It’s the start of a new year of med school. Most of us probably enjoyed the break catching up with friends and family not seen for months, while others preferred just to take it easy at home. For those keen few who took up holiday clinical attachments through SMSV, here’s a sample of what they have to say!
I participated in an attachment program organized by SMSV and was posted to the gastroenterology unit at Tan Tock Send Hospital for about 2 weeks. The team of doctors was very welcoming and actively got us involved in their daily work. It gave me a better idea of how the Singapore healthcare system operates. I attended wards rounds, clinics and endoscopy procedures. The consultants that I attended these activities with were very friendly and would teach me about the disease processes and treatment options that were available. I feel that I have learnt a great deal in this short period of time and it gave me insights on the work life of doctors in Singapore.
- Leong Xin Fang on TTSH GE
I did a weeks attachment at TTSH, Infectious Disease department. The bulk of the attachment was at the CDC. Given the very short duration of the attachment it was a challenge but my helpful supervisor structured the timetable to give me a gist of a few things.The main focus was care of patients wit HIV in the inpatient and outpatient setting, which I found very useful and learnt alot from.Attending the consultant ward rounds gave me knowledge and insight into the complexity of the disease.The numerous issues to consider treating these patients including the social issues. I was also scheduled to attend deartment meetings where management of patients were discussed and a few teaching sessions which were planned for the Medical Officers benefited me as well.I also attended ICU and inpatient ward rounds with the ID team, from the referrals they got, which gave me some patient contact as well.
As the case for many of us medical students, the doctors are generally very busy and I did feel lost at times but the people there were generally helpful.I also got an insight into travellers health, vaccinations and public health, which was interesting as well.
I did get a good feel of the health care system in Singapore and enjoyed the attachment.
- Sonia Raj, TTSH ID
My attachment was alright la.. I left early from the hospital most of the time. Sometimes also felt quite chor teng cos the doctors were all too busy. but some doctors were really nice! they will really take the time off to talk to you and try to help you gain as much exposure as you can during the short 1 week stint..
Besides following the team around during ward rounds and sitting in clinics, the doctor that I was attached to also allowed me to watch several operations. It was an eye-opening experience for me as it was my first time being in an operating theatre. Although you can’t really see much as the doctors and nurses are working around the patient, but the smell of burning flesh is something that I’ll never forget!
- Kang Zhi Lin, TTSH GS
The attachment at NUH has ended officially as of yesterday 15 January. I am pretty keen on trauma and critical care and the 1 week attachment at NUH’s ED provided the “compare and contrast” with the ones in Melbourne. Very professional and heaps of teaching with the senior doctors: Prof Suresh Pillai, Prof Shirley Ooi, Dr. Macolm, Dr. Benjamin Leong, Dr. Victor Ong, Dr. Lim Er Luen etc. The clinical students will probably gain more from this experience, preclinical students will be lost. Make sure you’re well equipped? (ie steth, torch etc)
- Wan Jie, NUH ED
I was attached to the Gastroenterology department at TTSH for 5 days (11th Jan – 15th Jan 2010). During the attachment, I followed doctors as they went about their ward rounds, sat in clinics and observed endoscopy procedures. This gave me the opportunity to interact with doctors of different levels, namely medical officers, registrars and consultants; and it was interesting listening to the viewpoints of people in different levels of the medical hierarchy.
From shadowing doctors and interacting with them, I also managed to gain a better understanding of a doctor’s job scope and obtained valuable advice about what being a good doctor entails. I was really fortunate to have a consultant who was willing to spend his free time teaching me and allowing me to observe him at the clinic and in the endoscopy centre.
However, there were also times when I did feel “extra” and “in the way” of the doctors, especially the medical officers, who were always busy scuttling around doing their various tasks. In order to achieve the best out of the attachment, I realised that one has to really take the initiative and ask for the opportunities to observe procedures and so on.
In conclusion, this short attachment provided me with useful insight into the life of a doctor and gave me a better perspective of what it is like working in Singapore as a doctor. I would also like to thank SMSV for organizing such attachments for us!
- Ting Chun Yi, TTSH GE
