How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

hi everyone, new to this forum and would like some advice on a dilemma I'm currently facing. Currently, I've received an offer from LKC and some T10 schools in the US (duke university, university of Chicago). i understand how difficult it is to get into both medical school in SG and probably even more difficult to get into top schools in the US, and would like advice on which to pick, hence have some qns:

1. hows the hours like in HO/MO and their respective remuneration? hows career progression like as well? how likely is it for one to specialise in SG with the push for more GPs and on average how long does one take to make it to residency/AC/C? if one chooses to become a GP outside or in private sector normally how much does one make?

2. what must one have to make it into the residency of their choice (is it by publishing research, doing electives with said department, getting dean's list, etc etc)?

3. can I ask if there's any discrimination for LKC grads vs YLL grads in SG when it comes to residency intakes?

4. to all the doctors here, if u guys could choose again, would u choose to become a doctor again? or go into other sectors?

5. any advice you would like to give to someone intending to pursue medicine?

if any of yall have been in my scenario as well, stuck between local med vs a top school overseas in the US/UK, what would yall do? for more context, I will probably be studying econs in the US (on a govt scholarship hopefully) and end up working in the public service. for more context, I think for a very long while I wasn't able to see myself doing anything apart from medicine, but I think the pandemic really exposed the harsh working conditions of doctors, and that the rigour of doing medicine is probably something that is not to be underestimated, and hence I worry I'll be disillusioned or feel jaded as a doctor. while a safe job in terms of low retrenchment, the remuneration per hour is also quite poor, and its really difficult to specialise as well. Never expected to get into such good schools in the US as well(hence the dilemma), where if I go, I think its a good opportunity to broaden my horizons and try to get experience in finance/consulting related jobs, but will definitely still come back due to the scholarship bond. That said, am unsure if scholarship and public service progression will be that good as well, as it is with a small stat board.

so what would yall do in my position? do medicine or go overseas w scholarship and work in public service? or any advice in general on how to decide? hope I haven't come off to naive/bright-eyed in this post, and would really appreciate any advice. thank you!

I do enjoy my work, but if I could pick again, I would likely go into Bigtech, Finance/IB, or Consulting. These careers tend to have a higher trajectory for similar effort. Remuneration also commensurates, of course.

Two of my pre-med classmates who pivoted into these careers -- one is a managing director and other is a senior SWE at 32, which is the same age I completed residency. They make 2-3x what I do (and pay less taxes due to being paid in stock options). While I am satisfied with my remuneration, I cannot help but feel like society values their work more and hence command higher. I guess it is what they say --- comparison is the thief of joy.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thank you. I appreciate your response. I assume those are for physicians practising in public hospitals. How about those in private practice?

How does one get courted? Hypothetically, if even I am the editor of a prominent journal, written textbooks, and is generally considered a KOL in my field etc., how would anyone in leadership positions know that I have any interest in working in Singapore? To offer a job when unsolicited seems a bit rude.

??Pointless to ask about private isn't it?
You can't go private straight from overseas
And private med is a business after all.
People pay what they believe U are worth

How to get courted?
Hehe.
Textbook chapter means nothing la.
I was approached to write so many times. Where got time.
Endless edits man. The money is not worth it. Maybe just to boost own self ego.
Admittedly it was from small time china publishers.

Key opinion leader? Depends lo. Local national or world level
Every other bloody specialist in a subspecialty in sg is a kol la
We have a lot of clinicians tbh.
U go and blow ur trumpet at how good U are...tbh, none of us will be impressed much. Lol

If U want to be courted generally U must be an established researcher
10 or more publication as pi in high impact journal

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I do enjoy my work, but if I could pick again, I would likely go into Bigtech, Finance/IB, or Consulting. These careers tend to have a higher trajectory for similar effort. Remuneration also commensurates, of course.

Two of my pre-med classmates who pivoted into these careers -- one is a managing director and other is a senior SWE at 32, which is the same age I completed residency. They make 2-3x what I do (and pay less taxes due to being paid in stock options). While I am satisfied with my remuneration, I cannot help but feel like society values their work more and hence command higher. I guess it is what they say --- comparison is the thief of joy.

Lolz
Got singaporean call their JC frens pre-med classmates one meh
Come here smoke pple again

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Lolz
Got singaporean call their JC frens pre-med classmates one meh
Come here smoke pple again

Hey is not me this time. This one is another overseas doctor.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Lolz
Got singaporean call their JC frens pre-med classmates one meh
Come here smoke pple again

Not sure if the original poster was smoking.
Given that most doctors are from elite jc nowadays, it is not uncommon for them who have friends who earn more than them, as they are ultimately surrounded by high achievers who will likely excel in any industry anyway.

While doctors remuneration is certainly above average/median in Singapore, there are certainly people who can earn more

Originally Posted by Unregistered

hi everyone, new to this forum and would like some advice on a dilemma I'm currently facing. Currently, I've received an offer from LKC and some T10 schools in the US (duke university, university of Chicago). i understand how difficult it is to get into both medical school in SG and probably even more difficult to get into top schools in the US, and would like advice on which to pick, hence have some qns:

1. hows the hours like in HO/MO and their respective remuneration? hows career progression like as well? how likely is it for one to specialise in SG with the push for more GPs and on average how long does one take to make it to residency/AC/C? if one chooses to become a GP outside or in private sector normally how much does one make?

2. what must one have to make it into the residency of their choice (is it by publishing research, doing electives with said department, getting dean's list, etc etc)?

3. can I ask if there's any discrimination for LKC grads vs YLL grads in SG when it comes to residency intakes?

4. to all the doctors here, if u guys could choose again, would u choose to become a doctor again? or go into other sectors?

5. any advice you would like to give to someone intending to pursue medicine?

if any of yall have been in my scenario as well, stuck between local med vs a top school overseas in the US/UK, what would yall do? for more context, I will probably be studying econs in the US (on a govt scholarship hopefully) and end up working in the public service. for more context, I think for a very long while I wasn't able to see myself doing anything apart from medicine, but I think the pandemic really exposed the harsh working conditions of doctors, and that the rigour of doing medicine is probably something that is not to be underestimated, and hence I worry I'll be disillusioned or feel jaded as a doctor. while a safe job in terms of low retrenchment, the remuneration per hour is also quite poor, and its really difficult to specialise as well. Never expected to get into such good schools in the US as well(hence the dilemma), where if I go, I think its a good opportunity to broaden my horizons and try to get experience in finance/consulting related jobs, but will definitely still come back due to the scholarship bond. That said, am unsure if scholarship and public service progression will be that good as well, as it is with a small stat board.

so what would yall do in my position? do medicine or go overseas w scholarship and work in public service? or any advice in general on how to decide? hope I haven't come off to naive/bright-eyed in this post, and would really appreciate any advice. thank you!

HO/MO hours are always bad, though pay has gone up over the last few years (increase basic, increase call pay, weekend rounding pay).

Career progression - if staying in medicine, is usually do residency and specialise/fam med (become consultant), don't specialise (become resident physician), or GP in private practice. Some people leave medicine altogether for other careers or move to doing admin/management. Possibly other routes I have missed out.

How long it takes to make it to AC - one factor is how long to enter residency. Once in residency it is a mostly fixed amount of time to get through training to AC provided you pass all exams and meet all residency requirements and don't take time out of training. This is also provided you finish residency, quite a few people leave residency programmes for various reasons.

YLL/LKC grads seem quite similar to me. But I am not involved in residency selection so this is just from my casual observation.

Currently quite happy with what I'm doing so would probably choose medicine again. But I know a lot of people who won't. I think it depends on how happy you are in whichever bit of medicine you are doing and which phase of life/training you are in. If you asked me the same question when I was a HO/MO doing certain postings I would likely have told you I regretted doing medicine.

Ultimately I think it depends on whether you want to be a doctor? Though there are quite a few people I know who did undergrad overseas (on scholarship) who then did graduate medicine at Duke-NUS. But you take longer to get the medical degree and start HO at an older age than the YLL/LKC grads...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Lolz
Got singaporean call their JC frens pre-med classmates one meh
Come here smoke pple again

Your comments speaks to your naivety. Are you even a physician or in medical school?

In North America and some schools in Australia, applicants have to complete an undergraduate before they are matriculated in medical school. It's similar to Duke-NUS.

So yes, I do have premed friends who changed their mind and pivoted.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

??Pointless to ask about private isn't it?
You can't go private straight from overseas
And private med is a business after all.
People pay what they believe U are worth

How to get courted?
Hehe.
Textbook chapter means nothing la.
I was approached to write so many times. Where got time.
Endless edits man. The money is not worth it. Maybe just to boost own self ego.
Admittedly it was from small time china publishers.

Key opinion leader? Depends lo. Local national or world level
Every other bloody specialist in a subspecialty in sg is a kol la
We have a lot of clinicians tbh.
U go and blow ur trumpet at how good U are...tbh, none of us will be impressed much. Lol

If U want to be courted generally U must be an established researcher
10 or more publication as pi in high impact journal

What will those in leadership positions be impressed with?

I searched the local association for my subspecialty, and majority have fewer publications, H-index or citation counts than me (even the president of the association). And many of these publications are in journals that most of us in North America have never heard of...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What will those in leadership positions be impressed with?

I searched the local association for my subspecialty, and majority have fewer publications, H-index or citation counts than me (even the president of the association). And many of these publications are in journals that most of us in North America have never heard of...

Lolz.
Then why would I want to hire someone more ' qualified' than me
Come here to challenge me.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Lolz.
Then why would I want to hire someone more ' qualified' than me
Come here to challenge me.

I certainly hope that those in leadership positions are not as petty minded.

3 proverbs for you:

"Real gold does not fear the test of fire".

"A rising tide raises all ships".

"A lion doesn't concern itself with the opinion of sheep"