Associate Consultant Readiness Program (ACRP) – Spotlight on our ACs

ANAES ACP launched the inaugural Associate Consultant Readiness Program (ACRP) in 2018. While there is a generic ACRP conducted by Duke-NUS for all newly minted SingHealth Associate Consultants, our program is Anaesthesiology ACP-specific and aims to induct our new colleagues by introducing them to the structure and different pillars of the ACP such as Education, Research, Clinical Quality and Services, and Special Projects and Innovation (SPRINT). They are also informed on the resources available in the ACP that can be tapped upon and also how they can contribute in the ACP. Besides ACs who join the different SingHealth anaesthesiology departments, the program is also open to new colleagues who join at the consultant level.

With the aim of facilitating smoother transition to a SingHealth anaesthesiology faculty, the first ACRP was held on 10 Nov 2018 with 23 participants at Academia. In 2019, 11 participants attended the program on 16 Nov 2019 in person at Academia. With the Covid-19 pandemic the program shifted to a virtual platform with a run held on 31 Oct 2020 with 18 participants and on 27 Nov 2021 with 11 attendees. The program covers various topics such as mentoring, becoming a faculty for medical schools and residency, research, clinical, philanthropy, medical education research as well as career guidance. With encouraging feedback from participants, the ANAES ACRP looks set to be a permanent feature. – by Dr Evangeline Lim

We asked 5 of our year-old ACs how life has been for them in the past one year.

He Yingke, SGH Anaesthesiology (YK), Lim Zhen Wei, SGH Pain Medicine (ZW), Paul Tan, KKH WAN (PT), Michelle Leanne Lim, SGH Surgical Intensive Care (ML), Siow Wei Shyan, CGH Anaesthesia & Surgical Intensive Care (WS).

1. Give a short summary of your experience in your first year as an AC

YK: It has been a great one year plus after joining the department as a specialist. I have received lots of support and guidance from the seniors in my subspecialties-- perioperative medicine and obstetric anaesthesia. Department has also been supportive to help us with further career development as I have also started my UCL Master in Perioperative medicine course under SGH scholarship. I am truly grateful for all the support from the department and other senior colleagues.

PT: I had a pretty good experience! I always felt supported by the department, and never hesitated to ask for help or advice if I needed it. Mainly, I had to develop my own style of managing my team and the list, and also to get used to making the final decisions instead of deferring to my senior.

ZW: As we shoulder more responsibilities clinically and in administrative matters, the department heads have been very encouraging and provided the much needed guidance. The solution to many conundrums at work is no more than a text, call or email away.

ML: It felt like an extension of my senior residency.

WS: I am very grateful for the warmth and support from everyone in helping me assimilate easily into becoming an AC in CGH. So far, I have been given many opportunities to develop as a leader and collaborator through a mix of clinical and non-clinical endeavours.

2. What is the biggest lesson you have learnt in the past one year?

YK: As an AC in the department we are involved in more non-clinical duties such as setting up new guidelines and communication/collaboration with other departments to further improve the patient care. This year, I am involved in the development of protocol and workflow for delivery of COVID positive patients in SGH isolation ward together with other departments. I was very impressed at how different departments worked together in a coordinated manner for the same goals of providing the best care for patients despite difficult times like the COVID pandemic.

PT: I am never alone. There is always someone that had managed the same issues I am facing, and I just had to be willing to ask for help and advice.

ZW: Do not be shy or afraid to ask for help. It is a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new.

ML: It’s important to get the Covid vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic.

WS: Being an AC marks the start of a new journey for me and the biggest lesson I have learnt is the importance of adopting a growth mindset. There is no end to learning from others and our own experiences, each day as we go.

3. What can the ACP do to support you?

YK: As ACs are new specialists in the family, future career paths and various training opportunities remain unclear to most of us. The ACRP program does help us clarify some of the doubts, I think such programs can be conducted at regular intervals which will be more beneficial. The mentorship program in the ACP was also helpful to give us guidance when we were new specialists.

PT: Emphasise the importance of work-life balance, and encourage healthy emotional and mental health at the workplace.

ZW: Continue to engage us.

ML: It’s very helpful already - especially by subsidizing courses and snacks

WS: On this note, I am very inspired by my fellow colleagues in the ACP and look forward to working with one another to widen opportunities for research, education and clinical quality improvement.