Medical student involvement in academic research provides exciting opportunities to work and interact with our faculty in the ANAES ACP. This would give the students a better understanding of the research in ANAES ACP and contribute to the scientific advancement for patient care. With the support of the SingHealth Medical Talent Development Award (SMSTDA) and AM-ETHOS Duke-NUS Medical Student Fellowship Award (MSF), students get to have first-hand experience in learning different research skills, planning, execution and understanding the work of an anaesthetist.
The pandemic situation has made this more challenging in the past 1.5 years, yet our faculty and students have made it happened, continued to work together remotely but as closely as ever. By the end of June, as we celebrated the Duke-NUS Graduating Class of 2021, we caught up with Yeam Cheng Teng, who has been mentored by A/Prof Sng Ban Leong in the past 2 years. During this especially challenging time, Cheng Teng impressively bagged an AM-ETHOS Duke-NUS MSF for his Year 3 research project, an SMSTDA – Travel, an SMSTDA – Project, the Duke-NUS Achievement Prize: Clinical Science Research, the Best Duke-NUS Clinical Research Thesis 2021 and the Best Presentation Award during Duke-NUS Research Day 2021. He took some time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions about his experience.
Cheng Teng in between Ban Leong and Paul at the ASA 2019.
How are you feeling these days?
For me, I have just graduated from Duke NUS Medical School and started working as a House Officer in Sengkang General Hospital in General Medicine. Feeling of excitement to finally contribute to the healthcare scene as a doctor, but also a little daunting with the steep learning curves.
What is the best way to get involved in a research project you are interested in?
The best way to get involved in a research project you are interested in would be to engage the mentor meaningfully and exchange ideas on the research area or topic! With interest comes ideas, and by discussing with your mentor, this would allow for both sides to think of different research opportunities to better fill the gaps in the current research evidence and area.
What is your favourite research topic? And why
My favourite research topic is in the area of pain management. Pain is experienced by everyone and is a common patient experience especially after surgery. This interesting blend provides many new research topics and opportunities to be explored. This led to my primary research with Ban Leong on the risk factors associated with postoperative pain after caesarean section. I hope that our new knowledge will lead to more future pain research and be the foundation of future pain management strategies. I hope that eventually this will lead to the development of risk stratification and treatment algorithms for patients.
What is the hardest part about doing a thesis/ manuscript?
Personally, I feel that the hardest part about doing a thesis or manuscript is to be able to articulate the big picture and to make it intuitive and easy for the readers to understand. Reading through your own writing over and over again, making sure that the flow of ideas is smooth and logical is important as well. Additionally, if you have a few data points to present in your manuscript, it might turn out to be lengthy and messy.
If you are not a clinician, what is your other career choice?
I was fortunate enough to be exposed to many forms of research during my undergraduate years, which ingrained in me the importance of research in advancing any field. If I am not a clinician, I would probably go ahead into a scientist track in translational research which can also greatly impact the healthcare scene and improve patient care and outcomes.
What are your key takeaways in doing research as a student?
My personal key takeaways when doing research are:
1. Innovate, consider exploring different aspects of the research project and approach the research question from different angles
2. Prepare thoroughly in advance for research milestones like literature review, protocol development or execution of patient recruitment.
3. Adopt an open mindset, be adaptable when faced with roadblocks along the research process
What was your first impression of your mentor?
I first met Ban Leong during a research open house organised by Duke NUS before entering my research year as a student. Knowing that he is an expert in pain research, I was very interested to get to engage with him during the symposium, and my first impression of him was that he is very warm and friendly!
Did your impression change or it was a right hunch all along?
My impression was right! Ban Leong is always very thoughtful and constructive in his feedbacks during our discussions, and really invests his time and effort to ensure the success of his students. I was fortunate to be involved in multiple research projects with him in Pain Management and Obstetric Anaesthesia. It is a really fruitful experience under his mentorship.
Thanks Cheng Teng! We wish you all the best for your housemanship and the bright future ahead of you!
