Career Overview

The NHG-AHPL Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program is geared at producing orthopaedic surgeons who do not just perform well in the operating theatre, but are also all-rounded. The competent orthopedic surgeon will be able to offer treatment by medical, surgical, and physical methods.

Aim of Program

During our six-year program, the wide array of interests and depth in this field will be shared with you. You will be exposed to various sub-specialties such as trauma, adult reconstructive (AR) surgery, spine, sports surgery, foot & ankle, and hand & reconstructive microsurgery.

Our program benefits from a mixture of elements that keep things very exciting, from complex trauma cases presenting to the busiest Emergency Department in Singapore at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, to the holistic management of osteoarthritis for a chronic sufferer. There are also opportunities to be exposed to paediatric orthopaedics in our affiliated institutions.

Our vibrant learning environment is fostered through many activities such as: 

• Presentation of paper at Singapore Orthopaedic Association (SOA) meeting
• SOA teaching sessions
• Attendance at training events
• Compulsory courses e.g. fracture fixation skills course, Upper and lower limb surgical exposure courses
• Critical reviewing of medical literature and submitting to peer-reviewed publications
• Student teaching
• Quality enhancement project participation
• Audit session attendance
• Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) round attendance/presentation  

Rotations

During Year In Training 1 (YIT1), you will be involved in the following:

• Care of patients with surgical and medical emergencies, multiple organ system trauma, soft tissue wounds, nervous system injuries and diseases, peripheral vascular injuries and diseases, and rheumatologic and other medical diseases;
• Participation in the pre-, intra- and post-operative care of surgical patients   

Through these experiences, you will attain the following competencies:

• Development of knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to formulate principles and assess, plan and initiate treatment of adult and paediatric patients with surgical and/or medical problems;
• Experience in the care of critically-ill surgical and medical patients;
• Development of an understanding of surgical anaesthesia, including anaesthetic risks and the management of intra-operative anaesthetic complications  

Assessment will be continuous and include summative and formative types. These will help develop your ability to interact with patients and peers as well as increase your acquisition of surgical skills. Some examples of assessment tools are listed below:

Note: Orthopaedic in Training Examinations (OITE) are conducted yearly

Faculty Members

For further information, please contact:

Program Director

Dr. S.S. Sathappan

Email: sathappan@ttsh.com.sg

Associate Program Directors

Dr. Danny Thomas Louange

Email: danny_thomas_louange@ttsh.com.sg

Dr. Jeffrey Tan

Email: tan.gek.meng@alexandrahealth.com.sg

Program Coordinator

Ms. Melissa Yong

Email: melissa_cf_yong@nhg.com.sg

Frequently Asked Questions

This six-year program offers the following entry routes:

• Transitional year as an entry requirement;
• Alternative entry option for existing candidates (non-TY) who are waiting for a place 

The Orthopaedic Surgery program is a hybrid program with similar requirements / courses / assessments as seamless. It also meets Royal College and SMC requirements.

What opportunities are there for sub-specialization?

In year 5 and year 6, there are opportunities to be posted to the specialty of your interest. You will be closely monitored to develop your skills, which will facilitate your subsequent fellowship year, following your exit exam.

What advantages does NHG offer?

NHG provides a sound research infrastructure driven towards evidence-based medicine including a well-staffed Clinical Research Unit and dedicated biostatisticians to assist with clinical research projects.

In our program, residents will be introduced to research methodology early in residency. Each resident will be assigned a mentor and has to complete one research project by PGY5. We aim for this project to be presented in either the Singapore Orthopaedic Association meeting or in an international meeting. The project must also be published in a peer-reviewed journal. A selected group of students will be allowed to do a specific research year with special provision for either molecular or biomechanical based research program. Faculty will provide guidance and support. Various sources of funding for research support that can be tapped include Small Innovative Grant (SIG), Biomedical Research Council (BMRC), National Medical Research Council (NMRC) etc.

Residents will also benefit from our strong networking with Nanyang Technological University on research projects. Also, the faculty encourages continuous improvement, and will involve the residents in varied Clinical Practice Improvement Program (CPIP) projects driven towards improvement in patient care. Our community engagements are strong and directed. This will give residents unique opportunities to do preventive orthopaedics.