Medical Student Education

The MSKSC ACP Education Office aims to develop a centralised approach to consolidate, standardise and periodically evaluate the broad-based teaching initiatives. This will enable the ACP to explore potential synergies between initiatives and optimise the overall learning experience of trainees. Medical students are engaged through practical and insightful teaching sessions, to enhance their interest in joining musculoskeletal disciplines either through core rotations or electives.

1. UNDERGRADUATE

i. NUS Yong Loo Lin (YLL) School of Medicine

Orthopaedics has long been a core component of the undergraduate curriculum for NUS YLL medical students, primarily in their 3rd and 5th year of study. The bulk of each year's cohort will go through their Orthopaedics clinical posting within the SingHealth Orthopaedic departments including from Singapore General Hospital (SGH), KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) and Changi General Hospital (CGH). Under the guidance and mentorship of our clinician educators, students will be equipped with the medical knowledge and will be able to develop competencies in patient care skills, interpersonal and communication skills, as well as professionalism. During their orthopaedic posting, residents also gain exposure to Hand Surgery and Plastic Surgery, as these specialties fall under musculoskeletal disciplines.

ii. NTU Lee Kong Chian (LKC) School of Medicine

Similar to those from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, a smaller number of LKC medical students will also carry out their Orthopaedics clinical posting within the SingHealth Orthopaedic departments, where they will be equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies through didactic lectures, small-group tutorials, physical examination tutorials, ward rounds and teaching rounds.

2. POSTGRADUATE

Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

The SGH departments plays host to the Duke-NUS medical students as part of the musculoskeletal core rotation in their 4th year of study. All three musculoskeletal disciplines – Orthopaedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, together with Rheumatology as an added component – are involved in the teaching of these medical students during their clinical posting with MSK, providing them with a diverse and all-rounded exposure to the different musculoskeletal specialties. Beyond conventional teaching methods such as didactic lectures, students also benefit through small-group tutorials and hands-on practical sessions to test and hone their basic skills.

3. ELECTIVES OFFERED (Local & Overseas)

The Division of Musculoskeletal Sciences (MSKSC) at Singapore General Hospital welcomes international medical students for overseas elective postings. These attachments offer valuable exposure to Orthopaedic Surgery (OTO), Hands & Reconstructive Microsurgery (HRM) and Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery (PRAS) within Singapore's largest healthcare cluster. Students will have the opportunity to participate in clinical rounds, outpatient clinics, and observe surgical procedures under the guidance of experienced faculty members. 

The programme typically runs for 2-8 weeks, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in a tertiary healthcare setting while experiencing Singapore's healthcare system. For more information and application details, please visit the Singapore General Hospital Overseas Electives page: https://www.sgh.com.sg/education-training/undergraduate-medical-education/application-for-elective-posting-for-overseas-medical-students