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Palliative Medicine (Integrated Programme)

​​​​Palliative Medicine Integated Programme

Resident's Talk

“It is an extraordinary privilege to be in palliative medicine training, to walk alongside patients in their most vulnerable moments, to be able to embrace the complexity of emotions and provide strength in the face of adversity”

Dr Ong Chin Ee
Palliative Medicine Integated Programme

 
Palliative Medicine (Integrated Programme)

The aims of this Palliative Medicine subspecialist training programme are to ensure that the trainees have sufficient broad-based training and in-depth clinical exposure to function as consultants in a variety of care settings, so as to be able:

  • To provide consultative and advisory service to physicians and surgeons in hospitals regarding the palliative care of their patients.
  • To provide direct care to patients and families in a variety of care settings including hospital wards, clinics, and community settings (including at home, in inpatient hospices, palliative wards or nursing homes etc.)
  • To be core members and even leaders of interdisciplinary palliative care teams and palliative care services.
  • To be critical thinkers who are committed to continuous learning and professional development, whether as a learner or as a teacher.
  • To advocate for access to quality palliative care for all who need it.

Rotations & 
Electives

Palliative Medicine residents will be attached to Palliative care services in acute hospitals, inpatient hospice palliative care services (IHPCS) and hospice home care services. They will also get a chance to do electives of their choice in specialties such as Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, etc. For entrants with Master of Medicine in Family Medicine or have completed Family Medicine Residency, it is compulsory to do Medical Oncology as an elective.



Residents would be posted to the following accredited training sites for their training.


Programme Specific Pre-requisites

Specialist Track (2 Year Palliative Medicine Residency Programme)

  1. Completed training and obtained specialist accreditation in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Medical Oncology or Paediatric Medicine by the Residency commencement date (a copy of the Specialist Accreditation certificate must be submitted)
  2. Applicants who have completed training and passed the requisite exit examination for the base specialty but who have yet to receive the Specialist Accreditation certificate must submit:
  • ​​Proof on the submission of specialist accreditation application in the base specialty before commencement of the Residency training in Palliative Medicine, followed by
  • ​​A copy of the Specialist Accreditation certification in the approved base specialty no later than 2 months from the exit certified date in the base specialty.

Normal Track (3-year Palliative Medicine Residency Programme)

​​Completed M.Med (Family Medicine) by the traineeship commencement date (a copy of the M.Med (Family Medicine) certificate must be submitted). 

AND all of the following:

  • Employment by a Singapore Public Healthcare Institute or a Community-based Palliative Care Organisation, latest by the start date of Palliative Medicine Residency in the specific year applied
  • Prior Palliative Medicine clinical experience or completed the Graduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine (GDPM) within the last 3 years.

​The programme will not accept applicants who:

  • Request for less than full-time training i.e., part-time training is not allowed
  • Are from the non-traditional training route, including applicants who had some training in UK, US, Australia, etc..

You may refer to the attached checklist​ for the required documents. These can be uploaded into Section F (Any Other Supporting Documents) in the MOHH application portal during the submission period.​

​Selection Criteria

  1. Assessment Domains
    1. Clinical competence
    2. Interpersonal and communication skills
    3. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
    4. Professionalism
    5. Personal Attributes
  1. ​Format

Clinical Competence, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Professionalism, Personal Attributes

    • Role Play for clinical scenario covering GM and/or FM core presentations/conditions, AND
    • Panel interview  

​Practice-Based Learning & Improvement

    • Through review of Curriculum Vitae (CV) – applicants should include scholarly activities (e.g., abstract presentation, publications, teaching appointments, relevant awards, etc.) in their CV.​