boat, I went on to visit Macchu Picchu,
Lake Titicaca and Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia.
Overall it was an extremely enjoyable trip, we were
well looked after and I always had someone to turn
to if I wasn’t sure of anything. A member of the crew
would always be happy to take us somewhere if we
wanted to see something and explain everything to
us. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone
wanting a meaningful adventure in a most remote
part of the world.
Annual Magazine 2013/14 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • 37
38 • Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom • Annual Magazine 2013/14
NUHS RESIDENCY
Training Minds, Shaping Hearts
Dr Mark Muthiah
Senior Resident
Gastroenterology
Dr Mok Shao Feng
Registrar
Endocrinology
I NURTURE BECAUSE
I HAVE BEEN NURTURED
Dr Benjamin Tan
Resident - PGY1
Internal Medicine
Congratulations to Dr Mok Shao Feng and Dr Mark Muthiah for winning the NUS Medical Society Outstanding Tutor Awards 2013!
Dr Mark Muthiah, who as a junior resident was tutored by Dr Mok, has grown to be an excellent senior resident. He passes on the
passion of teaching by tutoring the next batches of residents.
JOIN THE NUHS RESIDENCY TO EXPERIENCE IT!
http://www.nuhs.edu.sg/nuhsresidency/

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