News: LKCMedicine Open House 2023 returns in-person to NTU Main Campus

By Anne Loh, Writer

On 25 February, LKCMedicine welcomed more than 1,000 prospective students and their parents to the Experimental Medicine Building at the NTU Main Campus for the first in-person Open House after three years of virtual outreach. Faculty, staff, and student volunteers were at a fever-pitch of excitement at being able to make direct face-to-face connections.

The buzz began even before the first talk of the day at 10am when registrants began streaming in for “Overview of MBBS Programme and Student Life” by Vice-Dean (Clinical Affairs) Professor Pang Weng Sun. Prof Pang was in the foyer, personally directing people to the Learning Studio. The second talk was helmed by Assistant Dean (Admissions and Overseas Electives) Associate Professor Kwek Tong Kiat. Both talks were over-subscribed; this was the theme throughout the day.

Both the talks began with LKCMedicine Dean Professor Joseph Sung’s welcome video. He said, “Medicine is both an art and a science: the art of human interaction and the science of applying knowledge and skill for the better treatment of our patients. I have very high hopes of our future students and doctors.”

The Career in Medicine with LKCMedicine Faculty & Alumni session at the Learning Studio was similarly packed to the rafters. Assistant Dean for Year 5 Associate Professor Tham Kum Ying moderated an engaging, at times humorous, at times poignant, but always heartfelt conversation with alumni Dr Lee Cheok Hon (Class of 2019) and Dr Zenneth Lim (Class of 2021). The questions came hard and fast, such as: What’s the training like upon graduation?  Given the long hours in a doctor’s career, when do doctors get a break? If the early years of a doctor were tough, what about the undergraduate medical course?

Prospective students were also given a hands-on demonstration of the School’s unique pedagogy — Team-Based Learning (TBL). Two TBL sessions with facilitators Ms Jessica Ang and Ms Yang Lishan were presented with every seat in the Seminar Room filled, and then some.

Concurrently, the main LKCMedicine booth at the foyer of the School of Biological Sciences saw brisk traffic throughout the day. Assistant Deans A/Prof Tham Kum Ying, Dr Tanya Tierney, A/Prof Kwek, Dr Lucy Wilding, Associate Professor Wong Wei Chin, Associate Professor Tang Wern Ee and Mr Emmanuel Tan took turns to field prospective students’ queries. LKCMedicine Chief Operating Officer Dr Serene Ng was also at hand for a time to answer some burning questions from prospective students interested in applying to the School.

The six tours of the Science Practical labs that ran throughout the day were very popular, with each one deploying five Student Ambassadors leading a group of 10 visitors each. Manager of Science and Anatomy Laboratories Mr Darren Lim and his team presented three stations: plastinated specimens with a 3D anatomy app for the identification of the various human structures; a microbiology exercise to identify bacteria; and observation of the development of a live chick embryo.

In between talks and tours, visitors checked out the Level 3 Collaboration Space where they could speak with staff and students about admissions, scholarships, and financial aid; student life and LKCMedSoc; and the LKCMedicine dual campus.

This face-to-face all-day event formed part two of the NTU Open House 2023. The first was an online event on 11 February which also saw overwhelming response of the various online engagements: online admissions talk, online TBL and "live chats" with students.

Thank you to members of faculty, staff, and student volunteers for making LKCMedicine Open House 2023 a success!