Hi all, I'm an m5 this year and thinking about where to apply to for pgy1. I'm interested in GS and was wondering where to apply to for the best chances to get into residency. Also, is prior research necessary? Thanks alot!

A/Prof Kenneth Mak is a respected Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgeon.
To my knowledge he is still in clinical practice.

do HO MO postings in GS, see if you like the life and department there
Best chance of getting in - is when the department and faculty and programme director likes you
Best chance of you staying in - is when you actually like the department and see yourself spending the next 10-15 years there

Research - helps you stand out for sure
But if they don’t like you / your face, then nope.

Forget to add that many people say that they like to do GS.
Esp overseas graduates because they think GS is like Grey’s Anatomy, or rlly chill like in other countries.
But usu after doing HO MO posting in GS in Singapore they swear off all surgical postings

So… if it’s really your passion do go all out to pursue it.
If you think you like the idea of cutting people, and the glamour of being a surgeon driving a posh car, then do keep an open mind

You should be referred to SMC

Just wondering if its true that FM and IM pays about the same? If that is true, why is that so? Does that mean that both are equally tough? in terms of training, life as a con, complexity of cases seen etc...

Don't need research for GS la.
The whole point of research is for them to know u better. Your silly paper isn't gonna meant anything even if u managed to produce something.

GS life v tough one. If u think the ho, mo work is tough, then reg life x10. Con Liao not better as AC cos u scut boy of the department. Maybe turn con then life better. Thats about 15 years later from the point u decide u want to do GS.

Want do , pls do sub speciality like orthopedic, ent etc. At least the money later makes up for it.

The question to ask u is why can't they get paid the same? There is this misconception that gp and FM is the same. Fact is they are not. Layperson dunno ok, u medical student or doctor dunno is really bizzare. If u are local medical student, pls go slap Ur m3 preceptor at the polyclinic.

FM is a proper speciality in many countries. Hopefully sg recognise it soon.

What is complexity ? What is tough? End of the day a fully trained guy should be able to do this job well.
You ask the im consultant to see a depressed patient with diabetes not taking his med and having piles and griefting away from a dead wife, he will sweat. For the FM consultant, it's part of the job. You ask the FM consultant to investigate fever of uknow origin with deranged electrolytes, he will sweat.u bring a schizo patient to both the Im and FM consultant, both will sweat while the psy guy will be chilled about it.

So , what is the point behind your question?

many of my batchmates are thinking of applying to FM over IM because they think FM offers a better lifestyle but pays the same. Here i am skeptical of how one can have their cake and eat it...

Actually how much do medical consultants and senior consultant get paid? I know AC get paid around 12k (friend is now a Geri AC)- not sure if other specialty get more.

I can tell you that FM in ops only pays around 10k with mmed. Private chain go pays 13-14k depending on hrs.
If you locum on top (that would mean working almost everyday) can hit up to 17-18k.

I would think for FM to earn more than IM senior con, you either need to open your own clinic (which takes a fair bit of business acumen) or do asthestics (which is a different market/knowledge/skill from FM althogether)