Career Overview

If you are one of those who enjoy solving disease-related problems, then pathology may just be the career for you. As a pathologist, you will examine things like biopsies and blood samples to diagnose a disease and offer treatment recommendations.

Pathologists also perform autopsies to determine a patient's cause of death, in which case you will be known as a forensic pathologist. As a pathologist, you do not usually meet your patients - but you are an important part of the patient's medical team.

Aims of Program

The NHG Pathology Residency Program designed by the Department of Pathology at
Tan Tock Seng Hospital provides superior training in all aspects of anatomic pathology, preparing aspiring pathologists for a career in academic medicine and community practice.

NHG is the first institution in Singapore to successfully embark on a residency program modeled after the ACGME-I framework in 2010. Anatomic pathology rotations are integrated throughout the three-year basic curriculum leading to the national board examinations or its equivalent. This is followed by a two- year advanced training / subspecialty fellowship leading to certification by the Singapore Accreditation Board as an independent specialist.

Modules to be Covered and Duration

In the basic curriculum, the core rotations include:

• Surgical pathology with integrated subspecialties such as breast, renal, neuropathology, haematopathology, gastrointestinal pathology, soft tissue pathology etc. You will spend at least 12 months on this rotation.
• Cytopathology which is integrated with surgical pathology rotation. You will be exposed to an equivalent of at least three months of training.
• Gynaecological / paediatric pathology for a combined period of at least four months during the basic curriculum
• Dermatopathology for a period of one month during the residency.
• Autopsy and forensic pathology for at least six months.

Training Experience

Your training will be augmented with departmental teaching sessions and conferences, in addition to daily individualized learning opportunities with a consultant.

You can look forward to:

• daily multi-headed microscope and/or didactic sessions in surgical pathology including specialty areas;
• weekly surgical pathology case presentations of interesting cases;
• weekly and monthly clinico-pathology conferences with physicians from other disciplines e.g. breast radiology-pathology conferences, renal
• clinical-pathology conferences, neuropathology tumour boards etc.;
• sponsorship for attendance of pathology-related scientific meetings.

Throughout the training program, you get to assume graduated responsibility for the management of cases under close supervision by senior residents and attending faculty members.

You will be posted to other institutions such as KK Women’s and Children’s
Hospital (KKWCH), Health Sciences Authority (HAS), National University Hospital (NUH) and the National Skin Centre (NSC) to acquire breadth of exposure to the various subspecialties in addition to experiencing the diversity of how different laboratories function. The pathologists in these participating sites are leading experts, researchers and teachers in their areas of subspecialties.

Curriculum outcomes and objectives

The program is designated to produce pathologists who are:

• professional, competent and safe to practice independently at a consultant level;
• able to work as part of a team in the delivery of appropriate aspects of healthcare services and interact well with all personnel involved the delivery of healthcare;
• experienced in performing research with tissue materials;
• able to manage a laboratory well in terms of laboratory safety, audit and overseeing accreditation with various professional bodies such as College of American Pathologists;
• able to motivate themselves in acquiring new knowledge pertaining to the field of anatomic pathology.

For further information, please contact:

Program Director

Dr Chuah Khoon Leong

E-mail : khoon_leong_chuah@ttsh.com.sg

Core Faculty

Dr Danilo Giron

E-mail : giron_danilo@ttsh.com.sg

Dr Clarence Yap

E-mail : clarence_teo@ttsh.com.sg

Program Coordinator

Ms Magdalene Loh

E-mail: Magdalene_WL_LOH@nhg.com.sg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pathology the right choice for me?

There is no definite way of knowing until you have given it a try. However, pathology may be your choice of a career if you:  

• like pathology as a subject
• have an appreciation of visual images
• are not adverse to forgoing direct patient contact
• have an investigative mind

We would encourage you to pay a visit to the Pathology Laboratory at TTSH after contacting the program director to check out the place and meet the people working there. In so doing, you will have a better understanding of how the work we do and then you can decide whether this residency program is suitable for you.

How long will the training be?

The stipulated time is about three years of basic training leading to the national exam or equivalent followed by two years of fellowship attachment – in all, a total of five years.

You are advised to continue to pursue either the fellowship degree offered by the Royal
College of Pathologists of Australasia or the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) as these
are recognized exit exams requiring a total of five years of training in anatomic
pathology.

What are the advantages of being an anatomic pathologist?

As there is a current national and worldwide shortage of pathologists, job opportunities are in abundance.  In addition, you will have a better control of your time (although you need to work hard) and you don’t need to do night calls!

Are there opportunities for sub-specialization?

There are about 14 sub-specialties that you can choose to have a special interest in and for which you can seek a HMDP award to go abroad to further your expertise in these areas upon successful completion of training.

Are there research opportunities?

Currently, we collaborate with our hospital clinicians as well as researchers from other institutions such as NUHS in various projects including molecular studies.