Medical newcomers, fraternal duos, and pioneers: Duke-NUS' Class of 2029 redefines the journey to a career in medicine
Duke-NUS Medical School Welcomes Diverse Class of 2029
Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore's flagship graduate-entry medical school, has welcomed its 19th Doctor of Medicine (MD) cohort, known as the Class of 2029. This year's cohort consists of 78 students, ranging in age from 22 to 33, and represents the largest group of career-switching individuals in the school's history.
The Class of 2029 is a diverse group, with students coming from various academic and professional backgrounds. Among them are twin sisters, Ms Shruthi Kumar and Ms Swathi Kumar, who studied psychology and engineering respectively. The class also includes fresh graduates from universities worldwide, as well as seven students admitted through Duke-NUS' conditional pathways in partnership with Singapore's top universities.
The focus of this cohort is a shared commitment to medical excellence, professionalism, and lifelong service of healing. They publicly affirmed this commitment during their White Coat Ceremony, where they donned their white coats and recited the Hippocratic Oath.
Dean Professor Thomas Coffman emphasizes that Duke-NUS cultivates medical talent through diversity, bringing together students from broad academic and professional backgrounds united by a purpose to serve, heal, and improve health across generations. He stated that the school's goal is to develop medical talent by welcoming students with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
The educational approach at Duke-NUS supports maturity, purpose, and diverse experiences through a graduate-entry MD curriculum rooted in research and team-based learning tailored to this student profile.
The Class of 2029 includes six members who hold Master's degrees, and one has attained a PhD prior to joining the program. All students in the Class of 2029 will undergo most of their clinical training at SingHealth institutions. They will graduate with an MD degree jointly awarded by Duke University and the National University of Singapore.
The class also includes 46 early-to-mid-career professionals who have switched paths to pursue medicine. Among them is Ms Seah Xue Er, Cheryl, a former senior counsel with J. P. Morgan and a private legal practitioner. Another is Mr Tang Zheng Yang Tony, an English Literature graduate, who joined Duke-NUS via a conditional admissions pathway from Yale-NUS College. Mr Tang believes that medicine and literature are "two sides of the same coin" and hopes to draw from his humanities training to offer holistic care as a clinician.
Ms Tania Chattopadhyay, a former software engineer, left her career to pursue medicine, inspired by her father's battle with a heart disorder. The largest batch of career-pivoting individuals brings rich perspectives from fields such as law, software engineering, and economics.
The Class of 2029 is set to make a significant impact in the field of medicine, reflecting Duke-NUS's mission to develop well-rounded and impactful medical leaders.
- To further their careers and contribute to the field of medicine, the Class of 2029 at Duke-NUS Medical School, with its diverse backgrounds in fields such as psychology, engineering, and law, are pursuing lifelong learning through online education and skills training.
- Recognizing the importance of education and self-development, several members of the Class of 2029 have already completed Master's degrees and a PhD, demonstrating their dedication to continuous learning and career development.
- In line with their commitment to lifelong learning, the Class of 2029 will partake in online education programs, ensuring they are equipped with the latest medical knowledge and practices to provide the best possible care.
