With the aim of promoting greater participation in our forums, we’ve come up with a little competition for our members. There’s a AUD$50 CASH PRIZE for the winner!

Step 1: You’ll first need to sign up on our forums as a forum member.
Step 2: Post constructively - don’t be afraid to start new topics if you think there is potential for a good discussion
Step 3: Post frequently - the more post there are, the more vibrant our forums would become!

Judging will be based not only on post count, but also on the quality of your posts. The winner will be determined by the SMSV committee.

Competition ends 1st August, 2009

Remember, the SMSV forum needs your participation to become a useful resource for all our members. So please contribute as much as you can!

7th to 14th December, 2008

12 SMSV members joined a contingent of more than 80 physicians, surgeons, nurses, volunteers and other medical students on a medical humanitarian trip to Hainan Island, situated in the South China Sea, facing Guangdong Province across Qiongzhou Strait.

The participants were divided into 2 teams. One was assigned to assist the surgeons from Singapore in Wenchang Hospital, and the other was assigned to run the triaging area and dispensary in a community clinic in Song Heng, a small rural village about an hour from Wenchang.

Cleft lip/ cleft pallet surgeries were performed at Wen Chang hospital. Apart from the opportunity to assist the surgeons, participants also gained valuable insight into the workings of a metropolitan hospital in Hainan.

Cleft lip surgery on an infant

SMSV members observing surgery

Those at the rural community clinic not only got ample opportunity to put their clinical skills into practice, but also got to assist surgeons there in minor surgery. Participants also had their communication skills put to the test, as many of the villagers could only speak Hainanese. Everyone managed to rise to the challenge though, learning basic phrases in Hainanese along the way!

SMSV members taking BP and blood glucose

SMSV members running the dispensary

An SMSV member assisting with the removal of a lipoma

The three days of volunteer work culminated in a grand gala dinner at the Wenchang Hotel. It was certainly a rewarding and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.

After the trip, participants had the option of joining a tour of Hainan for a well deserved break. Those who joined got to enjoy the scenic rural beauty of the Hainan country side, participate in various watersports at Xi Dao (a small tourist island not unlike Sentosa), and visit the famous Nan Shan temple and the Nan Hai Kuanyin, amongst other attractions.

Group photo at Xidao

Nan Hai Kuanyin

All in all, participants not only gained valuable experience helping out in a rural Chinese communty, but also established many contacts with doctors and surgeons from Singapore and made many friends amongst the nurses, volunteers and medical students from other universities.

Special thanks goes to Prof Fong Poh Him and the Song Heng Association, Singapore.

For more info, contact Zhixuan:

email: zhixuan@smsv.sg

For people who are interested in doing some charity work and loves interacting with people - here’s an opportunity for you! The Singapore Medical Society of Victoria has launched the ’Show You Care’ initiative together with KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital!

It feels terrible to be hospitalised – even more so when you really should be out there enjoying your childhood. That’s why through the SMSV ‘Show You Care’ initiative, we’re hoping to bring some happiness and joy to the children who are hospitalised at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital!

We’re looking for participants who are willing to commit some time and effort entertaining these hospitalised children; playing and talking to them, reading stories etc. Participants will also be involved in the planning of some fun activities for the children!

Participants who have received the appropriate training will also be involved in the management of adult inpatients – basic clinical examination, taking medical history.

Details
Time: Commencing 7th January, every Wednesday 2.30pm – 5.30pm for the month of January
Location: KKH
Number of participants: approximately 6-10
Project I/C: Jasmin Tan

Preference will be given to members who have not received any attachment offers.

For enquiries, please email info@smsv.sg.

To apply, send your name, institution + year level, Singapore contact details to info@smsv.sg by 26th November 2008

Successful applicants for the SMSV-NHG hospital attachments have been notified by email.

Please review the email and confirm your attendance by replying to info@smsv.sg by the 21st November.

Any queries can be directed at Kaihan at info@smsv.sg.

List of successful applicants:

1. Mohammed Javid – NUH (Oncology) - 5 to 9 Jan
2. Jonathan Lai – NUH (Gen Med) – 12 to 16 Jan
3. Jasmin Tan – NUH (Gen Surgery) – 19 to 23 Jan
4. Venkat – TTSH (Endo) – 12 to 16 Jan
5. Rachel Loh – TTSH (Gen Surgery) – 12 to 16 Jan
6. Teo Shu Lin – TTSH (Gastro) – 12 to 16 Jan
7. Christine Yong – TTSH (Gastro) – 12 to 16 Jan
8. Teoh Hui Lin – TTSH (Anaesth) – 12 to 16 Jan
9. Ting Chun Yi – TTSH (Anaesth) – 12 to 16 Jan

The Singapore Medical Society of Victoria, in collaboration with the National Skin Centre, has arranged for a series of attachments at National Skin Centre to be held over the holidays.

The dates for these attachments are:
1)24 Nov-5 Dec
2) 8 Dec-19 Dec
3) 22 Dec-2 Jan
4) 5 Jan-16 Jan
5) 19 Jan-30 Jan

NSC will be accepting a maximum of 15 applicants and these applicants will be chosen on a first come first serve basis.

Interested parties are to apply through smsv.enquiries@gmail.com and are to include these following details:
1) Name
2) Institution and Year level
3) Singapore contact details
4) Prefered dates – 1st and 2nd choice
5) CV

The deadline for applications is 21st Oct 2008.

The Singapore Medical Society of Victoria, in collaboration with the National Heathcare Group, has organised a series of hospital attachments to be held over the summer vacation.

These hospital attachments will see medical students attached to various departments at the various NHG hospitals for a period ranging from 3 days to a week. During the attachments, medical students will be exposed to the workings of the hospitals, may be involved in the management of patients and in some cases, be allowed to perform some of the clinical skills they have learnt.

We will be accepting 10 participants for the SMSV-NHG hospital attachments and these participants will be selected on a first come first serve basis.

To register, send an email to info@smsv.sg by the 15th of October 2008. Include in your email:
1) Your name
2) Your institution and year level
3) Your email address and Singapore contact details
4) Your preferred NHG hospital
5) Your preferred hospital department
6) The period in your holiday during which you will be available

Only properly completed emails will be considered.

For any further queries, do feel free to email me at info@smsv.sg!

Register your interest early to avoid disappointment!

Contact Singapore’s Careers@Singapore

If you have any enquiries please feel free to email us at info@smsv.sg!

RMIT Durian Fest

RMIT University’s Singapore Student Association will be having their bi-annual durian festival again next Saturday 27th August 2008. If interested please register with the appropriate personnel as indicated in the poster!

National Day Celebrations – 9th August 2008

On the 9^th August 2008, members and non-members of SMSV gathered at the function room of Deakin Hall, Monash Residential Services, to celebrate the nation’s 43^rd birthday. It was a jovial and fun-filled night that began at 7.30pm with live screening of the National Day Parade, ‘How-much-do-you-know-about-Singapore quiz’, sing-along sessions, lucky draw and many other activities! There was also a surplus of local delights such as curry chicken, fried beehoon and rice, carrot cake, sotong balls and grass jelly drink to work up our appetites.

It was a ‘red-and-white night’ as everyone took much effort to dress up in our nation’s colours, competing for the best dressed award that eventually went to Miss Huang Peiqi. Furthermore, all who came to the event were entitled to a goodie-bag (much thanks to our sponsors!), and some went on to win the highly coveted and hard to come by national day goodie bag from the mini-competitions held throughout the night. Mingling with fellow Singaporeans and reminiscing stories of our nation, 9 August 2008 at Deakin was a truly entertaining night.