Department of Haematology-Oncology
In keeping with its role as a teaching institution, TCI@NUH is actively engaged in training medical professionals in the area of Haematology and Medical Oncology. The Department of Haematology-Oncology in NUH is one of the two accredited Departments recognised by the School of Post Graduate Training, National University of Singapore and Academy of Medicine, for the subspecialty training of Haematology and Medical Oncology in Singapore.

Medical Oncology Registrar Training Programme
The Department runs a three-year Medical Oncology Registrar Training Programme. This structured training programme prepares candidates for the exit certification by the Specialty Training Committee under the Joint Committee of Specialty Training, Singapore. The programme’s aims are for:

• Trainees to acquire sound knowledge of core curriculum subjects through didactic lectures, self-reading and journal clubs; and
• Trainees to gain experience by supervision in the management and treatment of individual cancers and by having outpatient and inpatient responsibilities.

Haematology Registrar Training Programme
A three-year training programme designed to prepare the candidate to be a fully functioning clinician as well as a laboratory pathologist. The training goal is the passing of the examinations leading to a Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists (Haematology) or Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists Australasia.

Department of Radiation Oncology

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)
Training Programme

The TCI Radiotherapy Centre training programme was accredited by the RANZCR in January 2002. This allows Singaporean doctors to be trained as specialist radiation oncologists over a five-year programme based in Singapore identical to Australasian doctors. This training is then cross-accredited with the Singapore Academy of Medicine Joint Committee for Specialist Training. TCI Radiation Oncologists are elected members of National Specialty Education Boards in both Australia and Singapore.

As of April 2005, 5 trainees are enrolled in the RANZCR programme. Four have completed the Part I FRANZCR examination and have passed at initial attempts. Our first two doctors passed their final Part II Examination in 2006, making them the very first cohort of RANZCR qualified radiation oncologists produced by The Cancer Institute & National University Hospital in Singapore.

The RANZCR programme requires an intensive supervised training experience in clinical oncology, formal tutorial sessions, statistics / research modules and a six month attachment to an Australasian Centre. Ongoing formative assessments are undertaken every 6 months, with positive feedback from supervisors, mentors and candidates. All trainees present original research, and publish a first author manuscript in an international peer-reviewed journal.

TCI / NUH International Clinical Fellowship Scheme
The presence of the structured RANZCR training scheme opened the opportunity to have on-site international fellowships for radiation oncologists from surrounding regions. These radiation oncologists are appointed to TCI for 12-month periods, and undertake the same training programme as the RANZCR candidates.

Initially the scheme involved two doctors from India, Dr Premsenthil Shanmugan in 2001 and Dr Mahesh Kumar in 2002, and both have proceeded to careers in Malaysia and Australia respectively.

In 2003 a relationship was liaised between TCI and Fudan University Shanghai, which has subsequently developed into a formal collaboration with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2004. This has initially involved fellowships with two Shanghai doctors, Dr Zhang in 2003 and Dr Ma Xue Juan in 2004 and third radiation oncologist commenced in March 2005.

TCI-SIEMENS Radiation Oncology Attachment Programme
A formal Educational relationship has developed between Siemens and TCI Radiation oncology to provide short term specialised training attachments for Siemens consumers within South East Asia.

This programme usually involves a regional oncologist and physicist to be clinical observers at TCI RTCs for periods of 2-4 weeks, though occasionally 2-3 months in selected sites such as teams from Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam and Pyongyang North Korea.

A structured programme is arranged with learning objectives based upon the teams requirements and department profile. Siemens funds the programme and also the potential for follow-up site visits in the home country to provide on site review. Email is utilised to provide some continuing distance advice for the regional centres. Siemens has also conducted technical workshops on site TCI for regional radiation oncology professionals, utilizing the TCI departmental facilities. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between TCI and Siemens to develop these initiatives further in the future.