SEP – OCT 2013
Two of a kind?
Photo: alecia Neo
Brothers and oncologists, Dr Wong Fuh Yong and Dr Wang Fuqiang are also colleagues in the same department
Dr Wong Fuh Yong (left) and his brother Dr Wang Fuqiang work in the same field, and recently collaborated on a research project for the first time.
By Jamie Ee
M
eet Dr Wong Fuh Yong, 38, Consultant, and his brother Dr Wang Fuqiang, 29, Registrar, from the Department of Radiation Oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS). Did you notice that they have different surnames? Their parents registered the elder sibling’s surname as Wong because that is how it is pronounced in dialect, and the younger one’s as Wang because that is how it is pronounced in Mandarin. This difference has led to some amusement at work. Dr Wong said: “One of my colleagues was quite taken aback when he found out, a year later, that Fuqiang is my brother. He said it was lucky that he hadn’t said anything bad about him!” Their family resemblance and other similarities have not gone unnoticed, though. Dr Wang said: “Some patients who hadn’t seen me before have said that I look familiar. “Once, a patient saw me and told
his family that I was his consultant. But I hadn’t seen any patients yet, so I told him that he was probably referring to my brother.” Same work, different interests So, did one brother influence the other? And are they two of a kind? Not really. Dr Wong, who is married and has a seven-year-old daughter, describes himself as having eclectic pursuits. He enjoys reading, photography, and travelling. His bachelor brother professes to be more athletic, and enjoys running, swimming, and hitting the gym. “But deep down, we are probably more similar than we care to admit, even though this may not show up in the things we do,” said Dr Wong. Their paths have indeed been similar. Both graduated from The Chinese High School and Hwa Chong Junior College. Both studied medicine at the National
singapore health
University of Singapore, specialising in radiation oncology – a speciality that focuses on using radiation therapy to treat cancer. Both were (and still are) motivated by compassion and an interest in science and technology. Dr Wong, who joined NCCS in 2003, did not actively draw his brother into his sphere of work. “I hardly talked to him about cancer care, so I was surprised that he took up radiation oncology,” he said. But Dr Wang, who joined NCCS in 2010, said that he was indeed influenced by his brother. “After graduation, I was trying to figure out my interests. Since my brother was in radiation oncology, I thought, why not give it a try and see what it is like?” Their being brothers does not have any impact on their professional roles and relationship, though. Their paths usually cross at department meetings or in small group teaching sessions conducted by Dr Wong, who treats his brother like any other doctor under his tutelage while on the job. They do not always share a similar work schedule as Dr Wang has not yet chosen a sub-speciality. They did, however, recently collaborate on a research project for the first time. They were part of a five-member team studying the outcome of breast conservation therapy in
people
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Once, a patient saw me and told his family that I was his consultant. But I hadn’t seen any patients yet, so I told him that he was probably referring to my brother. Dr Wang Fuqiang on the confusion that arises from his brother, Dr Wong Fuh Yong, being in the same department
breast cancer patients in Southeast Asia who had not yet had surgery. They have a middle brother, a pharmacist, who works in another hospital. Their father works in finance and their mother is a housewife. When the family meets, conversation is varied and does not centre on medicine. “At home, we don’t usually talk about our work,” said Dr Wong.