News Story 4: Answering the Call: LKCMedicine’s Largest Cohort of SAF Medicine Scholars

A drive to make a difference, a desire to lead, and a disposition for the unconventional – these are the qualities that unite five LKCMedicine students who were awarded the prestigious Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Medicine Scholarship this year.

First row (middle): Toh Yu Qi and Sarah Mae Loke Jia Qi
Second row (L-R): Edison Er, Kyler Teh Kai-En and Chai Zhong Han

Chai Zhong Han (M1), Toh Yu Qi (M1), Sarah Mae Loke Jia Qi (M1), Kyler Teh Kai-En (M2), and Edison Er (M3) make up the largest cohort of SAF Medicine Scholars from LKCMedicine in a single year. Upon graduation, they will serve as Medical Officers in the SAF, where they will undergo further training to take on senior medical leadership roles within the SAF Medical Corps.

Before we look at their bright future ahead, let’s turn back the clock to understand why medicine and the armed forces is a winning combination for them.

A calling close to the heart

For many medical students, their reasons for studying medicine often stem from personal encounters with healthcare professionals or observing their loved ones grapple with an illness. 

This rings true for Zhong Han, who was inspired by his General Practitioner (GP) to pursue medicine. “I had severe dyshidrotic eczema growing up. It caused a lot of sleepless nights and made me feel lost. Rather than simply giving me medications, my GP explained every step he was going to take, calmed my anxious thoughts, followed up with me and made me feel properly cared for,” he shared.

Through this heartwarming experience, Zhong Han realised that medicine is not about diagnosing a disease but lifting people with compassion during their vulnerable moments.

Motivated by these sentiments, the 19-year-old dedicated his time giving back to society. At Victoria Junior College, he initiated a new community involvement project to teach primary school students basic financial literacy and volunteered regularly at a senior day care.

It was a path that provided him with more clarity about his future.

“I found joy in helping individuals as well as spearheading initiatives and programmes that impacted large-scale communities. [Through this], I discovered my passion for leadership and planning, serving from both ground-up and top-down. It was then that I discovered the SAF Medicine Scholarship, which provides me with a way to do both. I also found myself resonating deeply with the SAF Medical Corps’ mission of protecting the health of those who protect us.”

Yu Qi’s journey was equally personal. The first-year LKCMedicine student had always known that she wanted to make a direct impact on people’s lives, which sparked her interest in healthcare. Her experience in St John Brigade’s which she joined in Secondary One further fuelled her passion in this field. However, it was having a family member diagnosed with cancer and witnessing the far-reaching effects it had on the family that cemented her decision to become a doctor.

Recalling this experience, Yu Qi noted, “It made me acutely aware of the emotional toll that illness takes not only on patients but also on their families. It also opened my eyes to the pivotal role that doctors and nurses play – not just in providing medical care, but in offering strength, comfort, and hope during some of life’s most difficult moments. This sparked a strong desire in me to be part of the healthcare ecosystem, to be there for people at their most vulnerable.”

When she came across the SAF Medicine Scholarship at Army career fairs, her interest was immediately piqued. As someone who enjoyed the camaraderie and discipline during her time at St John Brigade’s, the scholarship represented the best of both worlds.

“It offered the opportunity to pursue my passion for Medicine while also serving in a meaningful role within the military. As someone who thrives on adventure and values diversity in experiences, the idea of contributing both as a civilian doctor and a military doctor was incredibly appealing,” she explained.

Not just a medical student

As SAF Medicine Scholars, their medical education journey is considerably different from their peers.

Before commencing medical school, they are required to enlist to complete their Basic Military Training (BMT) and some Officer Cadet School (OCS) training, especially if they have yet to serve their National Service (NS). During their longer-term breaks, SAF scholars are required to return to service for vocational attachments to learn more about medicine in the context of different military operations.

Although demanding, Sarah, who enlisted in January this year, would not have it any other way. “The experience has been very eye-opening and meaningful. I had not done any prior research about NS because I thought it was irrelevant to me and pursuing this scholarship was not exactly planned. But I now have a deeper appreciation for our military, and through [BMT and Service Term in OCS], I have grown a lot as a person.”

She added, “I became a more confident leader, learned to see things in a bigger picture, practiced discipline and learned to believe in myself.”

For Edison, who received the scholarship at the start of his third year at LKCMedicine, he is keen to apply the lessons gleaned from his NS experience to his hospital postings in the remaining three years of School.

“As I enter my clinical years, I am beginning to appreciate that medicine is not only about caring for individual patients, but also about navigating larger systems like leadership, teamwork, hospital policies and public health considerations,” remarked the commissioned Signal Officer. “[My experiences in the army] complement my clinical education because it trains me to think as a clinician as well as a leader who makes decisions under pressure, manages limited resources and cares for a population with unique and complex needs.”

With an enriching journey ahead, the Scholars are raring to learn how medicine intersects with defence, policy and leadership. More importantly, they are ready to become doctors who help the vulnerable and safeguard the nation.

(In case you are wondering about their downtime, there is another trait they all share – their penchant for exercising! When asked about their preferred way to relax, the responses were variations of “going to the gym regularly” and “running is quite relaxing.”)