The LKCMedicine ISSN 2335-6871 Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine’s bi-monthly newsletter
April 2017 | ISSUE 29
LKCMedicine hosts DPM Teo Chee Hean for first visit to the School
08 NEWS
04 NEWS
14 PROFILE
16 STUDENTS’ TAKE
LKCMedicine scoops two Nanyang Awards
Meet the new Assistant Dean for Admissions: Associate Professor Kwek Tong Kiat
Highlights from the student exchange to Imperial
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The LKCMedicine
What it takes to make a building
The LKCMedicine Team Editorial Team Advisor
Professor Lionel Lee, Executive Vice-Dean
Editor-in-Chief
Siti Rohanah Koid
Editor
Nicole Lim
Contributors & Writers Dr Anna Romito Baz Bosman Emma Chow Michael Dobbin Sean Firoz Joe Shim Teo Tong Lin Navin Kumar Verma
Editorial Board
Professor Michael Ferenczi Dr Vivien Chiong Dr Andrew Ang Gerry Greyling Siti Rohanah Koid Suzanne Lim
Editor’s Corner
ISSUE 29 | APRIL 2017
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By Baz Bosman, Assistant Director and Joe Shim, Senior Assistant Manager, ELITe
he design of the Clinical Sciences Building’s (CSB) IT & AV systems and support infrastructure was in our sights from the moment they started pouring the foundations that now support the completed Experimental Medicine Building (EMB) at NTU’s main campus. During the course of EMB’s construction, we learned many lessons which we subsequently incorporated into the development of CSB. Fine-tuning was achieved through numerous discussions, meetings and revisions with our key partners. One critical aspect in any IT & AV infrastructure design is redundancy (necessary back-up systems). To that end, we worked diligently to ensure that at CSB, students and staff enjoy maximum uptime with minimum disruption; while ensuring that all redundant measures are transparent to our user base. CSB contains world-class learning spaces to support our Team-Based Learning pedagogy and more. Here are some key highlights: • 250-seat Learning Studio, three 90-seat Seminar Rooms and 500-seat Auditorium all feature high density 5Ghz WIFI capable of supporting all users and their multiple devices. • Sophisticated and highly integrated design elements in the Learning Studio and Seminar Rooms incorporate: ○ Technology-Enabled Learning content delivery, which leverages innovative customisations of Wireless Infrastructure to drive wireless Apple TV projection-toscreens and WIFI load aggregation and distribution; and ○ Built-in, extendable table microphones to support a highly-interactive team learning experience.
Welcome to our April issue, which is all about the latest addition to our dual campus – the Clinical Sciences Building! Step inside and find the best study and hang-out corners before you even start school and hear from our Dean Professor James Best about how our physical infrastructure supports our mission to train doctors for tomorrow.
• Video recording system, with more than 50 cameras to cover the Centre for Clinical Simulation and provide faculty and students with the capability to record all teaching sessions for subsequent review and discussion.
We also get to know our new Assistant Dean for Admissions Associate Professor Kwek Tong Kiat and find out what programmes await you at Imperial – from student electives to exchanges – hear from our students newly returned from London and our colleagues from the London Office.
Singapore’s RIE future On 15 February, LKCMedicine Governing Board and A*STAR Chairman Mr Lim Chuan Poh delivered the Interdisciplinary Graduate School Distinguished Lecture at NTU’s Lecture Theatre 26. In his talk titled “Singapore’s RIE System – Creating the Future”, Mr Lim outlined the history of research in Singapore and contextualised it against other small advanced economies before looking to the future. He also explored the opportunities for young researchers that arise from Singapore's knowledge-based, innovation-driven system.
As always, we also have the latest news and happenings for you. Happy reading! Nicole Lim The LKCMedicine Editor Keep in touch: facebook.com/LKCMedicine twitter.com/NTU_LKCMedicine
Here are some fun facts about CSB: There are in excess of 1,500 LAN points and around 145km of LAN wiring - enough to travel across Singapore from East to West and back three times!
News In Brief
LKCMedicine and NTU give media a sneak peek into the new facilities at CSB On 2 March, NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson and LKCMedicine Dean Professor James Best, together with NTU Deputy Provost for Education Professor Kam Chan Hin and LKCMedicine ViceDeans Associate Professor Naomi Low-
Beer and Professor Russell Gruen, hosted Singapore media for a sneak peek into the School’s brand new teaching, research and recreational facilities at CSB. Mainstream media, including The Straits Times, Channel NewsAsia, Lianhe Zaobao and radio news, attended the briefing and tour. At each stop, subject experts and student volunteers were on hand to bring the School’s curriculum, pedagogy and research to life. Edutainment boosts health messaging In February, LKCMedicine hosted NTU School of Art, Design & Media Visiting Professor Doe Mayer, who talked about Entertainment-Education, a strategy to educate viewers by communicating health messages through entertainment, to a group of more than 60 professionals from health education, communications and the media; as well as about Hollywood’s depiction of health and society to an audience of students and simulated patients.
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NEWS | Page 3
The LKCMedicine
From the Dean’s desk
Our young school provides a vibrant and supportive environment, where students can develop into professionals – the doctors whom you and I would like to have caring for us and for our families.
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017 is a major milestone year for us at LKCMedicine. The medical school’s dual campus – in Yunnan Gardens and Novena – is finally completed and the School will hold its official opening in August. We will also welcome our fifth cohort of 120 students in August, and with them, we will for the first time have students across all five years of our MBBS programme. With the Clinical Sciences Building in use, our innovative curriculum is being delivered in spaces that were custom built to support it. The Centre for Clinical Simulation creates an immersive, lifelike learning environment for students practising their clinical skills, while our Anatomy Learning Centre, where 11 alcoves are distributed around a central teaching core, allows students to observe what is being demonstrated as well as work in groups in their alcoves. These new facilities have all been designed to support our team-based approach to learning – whether that’s during integrated learning sessions, communication skills training or anatomy practicals – because we strongly believe that the doctors of tomorrow have to be excellent team players, who know when to lead and when to let others take the lead.
With the emphasis on individual contribution to the team, we also inculcate the habit of self-directed learning, for each member of the team is responsible for its success, and with the ever-increasing rate of medical discovery and new knowledge, this skill has never been more important. While many of our facilities have been built to help our students excel in their studies, we also want them to have the space to relax and get to know each other outside of the classroom. Each of our dedicated student Houses has its own room, giving students the opportunity to forge friendships that will last well beyond the medical school years. We also have recreational facilities – a gym, dance hall, and music room where our talented musicians can practise to their hearts’ content. No medical school would be complete without advancing medical knowledge through cutting-edge research to address significant health problems. With ties to the academic research environment of NTU – with excellence in engineering, biosciences and humanities – LKCMedicine makes full use of the Experimental Medicine Building on the NTU campus for its multi-disciplinary research programme.
The Clinical Sciences Building connects LKCMedicine with the clinical world in Novena HealthCity and beyond, positioning us ideally to bring discoveries to benefit patients. In the near future, the Clinical Sciences Building will physically connect the School with Tan Tock Seng Hospital via a skybridge to the Centre for Healthcare Innovation. Situated at the heart of the Novena HealthCity, we will be a leader in clinically significant research. Our young school provides a vibrant and supportive environment, where students can develop into professionals – the doctors whom you and I would like to have caring for us and for our families; where students can master the science and art of medicine and at the same time build new traditions, and contribute to community projects and school life. Just as we look forward to our inaugural cohort’s graduation in 2018, we are also excited to welcome our newest students in August. Will you be one of them? Best wishes,
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The LKCMedicine
LKCMedicine scoops two Nanyang Awards
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KCMedicine scooped two university-level Nanyang Awards, which were presented by NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson at Celebrate NTU! held at Nanyang Auditorium on 16 March, winning both the Nanyang Award for Teamwork and a Nanyang Research Award. In addition to the university-level awards, Associate Professor of Human & Microbial Genetics Eric Yap and Lead for Pathology and Clinical Teacher Associate Professor Nandini Rao were honoured with School-level Nanyang Education Awards.
Teaming up to save trees Turning trees felled to make way for campus development into works of art brought together NTU Museum, Student Life and LKCMedicine. This stellar team effort not only championed sustainability in the NTU community, but continued to bear fruit in the form of the Nanyang Award for Teamwork. The prestigious university-level award recognises teams whose outstanding
teamwork in a major university project has brought success and honour to the university. Last year, the team behind the School’s e-learning ecosystem was recognised with the same award. On receiving the award, NTU Associate Provost for Student Life Professor Kwok Kian Woon said, “Winning this award shows that NTU champions interdisciplinary collaboration and prizes environmental sustainability, a theme which is central in our research, teaching and in our campus life.” In addition to Prof Kwok, the team comprises LKCMedicine Executive ViceDean Professor Lionel Lee, NTU Museum Deputy Director Faith Teh, LKCMedicine Deputy Director and Head of Medical Library & Heritage Centre Caroline Pang and NTU Research Director of Strategy & Biosciences Dr Kristen Sadler. The project, which took some two years to complete, involved seven local artists and 19 members of staff, faculty and students, and culminated in the “NTU Trees: Upcycled” exhibition, which was on display last year in
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NEWS | Page 5
The LKCMedicine
the Level 3 Collaboration Space of LKCMedicine’s Experimental Medicine Building (EMB). The exhibition attracted an estimated 10,000 visitors, including other organisations keen to learn about repurposing trees. Since then, the more than 50 pieces have been rehomed across NTU, including LKCMedicine’s EMB, Clinical Sciences and Headquarters Buildings in Novena, NTU Alumni Club House at Marina Square and the School of Humanities & Social Sciences on NTU’s main campus. Prof Lee said, “Having works of art, such as these unique pieces from NTU Trees Upcycled on our campus is a visual reminder of the emphasis we place on humanity in medicine and the art of medicine.”
Bringing prominence through infectious disease research The Nanyang Research Award, which was awarded to Prof Wilder-Smith, is the highest recognition bestowed on individuals or teams who have made outstanding contributions in extending the frontiers of knowledge. Prof Wilder-Smith, one of three recipients of the Nanyang Research Award, was recognised for her many accomplishments at the forefront of emerging infectious diseases, international health, travel and tropical medicine and public health. In particular, she has brought NTU to prominence through her active involvement in the study and management of Zika and dengue outbreaks, and her roles with
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international health bodies, including the World Health Organisation. Through the DengueTools grant, supported by the European Commission, Prof WilderSmith’s research has reached out to communities in Sri Lanka, Thailand and beyond. Prof Wilder-Smith said, “I am very happy to receive this award which is really a culmination of two decades of work on emerging infectious and vaccinepreventable diseases.”
Teaching excellence at LKCMedicine At the same ceremony, Assoc Prof Yap and Assoc Prof Rao received Schoollevel Nanyang Education Awards, in recognition of their excellent teaching practices and enrichment of students’ learning experiences. Assoc
Prof Yap, a scientist educator, stood out among teaching faculty for his passion, outstanding mentorship and inspirational teaching, in particular during the Year 4 Scholarly Project. Explaining his passion for teaching, the Associate Professor of Human & Microbial Genetics said, “Today, everyone can access the world’s best educational resources. But only the personal example and nurturing guidance of mentors can provide encouragement, inspiration and wisdom.” Assoc Prof Rao, a clinician educator, Lead for Pathology and House Tutor, received the award in recognition of her efforts to nurture critical thinking and igniting students’ spirit of inquiry. On what the award means to her, Assoc Prof Rao, who is also a Senior Consultant with Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Department of Pathology, said, “I believe in inspiring and guiding the next generation of doctors. I am also thankful to all my students who are my inspiration.”
1. The LKCMedicine, and NTU Museum and Student Life team (not pictured Prof Kwok Kian Woon), receive their Nanyang Award for Teamwork from NTU President Prof Bertil Andersson and Chief-of-Staff and Vice-President for Research Prof Lam Khin Yong 2. Prof Annelies Wilder-Smith is one of three recipients of the Nanyang Research Award 2017
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3 & 4. Assoc Prof Eric Yap and Assoc Prof Nandini Rao are proud recipients of the School-level Nanyang Education Awards for their passion in teaching and mentoring students
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The LKCMedicine
ISSUE 29 | APRIL 2017
Hands-on open house at LKCMedicine a big hit
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rowds of aspiring university students and their parents hit the roads early on Saturday 4 March, heading to the west of Singapore to learn more about NTU and what its schools have to offer. Premier programmes like medicine were a big draw at the university-wide Open House bonanza. From 9.30am, the first among some 1,000 visitors attending the School's Open House streamed across the link-bridge from the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) to the Level 3 Collaboration Space in LKCMedicine's Experimental Medicine Building (EMB), where LKCMedicine faculty, staff, researchers and students welcomed visitors and introduced them to the undergraduate MBBS programme and research at the School. A good starting point for those new to the School were the talks on the first-class education provided by LKCMedicine. By 10am, the Learning Studio was filled to the brim for the first talk, delivered by Assistant Dean for Year 4 & Family Medicine Associate Professor Wong Teck Yee. Two further runs of the talk by Vice-Dean for Clinical Affairs Associate Professor Pang Weng Sun and Assistant Dean for Admissions Associate Professor Kwek Tong Kiat took place during the afternoon, each addressing a packed Learning Studio. During the Q&A, parents and prospective students also had the chance to hear from Vice-Dean for Education Associate Professor Naomi Low-Beer.
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Over the course of the day, LKCMedicine Dean Professor James Best and Executive Vice-Dean Professor Lionel Lee popped by to observe the busy goings-on and answer questions from prospective students and their parents. Other highlights included the handson demonstrations which brought the academic experience at LKCMedicine to life. From Team-Based Learning to science practicals, prospective students could get a good feel for what it would be like to study at LKCMedicine. Manned by enthusiastic LKCMedicine students, supported by faculty and teaching staff, visitors also learned more about students' experience at the young medical school. On Level 3, two of the School's research faculty gave visitors a behind-the-scenes peek at science in action. With faculty and students there to share more, the visitors learnt about engineering in medicine, how students can innovate lab processes as well as how research is built into the undergraduate curriculum. These hands-on activities complemented the happenings at the School's main booth at SBS that was packed with
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1. Crowds fill the 250-seat Learning Studio for the first of three talks on LKCMedicine's innovative curriculum and admissions process 2. LKCMedicine Class of 2021 student Jaryl Gan and Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine Sanjay Chotirmall guide a prospective university student through a lung capacity test 3. Prospective students try their hand at LKCMedicine's unique IT-enhanced Team-Based Learning 4. LKCMedicine Class of 2018 students introduce their Scholarly Projects to visitors 5. LKCMedicine students, faculty and staff answer prospective students' questions about the School and its programme at the SBS booth
visitors throughout the day. The more than 16,000-strong crowd was attracted by NTU's premier programmes in medicine and engineering as well as the university's continued rise through international rankings. NTU now ranks number one among the world's best young universities and number 13 overall.
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The LKCMedicine
ISSUE 29 | APRIL 2017
From there, he moved on to the Practical Skills Lab, one of three components making up the Centre for Clinical Simulation. Kai Wei demonstrated venepuncture, while Berwyn performed suturing in a hybrid scenario where a simulated patient was fitted with a prosthetic wound, under the guidance of Assistant Director and Lead for Practical Skills Ms Ramani Saravanan and Assistant Dean for Clinical Communication Training & Student Welfare Dr Tanya Tierney respectively. Assistant Dean for Year 4 and Family Medicine Associate Professor Wong Teck Yee then invited Mr Teo to try his hand
The LKCMedicine
ISSUE 29 | APRIL 2017
Associate Professor Kwek Tong Kiat: Embracing Life-long Learning
After their insights into student life and the MBBS curriculum, it was ViceDean for Education Associate Professor Naomi Low-Beer’s turn to give context to the students’ experiences. This was followed by a presentation on the School’s research strategy and key achievements by Vice-Dean for Research and Nanyang Institute of Technology in Health & Medicine Director Professor Russell Gruen. After the presentations, the delegation visited the key learning facilities and laboratories that enable the innovative pedagogy and research at the School. In the Anatomy Learning Centre, Mr Teo learned more about the School’s approach to anatomy teaching from Senior Lecturer and Lead for Anatomy Dr Reddy Mogali and observed how ultrasound is used in teaching through a demonstration by Class of 2019 student Russell Chuah, who performed an abdominal scan under the guidance of Assistant Dean for Year 5 Associate Professor Tham Kum Ying.
Page 14 | PROFILE
By Sean Firoz, Senior Executive, Communications & External Relations
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s a young medical student, Kwek Tong Kiat was in his own words a “mugger”. Indeed, among his peers, he had a reputation for possessing the best lecture notes. Now, as the newly appointed Assistant Dean for Admissions at LKCMedicine, Associate Professor Kwek sits on the other side – setting the standards for admissions and selection to the School.
DPM Teo, Prof Andersson and Mr Lim watch Berwyn apply skills learnt in communication and practical skills training in a hybrid scenario, under the supervision of Assoc Prof Nigel Tan and Dr Tanya Tierney
at either of these skills. Mr Teo gamely tried the venepuncture, drawing blood on his first attempt. Assoc Prof Wong and Assistant Dean for Year 3 Associate Professor Nigel Tan also shared insights on how clinical skills training helps to prepare students for clinical practice. As Chairman of the National Research Foundation, Mr Teo also had a strong interest in research and two young scientists at the School were on hand in the research labs to share more about their work. Assistant Professor of Metabolic Disease Yusuf Ali outlined his research which aims to solve the enigma of insulin cell dysfunction in early Type-2 diabetes; while Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine and NMRC Transition Award recipient Sanjay Chotirmall explained the ways in which
Leading him to this appointment is a career marked by dedication to continuous learning and a willingness to serve.
his team is working to improve the pulmonary health of the population.
Choosing an area of need
After this packed programme, it was time to enjoy some light refreshments and the panoramic views offered by the Medical Library on Level 20, where Mr Teo mingled with students. Mr Teo took the opportunity to hear more from students what they make of life at the medical school and what they felt made the curriculum unique. He urged them to study hard as they will be the doctors who will care for his generation and future ones.
Graduating at a time when Singapore faced a shortage of doctors in specialties like anaesthesia, Assoc Prof Kwek decided to match his personal interest in anatomy and physiology with a nationwide area of need. “While doing the rotations during my housemanship, I found that I was drawn more to an area in medicine which is more hands-on.” said Assoc Prof Kwek, who is also a Senior Consultant with the Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care & Pain Management at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).
Before the visit ended, there was just time for a commemorative group and 360 degree photo.
“I was more inclined to do anaesthesia as it offers direct patient care,” added Assoc Prof Kwek, who spends most of his time in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), caring for patients with challenging
needs who come in at odd hours of the day. After receiving his Master of Medicine in Anaesthesiology in 1995, he had the opportunity to do his subspecialty training in Critical Care Medicine at the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, USA. With a wife, a fivemonth-old daughter, and two- and fiveyear-old sons in tow, Assoc Prof Kwek uprooted his family to Minnesota for a year. “It was quite a challenge having my family go with me half way across the world for a year. But we had a good time there,” he said. What was just a typical clinical fellowship became a learning journey for him. From similar medical practices and diseases to the different ways the doctors and patients communicate, Assoc Prof Kwek learnt much from the American medical system. “I’ve found out during my training that it validated the high standards of medical education and training in Singapore,” said Assoc Prof Kwek. “It was gratifying to know that we were all trained well back in Singapore and were able to fully benefit from the Mayo Clinic as if we were local residents or fellows there.” Besides treating patients, Assoc Prof Kwek made the most of being somewhere new. Having the opportunity
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Research shorts NMRC grants awarded at ceremony On 7 and 8 March, the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) held a symposium and ceremony to present its human capital awards, including the Singapore Translational Research (STaR) Investigator Award, Clinician Scientist Award (CSA) and Transition Award (TA). LKCMedicine's newly-appointed Professor John Chambers received the STaR Award, a first for the young school. This prestigious award aims to attract and nurture established world-class clinician investigators to undertake cutting-edge translational and clinical research in Singapore. The School’s other winners include Associate Professor of Infectious Disease Yeo Tsin Wen, who received the CSA-Investigator Category, and Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine Sanjay Chotirmall, who received a TA.
Brain Networks Symposium brings together neuroscience community On 16 and 17 March, Singapore’s neuroscience community assembled for the Brain Networks Symposium, organised by LKCMedicine and held in the Learning Studio at the Clinical Sciences Building. With a stellar line-up of local and international speakers hailing from as far afield as the USA, Japan and France, the two-day programme was organised into three components – Molecular
LKCMedicine hosts DPM Teo Chee Hean for first visit to the School
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ith the latest addition to its dual campus newly open, LKCMedicine welcomed Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Mr Teo Chee Hean at the Clinical Sciences Building (CSB) on Friday, 24 February. This was Mr Teo’s first visit to the School.
Prof John Chambers, who received the STaR Award, focuses on investigating the genetic and environmental mechanisms underlying metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in people of Indian ethnicity
Circuits, Neural Circuits and Brain Disorders.
see them working closely together to advance research in human biology.
The event was attended by some 100 members of the neuroscience and mental health community from various schools and research institutions such as NTU's School of Biological Sciences, National Neuroscience Institute and A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore.
Under the three-year agreement, a RIKEN-NTU Research Centre for Human Biology will be set up at NTU, while a corresponding centre will be set up at RIKEN in Japan.
It generated much discussion and a great exchange of ideas, which was brought to an end by LKCMedicine Dean Professor James Best, who delivered the closing remarks.
NTU-RIKEN MOU advances human biology and disease
LKCMedicine Professor of Neuroscience & Mental Health Balázs Gulyás and RIKEN’s Dr Atsushi Iriki will serve as Co-Directors of the two centres. Initial research projects will focus on how the mind and body interact, as well as understanding various diseases, especially during the pre-clinical phase when important feasibility testing and data collection are conducted.
NEWS | Page 8
The LKCMedicine
LKCMedicine Governing Board Chairman Mr Lim Chuan Poh, NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson and LKCMedicine Dean Professor James Best received Mr Teo, who was updated on the School’s innovative teaching approaches and research strategy. In concluding his welcome remarks, Mr Lim said, “I think it is quite remarkable that in a very small landscape like Singapore’s… we can add diversity for Singaporeans to have different options when they think about medical education.” Addressing Mr Teo’s question on how the university and medical school benefit from each other, Prof Andersson said that NTU brings its existing expertise in life sciences, humanities
like sociology and medical engineering, while the medical school helps to interface with the clinical world. He said, “With the medical school, the engineers trained in life sciences can work closely to develop innovations.” After the welcome remarks, Prof Best introduced the School and reflected on how its ambitious vision to redefine medicine, transform healthcare can be realised. While the transformation of healthcare is already underway, he said that the School’s role is to ensure that it develops well and contributes to Singapore. In this endeavour, the School can contribute in two ways: provide a world-class medical education to students to prepare them for the realities of tomorrow’s healthcare, while at the same time ensure that students work well with the technologies that will support their practice. Prof Best said, “We have to ensure that our students maintain the human touch and that our students treat their patients with care and compassion.” Kick-starting the presentations, which focused on how the School distinguishes itself, were two Class of 2019 students Lee Kai Wei and Berwyn Tan.
NTU and Japan’s flagship national research institute RIKEN have announced a new partnership that will
Natural wonders
1. Assoc Prof Kwek doing his rounds in the ICU, treating patients that come in at odd hours of the day
In this picture, a human T lymphocyte was stimulated to migrate in a laboratory setting, mimicking a tissue site of inflammation. The cell was immunostained for the cytoskeletal proteins α-tubulin (green) and actin (purple) in addition to a signalling protein (red) and nucleus (blue). Notably, migrating T lymphocytes display two opposite cell edges, a leading edge and trailing edge. By studying their behaviour, Assistant Professor of Immunology & Cell Biology Navin Kumar Verma hopes to find new ways of treating immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
2. As Assistant Dean for Admissions, Assoc Prof Kwek (pictured here at the recent NTU Open House) regularly gives talks about the School’s curriculum to potential students and their parents 3. Assoc Prof Kwek and his family on holiday in Cappadocia, Turkey
Courtesy of LKCMedicine Assistant Professor Navin Kumar Verma A commemorative photo taken in the Medical Library marks DPM Teo’s first visit to LKCMedicine
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Dr Reddy Mogali explains the School’s anatomy teaching, which includes the use of plastinated specimens to DPM Teo
Class of 2019 student Russell Chuah performs an ultrasound scan, a common component in LKCMedicine’s teaching
"The Collaboration Space in CSB provides a stimulating, high-quality and spacious environment for us to do the research aimed to benefit patients." - Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine Sanjay Chotirmall
Collaboration Space for Researchers
Anatomy Learning Centre
"I really like the gym as I can easily go for a run or lift some weights during lunch or after work.” - Sufian Bin Suderman, Senior Executive, Research Administration & Support Services
Gymnasium
Simulated Ward
“At the Communication Suite, we get to interact with simulated patients in a realistic environment. This allows us to hone our clinical communication skills, giving us the confidence to approach real patients in the future.” - Rebekah Lee, Class of 2019
Communication Suite
“The House Rooms are really versatile; some of us use them to gather for meetings, or just to hang out with friends; some use them to study, and some (like me) use them for a well-needed nap during lunchtime!” - Sophia Wong, Class of 2019
House Rooms
"The state-of-the-art laboratories radiate a pleasant and stimulating research atmosphere. Together with access to several technical platforms, they create an enabling environment for leading-edge pre-clinical and patient-oriented research." - Professor of Metabolic Disease Walter Wahli
Research Labs and Centres
Plaza
“We didn’t have an auditorium of our own. Now that we do, it’s very convenient to hold major events like the inaugural LKCMedicine Anatomy Challenge, a student-run event held in April this year.” - Kavya Sivakumar, Class of 2021
Auditorium
The elevated Plaza frames the HQ building. The space is an integration of open plazas, courtyards and terraces.
Green Wall
Level 06
Level 08
Level 10 to 19
“The Practical Skills Lab and Simulated Ward, well-equipped with essential clinical materials and practice manikins, are great places where we can have more hands-on practice to gain confidence and competency in the important practical skills we need as a doctor.” - Ang Jia Wei, Class of 2018
Practical Skills Lab
The 20-storey Clinical Sciences Building (CSB) is located at the heart of HealthCity Novena. With levels dedicated to learning, discovery and recreation, CSB has something for everyone. Together with the heritage Headquarters (HQ) Building, CSB forms LKCMedicine’s Novena campus at 11, Mandalay Road.
Level 01
Level 04
“I enjoy having Team-Based Learning in the Learning Studio as it is spacious and constructive for discussion and teamwork. The surrounding view of Novena is also really nice to look at!” -Nicolas Khairul Bureau, Class of 2020
Learning Studio
Library Rotunda
“The library is spacious and the open concept makes it very conducive to study. A wide range of updated medical books is available for our reference and the beautiful view of Novena makes the library extremely attractive.” - Brenton Sio, Class of 2018
Medical Library
“The Anatomy Learning Centre contains many alcoves where small groups of students can view an anatomy specimen or a histology slide and learn about clinical imaging techniques. I like it as it means better learning with smaller student groups around larger spaces.” -P S Pandiyan, Class of 2021
Level 05
Level 07
Level 08
Level 10
Level 20
THE CLINICAL SCIENCES BUILDING
HIGHLIGHTS OF
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to enjoy all four seasons, as well as taking trips out to the big national parks, he tried his best to balance work and life in a foreign country.
team began to struggle with the rapidly growing number of patients, members of the neurosurgical ICU team including Assoc Prof Kwek volunteered to help.
“Because we were there for a short time, we tried very hard to make the most of what we had in terms of time and opportunity,” said Assoc Prof Kwek.
But behind the heroic acts of the ICU teams was a fear that the personal protective gear and N95 masks were not enough to protect against the disease.
When he returned to Singapore, he picked up his role as part of the neurosurgical ICU team and anaesthesiology department at TTSH. However, just a few years later, tragedy struck. The SARS outbreak blighted the lives of Singaporeans, and the ICU team.
“At the time while we were in the middle of it, the fear factor was definitely there, and at the back of our minds I think we were always a bit worried about contracting the disease,” said Assoc Prof Kwek.
Volunteer at a time of need It was a tough time for the staff of TTSH as the number of SARS patients surged day by day. As the medical ICU
The SARS period was also a lonely time. In addition to walking through deserted hospital corridors, Assoc Prof Kwek decided to quarantine himself from his family by staying in a rented apartment, only coming out to go to the hospital for work.
The whole experience is one that remains vivid in his mind. “From that experience, I learnt that the success of healthcare is not dependent on the efforts of one individual, but rather the collective effort of the whole team, including doctors, nurses, therapists and even the cleaners. Everyone has a role to play, whether it’s big or small,” said Assoc Prof Kwek.
Inspiring future doctors To help ensure that anaesthesiology won’t face another shortage of doctors, Assoc Prof Kwek has long been involved in post-graduate specialist training as well as supervising undergraduate students during their clinical attachments. However, in 2011, LKCMedicine offered a new opportunity to expand his undergraduate teaching by taking the lead for its cardiorespiratory block. Having now taught all four cohorts of LKCMedicine students, every year has been a learning journey, especially when students ask questions that stump him. But honesty is the best policy, says Assoc Prof Kwek, who would do his own “mugging” and get back to them. Last year, Assoc Prof Kwek took on a fresh challenge as Assistant Dean of Admissions at LKCMedicine, after his predecessor retired. While he may now be the one testing others, he too has more to learn.
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“I’m beginning to understand that there is a lot more research going on to identify or select the new students who are most appropriate for our School,” said Assoc Prof Kwek, when asked about his role. Having spent a lot of time talking to students in various Junior Colleges, he now has a better understanding of what students are interested in these days, especially when it comes to the unique method of teaching at LKCMedicine. With that knowledge, Assoc Prof Kwek aims to find ways to fine-tune the selection process for future students applying to LKCMedicine.
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On his experience at the young medical school, Assoc Prof Kwek said, “It has been a learning journey from developing the curriculum and teaching the students. It has been an interesting time at LKCMedicine, and it feels like I am able to contribute to the education of the next generation of students, who hopefully will be better doctors than we are today.”
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The LKCMedicine
ISSUE 29 | APRIL 2017
Highlights from THE STUDENT EXCHANGE TO Imperial By Emma Chow and Teo Tong Lin, Class of 2020
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ighteen students from LKCMedicine visited Imperial College London from 5 to 11 March as part of the second LKCMedicine – Imperial College School of Medicine Exchange Programme. The programme gave us the chance to experience a wide spectrum of academic activities at Imperial – including Year 1 anatomy dissection and practicals, Year 2 lectures and clinical teachings and Year 5 general practice (GP) placements. We were also immersed in London's rich culture through activities with the Imperial students, such as catching "Wicked" the musical together. The week kicked off with Dr Mike Barrett, who is the Head of Learning Resources at the School of Medicine, giving us a tour of Imperial's beautiful South Kensington Campus, including a visit to the London Office of LKCMedicine. It was lovely meeting the team who work hard from thousands of miles away to help our School grow from strength to strength. We then travelled to the Charing Cross campus, located just a few tube stations away, where the other half of our oncampus activities were based. We met Professor of Endocrinology Karim Meeran who conducted an Endocrinology Team-Based Learning (TBL) lesson and delivered a succinct introduction to the National Health Service (NHS), which helped to put our learning in context of the UK’s healthcare system.
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We are eager to deepen relationships between students from both Schools and hope to propose collaborative projects in the next months facilitated by friendships forged during the exchange.
In the afternoon, Professor Ceri Davies, Chair of Anatomy, showed us the meticulously-documented collection of specimens at the School’s Pathology Museum and introduced us to anatomy teaching at Imperial.
clinics across London to see primary care in action, attending pre-clinical lectures and practicals and experiencing clinical teaching at Charing Cross Hospital. We tried our hands at intravenous cannulation, examined a manikin during simulation teaching and performed cardio-respiratory examinations on patients on the wards, with guidance from our very experienced clinical tutors.
We had a very enriching time over the next few days joining Year 5 Imperial students on their GP placements at
Yet, this exchange was not all work and no play. LKCMedicine students were treated to a guided tour of the Queen's
Tower on Tuesday, and enjoyed a scenic walk down the River Thames South Bank with Prof Davies and Imperial students on Thursday afternoon, which offered magnificent views of the London Eye, Shakespeare's Globe and St Paul's Cathedral, amongst many other iconic attractions. Students from both Schools also met one mid-week evening to watch "Wicked" at the theatre. We also had the chance to visit the Royal College of Surgeons' Hunterian Museum, which boasts unrivalled collections of specimens, models and
ISSUE 29 | APRIL 2017
STUDENTS' TAKE | Page 17
The LKCMedicine
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instruments from the 17th century to the present day, and the Old Operating Theatre, Europe's oldest surviving operating theatre before the advent of antiseptics and anaesthetics. The exchange concluded with a feedback session and discussion about how to strengthen the relationship between students from our Schools. On behalf of the 18 of us, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the many people at both Schools who have helped make this very meaningful and
inspiring exchange possible. We are eager to deepen relationships between students from both Schools and hope to propose collaborative projects in the next months facilitated by friendships forged during the exchange. We are also looking forward to discussing our learning with our peers when we return to Singapore and cannot wait to welcome our friends from Imperial to LKCMedicine and Singapore later this year!
1. Class of 2020 students Hui Shyuan and Joelle examine a manikin during simulation teaching at Charing Cross Hospital, while fellow LKCMedicine students observe them 2 & 3. LKCMedicine and Imperial students enjoy a walk along the River Thames 4. Prof Ceri Davies with students from both Schools at the Royal College of Surgeons' Hunterian Museum 5. Imperial College Associate Dean & Head of Undergraduate Medicine Mr Martin Lupton and Deputy Head of Undergraduate Medicine Dr Joanne Harris lead a large group discussion about collaborative ideas suggested by LKCMedicine and Imperial students
Page 18 | LONDON OFFICE
The LKCMedicine
ISSUE 29 | APRIL 2017
LKCMedicine Electives programme in London
By Michael Dobbin, Collaboration Manager (Governance & Educational Quality), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial
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We hope that the experience of how a different medical school works and trains its students will be fulfilling.
mperial College London has collaborated with LKCMedicine to establish an LKCMedicine Electives programme in London, a first starting this year. From 28 August, 22 LKCMedicine students in the final year of the MBBS programme shall undertake their six-week elective placements at the Imperial College Healthcare Trust, each elective tailored specifically to their needs. In addition to an immersion into medical life at Imperial, students will have a rich experience of hands-on supervised clinical practice and exposure to a range of specialised units within the Charing Cross, Chelsea & Westminster, Hammersmith and St Mary’s Hospitals. Professor Mark Nelson, Professor of Human Immunodeficiency Virology Medicine at Imperial, Consultant Physician at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, and the Clinical Liaison in the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust for the LKCMedicine Electives programme said, “We look forward to welcoming LKCMedicine students from Singapore. We hope that the experience of how a different medical school works and trains its students will be fulfilling. The electives should be highly enjoyable both academically and socially and influence how one perceives best practice of medicine in the future.”
– Prof Mark Nelson,
Clinical Liaison in the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust for LKCMedicine Electives
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LKCMedicine is a high-profile collaboration within the international education context, and we look forward to delivering an excellent, bespoke and rewarding elective programme that is in accordance with this narrative.
3 1. Charing Cross Hospital 2. Chelsea & Westminster Hospital 3. St Mary's Hospital 4. Hammersmith Hospital All photos courtesy of Imperial College London / Christian Richters
During my time in Singapore last September, it was my pleasure to meet some of the now confirmed students. There was great enthusiasm for what is to be a unique, quality student experience. Working closely with Prof Nelson, Dr Mike Barrett, Head of Learning Resources at Imperial's Faculty of Medicine, and other key personnel, we have drawn from a wide range of expertise across Imperial in order to holistically inform and quality assure the administrative arrangements of the programme.
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ISSUE 29 | APRIL 2017
CURRICULUM & UPCOMING EVENTS | Page 19
The LKCMedicine
YEAR 5: Readying students for practice
By Dr Anna Romito, Curriculum Development Lead
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y recent extended stay in Singapore was an excellent opportunity to work even more closely with our dedicated leads in shaping the forthcoming curriculum of Year 5. A key focus of our work was to bring core, cross-year themes together in the final year. We have created a Year 5 curriculum that speaks to all the years before it and builds on the key vertical themes of the School’s pedagogy. Through their elective and selective placements, students can embrace the theme of scientific enquiry and special study. With autonomous choice over both location and subject, students are able to structure their own enquiry to enrich their understanding of healthcare and its delivery. On returning to the classroom, Year 5 students engage deeply with another vertical theme, Pharmacology. This
is delivered via dedicated, classroom teaching on Safe Prescribing. The core concepts for safe prescribing build on students’ existing knowledge of pharmacology and provide the foundation for understanding prescribing practices that they will observe during their Student Assistantship Programme (SAP) at the end of the year. The Professionalism, Ethics, Law, Leadership & Patient Safety (PELLS) vertical theme is both taught at designated points throughout the year and omnipresent in the Year 5 clinical curriculum. Closely aligned to the different phases of the year, including integrated care, the SAP and again in teaching at the very end of Year 5, the PELLS teaching and application exercises bring students ever closer to their responsibilities as practising clinicians.
We have created a Year 5 curriculum that speaks to all the years before it and builds on the key vertical themes of the School’s pedagogy.
Our fourth theme of Clinical Communication is similarly delivered. Specific classroom teaching sessions build on existing skills to develop greater dexterity in communication. Increasing proficiency is then matched to increasing opportunity in clinical placements, culminating in the SAP. Students’ skills in written communication are also developed to support the essential interdisciplinary correspondence expected of Post Graduate Year 1 (PGY1) doctors. Last, but not least, is our vertical theme of Pathology. Students revisit familiar diseases in their rotations in medicine, surgery and family medicine. Reexposure allows students to re-engage with the topics at a deeper level. Now familiar with how diseases present and why, students can apply their understanding of the disease process and pathophysiology to plan appropriate management strategies. All of these vertical themes together both inform and enrich the Year 5 curriculum. This is a very exciting final year for students and faculty alike and we look forward to it starting!
Upcoming events Event
Date
Time
Venue
Joint Symposium by NTU and Loughborough University
10 Apr 11 Apr
10.30am – 5.15pm 9.30am – 4pm
Lecture Theatre, Toh Kian Chui Annex LKCMedicine Headquarters Building Novena campus
LKCMedicine Anatomy Challenge
15 Apr
8.30am – 6pm
Auditorium, Clinical Sciences Building Novena campus
LKCMedicine Research Guest Lecture by Dr Marie Loh
21 Apr
4 - 5pm
Lecture Theatre, Toh Kian Chui Annex LKCMedicine Headquarters Building Novena campus
For the latest details and more events, go to www.lkcmedicine.ntu.edu.sg
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