“Medicine, at its Elemental Core is a Force for Good”: LKCMedicine Welcomes its Largest Intake Yet!
On 13 August 2025, NTU’s Nanyang Auditorium was filled with Year 1 LKCMedicine students brimming with hope, joy and pride, eager to embark on a journey that will see them become our doctors of tomorrow.
The School’s annual White Coat Ceremony, witnessed by Guest-of-Honour Dr Wong Chiang Yin, Master, Academy of Medicine, Singapore, LKCMedicine Governing Board Chair Ms Chan Lai Fung, LKCMedicine Dean Distinguished University Professor Joseph Sung and several distinguished guests from Singapore’s healthcare as well as proud parents of the students, not only commemorated the official induction of the Class of 2030, but it also marked LKCMedicine’s largest cohort since the pioneer cohort walked through the School’s doors in 2013.
All 190 of these newly matriculated medical students will add to the School’s growing legacy by being the second cohort that will graduate with an NTU MBBS degree come 2030.
Setting the tone for the ceremony, Professor Sung, who is also NTU Senior Vice-President for Health and Life Sciences, provided a snapshot of the School’s growth over the last 15 years, such as being in the top 100 medical schools globally and having over 80% of our graduates from the Classes of 2018 to 2021 secure residency placements in competitive fields.
Equally significant, he painted a picture of what the next five years will look like for our young students. “Be prepared to completely change the way you think about medicine! The School has always taken a humanistic and interdisciplinary approach to medicine because it is important that our future doctors have not just the knowledge and the skill but to have their heart in the right place. We want you to help people, save their lives, relieve suffering and give them dignity and support in their most difficult times.”
Dr Wong then took to the stage to impart some lessons gleaned from over 30 years of being a doctor to the bright-eyed students. “There are moments when I have wondered if I made the right choice and if I could have been somewhere else doing something different. Let me assure you that these moments of doubt are OK and part of life as a medical student and doctor,” he shared candidly.
He proceeded to stress the importance of having an “anchor point – that quietest of corners in your innermost of spaces – that called out to you years ago and continues to call out to you again and again”. For Dr Wong, his anchor point is the belief that “Medicine, at its elemental core, is a force for good.”
When it was time for the presentation of the white coats, LKCMedicine Vice-Dean (Education) Associate Professor Faith Chia and Vice-Dean (Clinical Affairs) Professor Kwek Tong Kiat called upon students from each House to come on stage to don their white coats with the assistance of Prof Sung, Assistant Deans, House Tutors, and guests from the medical fraternity.
It was a moment that was met with beaming smiles and applause from the parents.
One of the most anticipated segments of the ceremony was the Declaration of a New Medical Student. Led by Assoc Prof Chia, the Class of 2030 solemnly promised to commit to their patients and to practice with integrity and honour.
This year’s chosen poem by a student titled, Grandmother’s Story, echoed the sentiments of viewing a patient as a whole person, beyond their diagnosis. Written by Year 3 student Chelcia Hon Lexuan in a ‘reverse poem’ style, where two distinct meanings can be derived depending on whether it is read from the beginning or end, the poem was beautifully read by Year 2 students Lenin Marsha and Sanjuana Jensine Dharmaraj.
In his closing remarks, Adjunct Professor Tang Kong Choong, Chief Executive Officer of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, encouraged the Class of 2030 to “build [their] foundations well in the next few years, take the time to know [their] patients, understand the roles and capabilities of [their] team and find rest amidst [their] heavy schedules and workload.”
As he ended his speech, Adj Prof Tang quipped, “Please train well because I [and my colleagues) are counting on all of you when we need medical care in future.”
The ceremony concluded with all 190 students gathered on stage with the School’s leadership for a cohort photo; capturing the significance of the moment as well as the dedication and camaraderie that will guide the 13th cohort for the next five years.
As the Year 1 students revelled in the start of their medical education with their parents and friends, many paused to reflect on their journey to this special day.
For Aufal Aufiya, studying at LKCMedicine had always been the choice. “I intentionally only applied to LKCMedicine because I was very sure about studying here! One of the biggest reasons was their Team-Based Learning (TBL) – it aligned more with my learning style. I also like how it contributes to that people-centred nature of learning as you forge strong relationships with your teammates over time. The focus on medical humanities and early patient contact is something that also really resonates with me, because it will help me stay grounded in the human and ‘soft’ aspects of being a doctor,” he explained.
The Victoria Junior College alumnus added that participating in the Anatomy Challenge, an annual competition organised by LKCMedicine students, helped to seal the deal. “I was very impressed with the facilities available at the Novena campus and the student culture, which affirmed my decision to choose LKCMedicine as my medical school.”
NUS High School alumna Lim Yann Ting’s decision to study medicine can be traced back to her relationship with her two cousins who were diagnosed with autism. As the oldest cousin in the family, she spent a lot of time taking care of her cousins.
“Whenever I played with them, I could see them struggle with being misunderstood and ignored – even by family members – because they were a little different. Later, I learnt that this was because they had a “special condition” that affected their social skills, but they were helpless and unable to explain it to others. That really stuck with me. Ultimately, I want to be a doctor who does not just diagnose and treat, but also listens, reassures, and empowers patients — just as I wish I could have done for my cousins when they faced their struggles,” Yann Ting recalled.
Similarly driven by personal motivations, Shivagiri Nathan Jayan was inspired to pursue medicine after witnessing his grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease. This experience made him curious about the human body, and choosing to pursue Pharmaceutical Science at Ngee Ann Polytechnic was his first step towards this dream.
His conviction to study medicine was further crystallised during his internship at National Cancer Centre Singapore. He shared, “Even though many patients were diagnosed with similar diseases, they were all fighting different battles. This made me understand the importance of accurately grasping a patient’s situation, which is imperative in delivering personalised care. Moreover, interacting with patients always brings me joy. These experiences helped me realise that medicine was where I could best serve others, combining my curiosity for science and commitment to people.”
Despite having older sisters who are doctors, Alaina Chia Zhi Ling was initially convinced that medicine was not an option for her and decided to pursue her interest in Visual Arts at the School of the Arts (SOTA). However, Alaina slowly began to change her mind as she took other subjects like mathematics and the sciences in preparation for the International Baccalaureate (IB) and found herself increasingly enjoying them.
The turning point for her was when she shadowed a gastroenterologist in 2023. “This experience gave me a glimpse into what the daily lives of doctors looked like and made me realise that medicine was something that I was passionate about as it not only combined my interest in the sciences but also allowed me to give back to society and help people on a daily basis,” she shared.
Although she received offers to study overseas, Alaina decided to follow her oldest sister, who graduated from LKCMedicine in 2019, because she felt that that the early clinical exposure and strong focus on technology and innovation would set a good foundation and nurture her to become a better doctor in the future.
As for Zainab Sheth, medicine always seemed inevitable. Growing up, she remembers hearing many stories from her father who is an emergency medicine doctor at a Singapore hospital and looking at the medical textbooks he used for his residency exams. Even though her father would share the less-than glamorous reality of being a doctor, he would still express his fulfilment at being able to help people, and that made the Nanyang Junior College alumna drawn to the profession.
Hoping to be a nurturing and empathetic doctor who can connect with patients and give them the best care possible, Zainab believes that LKCMedicine will help her achieve her goal. “I feel that Team-Based Learning and the teaching methods at LKCMedicine suit my learning style well. The focus on clinical communication and early exposure to the hospital setting really appeals to me as I feel it will better help with the transition from being a medical student to working with real patients,” she remarked.
We are heartened to welcome these bright and passionate students into the LKCMedicine family and look forward to being part of their journey!
