​Nanyang Polytechnic w​ins big at second LKCMedicine Anatomy Challenge

 

Against the toughest of competitions at the second LKCMedicine Anatomy Challenge, Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Health Sciences​ student Milton Lew and Deborah Lee were the biggest winners – being part of the top team while earning first and second spots in the individual category respectively. This year’s Quiz saw 206 competitors. 

The second edition of this inter-school medical competition, which was held today at the Auditorium of the Clinical Sciences Building, saw pre-university students representing 19 junior colleges and polytechnics pit their anatomical knowledge against each other to win team and individual prizes. 

On winning both categories, Milton, 24, said, “It was a great opportunity to learn more about anatomy and challenges us to learn further about it.” The team added, “As graduating physiotherapy students, this competition shows that we are strong in our anatomy knowledge and hopefully our patients trust us in the future.”

Tony Ng from Hwa Chong Institution came in third place for the individual round, while River Valley High School clinched third spot in the team category. 

Organised and run by students from LKCMedicine, this year’s Anatomy Challenge peeled back the skin from the upper and lower limb anatomy, challenging students’ knowledge of the intricacies of the musculoskeletal system. The event was graced by Guest-of-Honour Professor Raj Mohan Nambiar, an esteemed visiting consultant surgeon at various public hospitals.

LKCMedicine Year 2 students and organising committee chairperson Marc Dany said in his welcome message that the organisers hoped to inspire pre-university students to “not only appreciate the structure of the human body in greater detail, but also better understand the anatomical basis of common injuries and how they can be avoided.”

After competitors completed the gruelling 40 multiple-choice question individual challenge, LKCMedicine Visiting Professor and Warwick Medical School Emeritus Professor of Clinical Anatomy Peter Abrahams gave an inspiring keynote address. In his presentation, Prof Abrahams examined the anatomy of the hand through two different lenses – those of medicine and art. 

During the lunch break, the students had a chance to get a feel for anatomy teaching and simulated learning at LKCMedicine through an extensive showcase hosted in the Anatomy Learning Centre on Level 7. Manned by enthusiastic LKCMedicine students, the visitors enjoyed immersive and interactive demonstrations of the high-tech, multi-modality anatomy teaching adopted by LKCMedicine, which includes plastinated specimes, the Anatomage Table and clinical imaging technologies including ultrasound. In addition to showcasing LKCMedicine’s approach to anatomy teaching, interactive displays on ageing simulation and rehabilitation by allied health partners were also on offer. 

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After the break, participants reassembled for the team challenge. Five teams: two teams from Nanyang Polytechnic, one each from Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore Polytechnic and River Valley High School, attained the highest combined score from the individual challenge, and proceeded to take each other on in a fun, but tense, gameshow-style quiz. 

The teams were assessed by a three-member judging panel, which included LKCMedicine Head of Anatomy Assistant Professor Reddy Mogali, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Consultant Dr Lester Chan and TTSH Department of Diagnostic Radiology Consultant Dr Tandon Ankit Anil.

Just before announcing the winners of the Anatomy Challenge 2018, LKCMedicine Dean Professor James Best took to the stage to give a short address, in which he reiterated anatomy’s fundamental role in medicine. While showing them anatomical artworks by Rembrandt, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, he shared that art and medicine are linked. Having seen how the students enjoyed themselves tremendously, he said while it is important that they enjoyed the competition, “I hope you have been inspired to pursue this body of knowledge and pursue medicine in the future.” 

The event closed with the winners going up on stage to receive their well-earned prizes. Winners of the individual challenge received certificates, a copy of Prof Abraham’s textbook and medals from Prof Abrahams and LKCMedicine Vice-Dean for Faculty Affairs and Assistant Dean for Year 1 & 2 Professor Michael Ferenczi. ​

All teams participating in the team challenge received prizes, with members of the winning team receiving certificates and books. They were also presented with medals and prize money by LKCMedicine Vice-Dean for Education Professor Naomi Low-Beer, the Champion Trophy by Prof Best and the Challenge Shield by TTSH Department of General Surgery Emeritus Consultant Professor Low Cheng Hock.