Convocation 2025: Celebrating a New Generation of Doctors

LKCMedicine’s Class of 2025 stands out not just for their academic achievements, but also for their remarkable resilience. Having embarked on their medical journey in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, these graduates faced unprecedented disruptions leading to a new normal in medical education. Despite challenges brought on by the pandemic, they persevered with determination and supported one another, to emerge stronger and more capable. Their convocation on 26 July 2025 marked a proud milestone for their family, friends, and everyone at the School.

The ceremony was part of NTU’s larger convocation celebrations spanning from 22 July to 1 August, with LKCMedicine’s MBBS and PhD graduates sharing the Saturday afternoon stage alongside the NTU Graduate College and NTU Entrepreneurship Academy. The ceremony also recognised outstanding students from the Class of 2025, recipients of prestigious awards for academic excellence and leadership.

Attended by leaders of NTU LKCMedicine, Imperial College London and NHG Health, the ceremony was presided by LKCMedicine Governing Board Chair Ms Chan Lai Fung. Guest Speaker was Associate Professor Bernard Thong, Chairman of the Medical Board at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and the Valedictorian was Dr Lim Rong.

In his address to all graduates in the Nanyang Auditorium, Assoc Prof Thong called on them to seek purpose in their careers. He spoke of the CARE principles – Communication, Advocacy, Resilience, and Empowerment – emphasising that effective communication fosters trust between healthcare professionals and patients; advocacy ensures that vulnerable populations have a voice; resilience helps individuals overcome setbacks in a demanding profession; and empowerment encourages both colleagues and patients to take active roles in their own wellbeing. He encouraged the graduates to embrace these principles not only as guiding values in their professional lives, but also as tools to make a meaningful impact on the communities they serve.

“I hope you will take a well-deserved break today, celebrate your success, and tomorrow perhaps, reflect on how to develop and optimise your Communication, Advocacy, Resilience and Empowerment skills for the rest of your working life,” said A/Prof Thong as he concluded his speech.

As graduates went onstage to receive their degrees, they were met with enthusiastic applause, a sense of accomplishment shining in their eyes, and the warm encouragement of faculty, family, and friends who had supported them through an exceptionally challenging and memorable journey.

Dr Lim Rong then took the stage to express gratitude and reflection on the collective journey of the graduating class.

“I want to thank the School for investing time and effort in every single student that walks through its doors. I feel that the School strives to provide our students a world-class education and a vibrant student life. This award also reminds me how privileged I am to have worked with so many like-minded and dedicated individuals throughout my years at LKCMedicine. This includes my equally competent peers, dedicated teaching staff, and committed faculty. I am thankful for the wisdom and mentorship provided to me by my seniors and professors. They were role models to me and provided candid advice that has always led me back on the right path.”

Dr Lim also expressed appreciation for the support of the non-teaching staff, whose guidance helped shape the graduates into the competent and resilient professionals they are today. He credits former Vice-Dean for Clinical Affairs Professor Pang Weng Sun as a mentor who inspires him.

“Prof Pang has been a mentor and teacher to many students, past and present. He has contributed significantly to medicine in Singapore, namely establishing our local Geriatrics services, serving various positions in the hospitals and the Ministry of Health, and of course, building LKCMedicine... Without his guidance and generosity, I would not be able to achieve what I have today,” enthused Dr Lim.

Speaking after the ceremony, Prof Pang said, “I am very glad that we are able to graduate this batch despite the challenges of COVID-19. Although we did a quite a lot of teaching on Zoom, with students doing a lot of work on their own as well, my greatest concern is that medicine is a field where you must have a lot of patient contact. This may still be a challenge for some of them, but I am sure, once they go into the wards and indulge in clinical works, they will still learn and be able to pick up. I really hope that as they enter the working world, they continue to learn, grow and be good doctors in helping patients and their family members.”

One of the highlights of the ceremony is a celebration by a family of three-generation doctors in the Phua family. Newly-minted doctor Phua Kai Yi is daughter of Associate Professor Phua Ghee Chee, Deputy CEO of Singapore General Hospital, and granddaughter of Professor Phua Kong Boo, Emeritus Consultant, Paediatrics of KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital.

Flanked by her proud father and grandfather, junior Dr Phua shared, “It has been an honour to be able to serve and follow the footsteps of my father and grandfather. I want to say congratulations to all my classmates, and I look forward to working with them in the future as colleagues.”

The ceremony closed with a celebratory lunch and more photo-taking amidst joyful catchups among the new doctors as they shared notes on their entry into the healthcare workforce, now even more poised to deliver impactful care in Singapore and beyond.

Here’s what the Class of 2025 had to share…

“My father, who is a doctor, has always been my greatest inspiration. Watching my father serve with compassion and purpose shaped my desire to pursue medicine — not just as a profession, but as a calling to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Our loved ones have supported us throughout our journey and today is a great way to cap off the past five years at LKCMedicine.”

- Dr Vikneshwaren S/O Senthamil Selvan, Class of 2025

“The scholarship I received had given me the time and space to chase my dreams of being a doctor, participating in School activities without having to worry about financial burden. Today, it is a bittersweet feeling because I’ll miss my friends. We had a lot of fun during the TBL sessions. I will still see some of them along the corridors of the hospitals and we are excited to see what the future holds for us.”

- Dr Patricia Tung Hui Ru, Class of 2025, Recipient of the Irene Tan Liang Kheng Scholarship, 2020

“Looking back, I would say my experience at LKCMedicine was everything I expected it to be and more. The School provided me with many opportunities to learn and grow, as well as the chance to meet like-minded individuals who all strove to push themselves to be their very best. The learning environment was really conducive for continuous improvement and growth, and the strong senior-junior teaching and peer teaching culture really made the whole journey enjoyable and supportive. The entire process has been very fulfilling!”

- Dr Vong Tin Wai Keith, Class of 2025

“My grandmother was the one who first asked me to consider medicine. Although she had the grades to go to university during her youth, she was asked to get married instead. Hence, she wanted to see me become a doctor and fulfil her wish. LKCMedicine has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and I’m always going to be grateful for everything the School has taught me. Medical school is never easy, but I would have never done it anywhere else!”

- Dr Raksha Aiyappan, Class of 2025 Recipient of Nanyang Scholarship 2020

“One word to describe my experience at LKCMedicine would be – inspiring! It’s the start of a very long journey for us. At this point, it’s about taking things one step at a time as we are currently House Officers. As I continue progressing further into my career, I look forward to further redefining medicine for myself as well.”

- Dr Muhammad Ariffin Bin Mohd Zahrin, Class of 2025

“The journey has been astounding! As PhD students, we were independent; our ideas could flow, and we could carry out many experiments. There was a lot of support from our supervisors, programme directors and higher management. I am really happy to have done my PhD at LKCMedicine.”

- Dr Raghumoy Ghosh, PhD Class of 2025

“I am super excited and honoured today to have graduated from one of the top universities in Asia. My supervisor was very supportive and kind and helped us to address many key challenges and ideas.”

- Dr Zhu Zixiao, PhD Class of 2025

LKCMedicine Convocation and School Awards/Prizes Recipients for AY2024-25