LKCMedicine students claim top prizes at international infection control conference

Taking to the stage on the last day of the 6th International Congress of the Infection Control Association (Singapore) to give their presentations, LKCMedicine Year 4 students Celine Tan and Damon Tan (no relation) did not expect to walk away with the top two prizes.

"I feel really lucky to be able to compete against such astute clinicians from around the region," said Damon, whose presentation on the epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) in intermediate and long-term care facilities won him first runner-up.

Celine who clinched best oral paper with her presentation on why some patients with tuberculosis experience a delay before being isolated agreed, adding, "But it was a good reward for the effort put into the project and presentation."

While the students felt lucky to have distinguished themselves, their mentors from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Departments of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Epidemiology were less surprised at their performance.

"It came as no surprise as their presentations at the conference were clearly of high quality," said Damon’s mentor Associate Professor Angela Chow, who is also LKCMedicine Lead for Public Health & Epidemiology.

TTSH Infectious Disease Senior Consultant and LKCMedicine Associate Professor Brenda Ang, who mentored Celine, added, "It was apparent that she stood a very good chance during the presentation. She was clear and confident and because she had done all the work, knew the material of her presentation well."

Presenting their work to an international audience of infection control experts was a highlight for the students. The presentations capped their Scholarly Projects, a six-week module in the fourth year of the curriculum that is dedicated to research.

For both students, the Scholarly Project allowed them to delve deeper into an area of personal interest, giving them first-hand experience of epidemiological studies. They also acquired new skills – such as generating and using biostatistics – and a greater understanding of the research process, including how to conduct literature searches and create research questions.

The project also offered students the opportunity to work in a new setting. For Damon, this meant working at the Institute of Infectious Diseases & Epidemiology. "It was a unique experience working alongside and assisting some doctors who previously taught me," he said of his time there.

For the clinicians too, it was a new and enjoyable experience. Reflecting on working with her mentee, A/Prof Chow said, "Damon had an enquiring mind, was very keen to learn, motivated to understand the risk factors for VRE colonisation in our patients [and] to design interventions that can prevent VRE."

A/Prof Ang was keen to gauge the standards of students at Singapore’s newest school. "Celine more than met expectations," she said. "She was motivated and resourceful, and quick to complete her work, faster than I could keep up with while juggling my other clinical and admin duties."