|
|
Post-Graduate Medical Training in Singapore
Mohammad Saeed Mahmood, Class of 2000
The Aga Khan University – Medical College
The views expressed here are solely of the author.
These guidelines are the personal views and opinions of the author and may be contradictory
to those of other people.
Singapore is an emerging center of world class education in Asia. Its
health facilities are comparable to those of international medical centers.
Residents in Pakistan, in various specialities of Medicine can consider
Singapore for Post Graduate training, since the hospitals are well-developed
with state-of-the-art technology, having well qualified faculty and staff
and availability of PG-training opportunities.
Singapore is a very beautiful, clean, safe and efficient city with
a welcoming environment and most of the population speaks English.
To start with, search the internet and visit the web sites of the hospitals
in Singapore. You may use a search engine like Yahoo (www.yahoo.com).
Some of the web sites are also provided at this site. On the web sites
you would find relavent details about the post-graduate programs the hospital
offers, job opportunities at Registrar level and at Consultant level as
well. Lists and contact details (e-mails, fax and phone numbers) of each
department would be available. From here you can guage the size of the
department, the availability of a particular speciality in that hospital
and get the contact addresses as well.
The Human Resource department of the hospital is responsible for processing
your application. Write to the HR dept of the hospital in which the field
of your choice is available. It is important to note that a number of hospitals
may have a particular department but it may have assumed a decreased importance
because of concentration of the field elsewhere. A typical example is Obs
/ Gyne. The once large departments at NUH and SGH have reduced in strength
(patient load, exposure, finances etc.) after the coming up of KK Women’s
and Children hospital as the main centre for Obs/Gyne and Paed’s services.
Send in your CV with a covering letter stating the field you would like
to rotate in and the purpose of training, along with the benefits it affords
for you and your country. Request them for program details and application
forms.
It is of extreme importance that you contact the department directly
and simultaneously send a copy of the afore-mentioned details to the Departmental
Head. All communication should preferentially be done via e-mail.
The Human Resource department can help in your recruitment only in the
programs made available by the department. It is possible that the department
has enough finances and training capabilities to train you in a specific
area of your choice. Besides the decision to accept you for a training
program at the initial phase rests with the department (others follow –
HR dept of the hospital, Ministries of Health and Labour etc).
The fellowships are funded by the hospital and if you are selected
you would be paid S$ 2000 (Singaporean Dollars).
Another way to go about a fellowship in Singapore would be to arrange for a funding from Pakistan (your country of origin). Your own hospital may give you a training grant / scholarship and you may then directly apply to the Department in the hospital of your choice in Singapore (bypassing HR dept) and they would be more than happy to welcome you for a hands-on training fellowship. Other potential sources of funding might be pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan or perhaps Singapore (you would need to inquire into these possibilities and internet would be a good place to start your search).
BEST OF LUCK !
Here are some of the web sites of hospitals in Singapore, along with
a few details.
Singapore General Hospital : www.sgh.gov.sgThe largest medical centre in Singapore. Well developed specialities include:
-Medicine: Endo, Gastro, Neuro, Pulmo, Renal
-Surgery: General, Colorectal, Vascular, Ortho, ENT, Neuro
-Radiology -Anesthesia -Emergency Medicine
Independent hospitals within SGH campus:
National Cancer Center : www.nccs.com.sg (Medical, Surgical and Radiological Oncology)
National Heart Center : www.nhc.com.sg (Cardiology and Cardio-thoracic surgery)
Institute of Health : (Family Medicine)
National Dental Center
Singapore National Eye Center : snecssb@pacific.net.sg . http:/.biomed.nus.edu.sg/snec
At SGH the short courses and fellowship training is looked after by Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI).
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital : www.kkh.com.sg
Recently all Obs / Gyne and Paed’s services in Singapore have been concentrated here.
-Obstetrics -Gynecology -Neonatology
-Paed’s medicine -Paed’s surgery.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital : www.ttsh.gov.sg
Known well for its Rheumatology services. All twelve Rheumatologists of Singapore practise here.
National University Hospital : www.nuh.com.sg
Part of the campus of National University of Singapore. It competes with SGH in all fields and is equally well developed.
Focus more on research than service.
Woodbridge Hospital
Largest hospital in Singapore and dedicated only to Psychiatric services.
Changi General Hospital : www.cgh.com.sg
Below you would find details of some of the fellowships available at Singapore General Hospitals. Other hospitals probably have similar programs. These details can be obtained by writing to the HR department of the hospital. Some of the information may be available at the web sites.
Singapore General Hospital
Singapore General Hospital Web site : www.sgh.gov.sg
SGH-PGMI, Block 6 Level 1 Phone : (65) 326-5286
Outram Road, Singapore 169608. Fax : (65) 223-9789
Medicine
Endocrinology
Duration: 6-12 months
Description: General clinical endocrinology fellowship.
Qualifications: MRCP or equivalent.
Program data: 1-2 places / year
Special interests : DM, Pituitary, Thyroid
Head: Dr. Fok Chun Kwok, Alex ; Senior Consultant
Team – 8 Consultants
Neurology
Duration: 1 year
Description: General clinical neurology fellowship.
Qualifications: Completion of Internal Medicine Residency.
Program data: 1-2 places / year
Special interests : Stoke, Epilepsy, Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuro- Oncology, Sleep disoders.
Head: Dr. Wong Meng Cheong ; Senior Consultant
Team – 8 Consultants
Nephrology
Duration: 1-2 years
Description: General clinical nephrology fellowship.
Qualifications: MRCP or equivalent.
Program data: 4-6 places / year
Special features: Dialysis and Transplantation rotations
Head: Dr. Woo Keng Thye; Senior Consultant
Team – 7 Consultants
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Duration: 1 year
Description: General clinical Pulmonology fellowship.
Qualifications: MRCP or equivalent with 1 year experience in P & CC Med
Program data: 1 place / year
Special features : Pulmonology, ICU, Bronchoscopy
Head: Dr.Ong Yong Yau; Senior Consultant
Team – 6 Consultants
Anaesthesia
Cardiac Anaesthesia
Duration: 1 year
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified anaesthetist with 1 year experience.
Program data: 2 places / year
Head: Dr. Chan Yew Weng; Senior Consultant
Team – 21 Consultants
Neuro Anaesthesia
Duration: 6-12 months
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified anaesthetist.
Program data: 1 place / year
Head: Dr. Chan Yew Weng; Senior Consultant
Team – 21 Consultants
General Anaesthesia
Duration: 1 year
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified anaesthetist.
Program data: 6 places / year
Head: Dr. Chan Yew Weng; Senior Consultant
Team – 21 Consultants
Surgery
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
General ENT
Duration: 2 years
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Resident ENT.
Program data: 1-2 places / year
Special features: Complete 2-year Residency training.
Head: Dr. Low Wong Kein; Senior Consultant
Team – 5 Consultants
Neuro-Otology
Duration: 1 year
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: FRCS or equivalent
Program data: 1 place / year
Special features: middle/inner ear surgery, cochlear implants, rehab.
Head: Dr. Low Wong Kein; Senior Consultant
Team – 5 Consultants
Head and Neck Surgery
Duration: 1 year
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified ENT, Plastic or General Surgeon.
Program data: 1 place / year.
Special features: H&N Cancer Mx, Rotations in Radiation oncology,
Plastic and Reconstructive surgery with research project.
Head: Dr. Low Wong Kein; Senior Consultant
Team – 5 Consultants
Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS)
Duration: 6 months
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified ENT Surgeon.
Program data: 1 place / year
Special features: FESS, Orbit, Skull base, CSF leaks, Pituitary surgery.
Head: Dr. Low Wong Kein; Senior Consultant
Team – 5 Consultants
Orthopedics
Reconstructive Hand Surgery
Duration: 3-6 months
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: FRCS or equivalent: Orthopedic, Plastic or General surgery
Program data: 1 place / year
Special features: Trauma / Non-trauma. Coventional / Micro surgery
Head: Dr. Teoh Lam Chuan; Senior Consultant
Team – 5 Consultants.
Hand and Microsurgery
Duration: 6-12 months
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: FRCS or equivalent: Orthopedic, Plastic or General surgery
Program data: 1 place / year
Head: Dr. Teoh Lam Chuan; Senior Consultant
Team – 5 Consultants
Spine Surgery
Duration: Basic – 6 months. Advanced – 1-3 months.
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Basic – Ortho Residents. Advanced - FRCS or equivalent in Ortho
Program data: 1 place / year
Head: Dr. Teh Boon Keng; Senior Consultant
Team – 15 Consultants
Reconstruction
Duration: 6 months
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified Orthopedic surgeon
Program data: 3 places / year
Special features: Focus on Knee and Hip
Head: Dr. Teh Boon Keng; Senior Consultant
Team – 15 Consultants
Trauma
Duration: 3-6 months.
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified Orthopedic surgeon
Program data: 1 place / year
Head: Dr. Teh Boon Keng; Senior Consultant
Team – 15 Consultants
General Surgery
Micro / Plastic Surgery
Duration: 1 year
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: FRCS or equivalent: General Surgeon with experience in Plastic.
Program data: 1 place / year
Special features: Flap surgery using microscope, with research.
Head: Dr. Lee Seng Teik; Senior Consultant
Team – 7 Consultants
Burns
Duration: 6-12 months
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: FRCS or equivalent: General surgery with experience in Plastic
Program data: 1 place / year
Special features: burns, congenital malformations, H&N recontruct.
Head: Dr. Lee Seng Teik; Senior Consultant
Team – 7 Consultants
Cleft lip and Palate
Duration: 1 year
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: FRCS or equivalent: Plastic or Pediatric surgery
Program data: 1 place / year
Special features: craniofacial – traumatic/ congenital.
Head: Dr. Lee Seng Teik; Senior Consultant
Team – 7 Consultants
Hand and Microsurgery
Duration: 6-12 months
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: FRCS or equivalent: Orthopedic, Plastic or General surgery
Program data: 1 place / year
Head: Dr. Teoh Lam Chuan; Senior Consultant
Team – 5 Consultants
Vascular Surgery
Duration: 1 year
Description: Research fellowship.
Qualifications: FRCS or equivalent: General surgery
Program data: 1-2 places / year
Special features: Surgical and clinical training with research project.
Head: Dr. Soo Khee Chee; Senior Consultant
Team – 13 Consultants
Radiology
Radiation Oncology
Duration: 3 months
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified radiation oncologist with 5 years experience.
Program data: 2 places / year
Special features:Brachytherapy in Lung, Esoph, Gyne and H&N tumors.
Head: Dr.Chua Eu Jin; Senior Consultant
Team – 10 Consultants
Radiosurgery
Duration: 2 months
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified radiation oncologist with 5 years experience.
Program data: 2 places / year
Special features: radiosurgery – linac and gammaknife based.
Head: Dr.Chua Eu Jin; Senior Consultant
Team – 10 Consultants
Nuclear Medicine
Duration: 2 months to 1 year
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: MBBS or equivalent.
Program data: 2 places / year
Special features: radionucleotide procedures in diagnosis and treatment.
Head: Dr. Aw Swee Eng; Senior Consultant
Team – 4 Consultants
Advanced Radiology 1
Duration: 3 – 6 months. (for VIR 1 year)
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified radiologist with 5 years experience.
Program data: 2 places / year
Special features: CT, MRI, US and Mammo, VIR.
Head: Dr.Tan Kim Ping; Senior Consultant
Team – 15 Consultants
Advanced Radiology 2
Duration: 3 months
Description: Clinical fellowship.
Qualifications: Qualified radiologist with 5 years experience.
Program data: 2 places / year
Special features: CT, MRI, US and Mammo.
Head: Dr.Tan Kim Ping; Senior Consultant
Team – 15 Consultants