Aims of the program
The Health Professions Education Program has two board aims: (1) To raise awareness of the medical humanities among staff and patients; and (2) To be an enabler for the delivery of medical education. There are some aspects of medical education that are naturally a good fit for the medical humanities. These domains include the teaching of communication skills, empathy, patient-centered care, professional identity formation and interprofessional teamwork. However, the humanities can be expanded to other areas as well because the humanities can be used as method for delivering even scientific content. By engaging students at an emotional as well as a cognitive level, the arts can help lessons resonate and improve the efficiency of learning.
The medical humanities are already integrated into the Duke-NUS medical school curriculum. In Year 1 and 2, this involves ethics and professionalism training. In Year 4, there is communication training in in the medicine and surgery clerkships. In addition, students have exposure during the palliative care attachment.
Leadership and expertise
The Health Professions Program is led by Assoc Prof Tan Nigel Choon Kiat and Clin Asst Prof Ong Eng Koon.
Dr Nigel Tan is currently a Senior Consultant with the Department of Neurology at the National Neuroscience Institute. Dr Tan received his MBBS from the National University of Singapore, Faculty of Medicine, in 1993. His basic training in Internal Medicine was done in Singapore, and his advanced training in Neurology at NNI-TTSH. His fellowship training in epilepsy was with Prof Samuel Berkovic in Melbourne, Australia. In the clinical arena, Dr Tan is a neurologist with an interest in epilepsy.
In the area of health professions education, Dr Tan is currently the Education Director, NNI, and Vice Chair (Education) of the Neuroscience Academic Clinical Program, overseeing health professions education within NNI. He graduated with a Masters in Health Professions Education (MHPEd) from the MGH Institute of Health Professions in 2013. He is currently the Assistant Dean for Year 3 at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.
He is also a Clinical Assoc Professor with the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (YLLSOM) and Adjunct Assoc Professor Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. He is currently the Internal Medicine Residency Site Director for NNI for the NHG-AHPL Internal Medicine Residency and is a member of the core faculty. Dr Tan is a member of the SingHealth Graduate Medical Education Committee, as well as the SingHealth Education Council. At the national level, he also serves on the Neurology Residency Advisory Committee as the Chair of the Exam Committee. He assists MOH as a member of the National PGY1 Training & Assessment Committee. Internationally , Dr Tan is a member of the Genetics Commission, the Pharmacogenetics Task Force and the Education Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy
Dr Tan is directly involved in education planning, teaching and assessment of medical students from all 3 medical schools - YLLSOM, LKCSOM and Duke-NUS, as well as residents and senior residents from Internal Medicine, Psychiatry and Neurology residencies. In his capacity as Asst Dean for Year 3 at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, he is responsible for Year 3, overseeing clinical training and assessment for that year. As core faculty for postgraduate medical education, he is involved in planning pedagogy, and doing teaching, assessment and selection of residents.
Clin Asst Prof Ong Eng Koon is a specialist consultant in palliative medicine. As a clinical-educator, Clin Asst Prof Ong Eng Koon teaches the topics of Professionalism, Ethics, Communications and Humanities at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He is also Director, Office of Medical Humanities, Singhealth Medicine Academic Clinical Programme.
Specialty: Neurology
Clinical Interest: Epilepsy, General Neurology
Conditions Treated by this Doctor: Epilepsy
Specialty: Supportive and Palliative Care
Clinical Interest: Palliative Care, Palliative Medicine
Conditions Treated by this Doctor:Supportive Care.
