MASTER'S MESSAGE (SEP-OCT 2013)

31 October 2013

Dear Fellow Academicians

As the biggest academic medical professional organization with more than 2,600 fellow specialists, Academy has been emphasizing and will continue to play a leading role in maintaining and promoting the highest standards of professional practice, as well as maintaining a high code of ethical conduct amongst its members.  This is consistent with our objectives in our Memorandum of Association and our Strategic Plans.

I am pleased to highlight the diversity of key CME activities assembled by the Academy and its Colleges and Chapters in the recent months:

In 2012, Academy submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health, Singapore to invite an expert under the Health Manpower Development Programme (HMDP) to strengthen our effort in enhancing medical professionalism and medical ethics in Singapore.  We are pleased that our proposal was approved.

Dr Matthew K Wynia, Director, Physician and Patient Engagement for Improving Health Outcomes, American Medical Association will visit us from 5 to 11 November 2013.   The HMDP Visiting Expert on Medical Ethics and Professionalism programme aims to educate and equip medical professionals with the knowledge and attain competency in:

• Organisational Professionalism and Organisational Ethics;
• Professional Ethics;
• Professional and Clinical Governance;
• Professional Governance and Maintenance of Competence

Dr Matthew Wynia will deliver lectures and workshops and conduct focused group discussion across public as well as private institutions.  There are several sessions which are open to all FAMS so please join us in this unique opportunity to learn more about professionalism and medical ethics.

The Annual Medicine Review Course by the College of Physicians, Singapore enjoyed another another success this year.  The 2-day programme held on 14-15 September 2013 at the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Tower B Auditorium was well attended by 212 registered delegates.  

The course provided an update on Internal Medicine by the 15 sub-specialty Chapters within the College.  In its fifth year, Dr David Lye and his organising committee planned the course to address the learning needs of medical professionals.  Lectures were presented in three formats: An Update, which focuses on evidence in last 3 years; All You Need to Know, which was a concise evidence-based review; and An Approach which deals with common or important clinical syndromes.

For Fellow Academicians who have missed the excellent lectures, I strongly encourage you to attend next year. The lecture slides will be available to Fellows after one year of restricted access for course participants.

This year, the College of Surgeons, Singapore (CSS) Annual Dinner, held on 11 October 2013 at the Conrad Centennial Singapore, was graced by Guest-of-Honour, Mrs Tan Ching Yee, Permanent Secretary for Health, Singapore. 

The 8th College of Surgeons Lecture was delivered by Prof P Bala who addressed "Arts and Science of Surgery: Lessons from a journey of 60 years".   His lecture offered a frank and soul searching perspective of what it takes to make a good surgeon, and the art and science of learning from and avoiding mistakes.  The 18th Yahya Cohen Memorial Lecture was delivered by Dr David Chin Chao-Wu, from Changi General Hospital’s Department of Otolaryngology for his work “Outside-in Approach to Modified Endoscopic Lothrop Procedure”.

Established in 2008 in recognition of the effort of the best performing Advanced Surgical Trainees (ASTs) in the nine surgical specialties as well as to encourage the ASTs to excel in their exit examinations, the 2013 College of Surgeons Gold Medal were awarded to the following recipients as nominated by their respective Residency Advisory Committee.

“New Surgical Technologies” was the theme of this year’s Annual Combined Surgical Meeting by the College.  Dr Wong Soong Kuan and his committee of Fellow surgeons delivered yet another excellent meeting, drawing a total of more than 200 local and Asian delegates.  Highlights included lectures on issues pertaining to the impact of robotics on surgery and training and accreditation, and sharing of expertise in mini-laparoscopy and SILS, state of the art in endovascular stenting and advances in tumour imaging for breast surgery.  There were also Education Forum, Residency Debates, Medical Students Symposium and workshops on breast imaging, endovascular stenting and laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy (Cadavaric dissection).

I am pleased to update that the Academy had presented Visiting Academician Awards to Dr Kim Seon Hahn and Dr Kang Sang Wook who delivered keynote lectures at the College of Surgeons, Singapore’s Annual Combined Surgical Meeting held on 12- 13 October:-

Academy has been contributing towards medical education in the formative years. Since 1978, the Academy has endowed several NUS Medals and Prizes to inspire medical students, our doctors of tomorrow, to strive for the highest standard in academic excellence.

Please join me to congratulate the award recipients of Academic Year 2012/2013 on their outstanding achievements:-

The AMS Membership Committee recently concluded a one-month online survey on 13 October.   The aim is for Academy Council to understand the Fellows’ needs and to enable us to serve you better.  I would like to express my sincere thanks to 310 Fellows who participated in the survey.  The result of the survey has been compiled and uploaded online for our Fellows to access.  I hope you will continue to give us your feedback and suggestions.

Best wishes

Lim Shih Hui

Master (2012 - 2016)

Academy of Medicine, Singapore

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