"Psychiatry extends beyond the scientific realm; it
invites distinctive challenges like acquiring insight into local and foreign
traditions and worldviews, nurturing awareness of rising social and political
trends, cultivating openness to cultural norms across various age groups, and
crucially the intellectual and emotional negotiation of stigma against mental
health. This programme grants therefore the opportunity not simply for a doctor
to be become a psychiatrist, but also for a man to traverse the greatest
distance, that between his mind and the innermost recesses of another’s heart
and soul."
- Dr Nicholas Oh, Senior Resident
"My fascination with the interface between the brain and behavior is what made me want to pursue a specialty in psychiatry. But being given the opportunity to work with like-minded individuals who not only have the same interest but also have the passion to further mental health made me want to continue despite the challenges we face on a daily basis. Residency made me realise that lifelong learning need not be a lonely road, especially if you have mentors and colleagues that always provide encouragement and support."
- Dr Vincent Lu, Senior Resident
"I remember the pursuit of science being terrifyingly humbling. I remember being confronted by the notion that in vast, expansive ocean of the universe, we are no more than tiny specks of sand, slaves to the waves of time and tide, insignificant in the larger picture. Perhaps the practice of medicine, in taking the focus away from the wider universe and shifting it onto the individual, helped to address this disconcerting feeling. However, it presented its own, equally terrifying idea, that a human being, a person with thoughts, ideas and feelings, could be reduced to just a set of organs and systems working in a complex harmony. And so, through medical school and my early years as doctor, I found myself questioning if the very soul of humanity ever existed. Are we all just all just biological machines, wearing over time, getting our broken parts regrown or replaced? Is there any meaning to our existence in the grander scheme? The prospect of pursuing a career mired in such existential doubt was daunting…
But Psychiatry saved me. For psychiatry, as a concept, exists in its own unique area. It is neither wholly scientific endeavour, nor a wholly artistic one, marrying core concepts of both into an often times confusing, but also beautiful idea. It is at once both a study of symptoms and pathologies, and a study of feelings, motivations and behaviours. It was Psychiatry that taught me to value the individual stories of patients, to appreciate equally the depths of their despair and the strength of their dreams and wills. It was Psychiatry that humbled me, taught me true empathy, and reminded me that we are no different from our patients in our joint struggles to find meaning in our lives. It was Psychiatry that reminded me that though we may all be specks of sand in the great ocean of the universe, each speck has its own unique journey and story to share.
So I am thankful. Thankful to the psychiatric residency programme for accepting me, allowing me pursue a career in this unique profession and helping me to find purpose. I am thankful for a programme that is holistic, but also not afraid to change, adapt and grow, thus empowering us residents to do the same. I am thankful for the many different and unique people I have met, from whom I have learnt not just skills, but values as well.
The heart, body and mind of the medical practice may be embodied by its various medical and surgical disciplines, but it is in Psychiatry that the soul, and the humanity, of the practice is found. Of this I am convinced."
- Dr Arvind Rajagopalan, Year 2023 Chief Resident
I am grateful to be able to train in the NHG Psychiatry residency program. It is a program with excellent faculty and has been a supportive and warm community. Psychiatry offers a difficult but privileged space of walking with others in the most distressing moments of their life. This challenges me to understand myself and my patients more deeply. I'm inspired by the opportunity to work together with colleagues and seniors who strive to provide compassionate and quality evidenced based care for the people among us with mental health needs.
- Dr Nicholas Lee Yew Wen, Junior Resident
NHG Psychiatry Residency Programme has given me the opportunity to rotate to hospitals across multiple healthcare clusters to broaden my perspectives and develop my own clinical acumen from my varied experiences. Aside from the wide breadth of core rotations, the ability to choose our own electives in R2 and R5 also gives me the freedom to customise my learning experience according to my own individual needs. I also appreciate NHG Psychiatry being a smaller programme than most, allowing the residents to form a close-knit community that lean on each other both within and outside of work.
- Dr Rohan Puthran, Junior Resident
The Psychiatry Residency Programme has been a wonderful journey, filled with precious memories, invaluable experiences, and enriching interactions with the best minds in the field. Supported by a committed faculty and administrative team, the programme provides every resident with a holistic and well-rounded view of the field of Psychiatry, and equips us with key skills that are necessary in our field of work.
- Dr Tang Kai Wen Aaron, Year 2022 Chief Resident