Aspiring doctors from Duke-NUS’ Class of 2029 celebrate the beginning of their healthcare journey // Image Credit: Duke-NUS Medical School
Edusentro A white coat is more than just a uniform. For 78 fresh faces at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, it’s the start of a lifelong promise—to heal, to serve, and to lead. At the 19th White Coat Ceremony, the Class of 2029 officially embarked on their medical journeys, representing not only academic achievement but also a powerful shift in what it means to become a doctor in today’s world.
What makes this class stand out? Their stories.
Nearly two-thirds of this cohort didn’t begin their professional lives in medicine. Among them are a corporate lawyer-turned-yoga coach, a former software engineer, and professionals from economics, business, and beyond. Forty-six individuals made the bold leap mid-career, swapping courtrooms, code, and boardrooms for the wards and clinics of tomorrow.
For these career-switchers, medicine isn’t just a profession—it’s a calling that grew louder over time. Ms. Seah Xue Er, Cheryl, once a senior counsel at J.P. Morgan, embodies this. After a decade in law, she now seeks to combine her analytical discipline with compassionate care: “I want to be a doctor who is hands-on, passionate, and relentless in advocating for the best outcome for every patient,” she shared.
Others bring deeply personal motivations. Ms. Tania Chattopadhyay, once a software engineer and now a mother, was inspired by her father’s struggle with heart disease. Her vision? To advance preventive health solutions that empower patients to take control of their own well-being.
And then there are the trailblazers rewriting history. For the first time, Duke-NUS welcomed twin sisters—Shruthi and Swathi Kumar—into its MD programme. Shruthi, with a background in psychology, and Swathi, in engineering, see medicine as a shared dream: “We’ve always challenged and supported each other, and now, we’re excited to bring our different strengths to medicine, together.”
Not every path was scientific. Mr. Tang Zheng Yang Tony, who studied English Literature, sees medicine and the humanities as natural allies. To him, literature offers the empathy and reflection needed to navigate the human side of medicine. “Medicine and literature are two sides of the same coin,” he reflected.
The diversity of this group speaks to Duke-NUS’ bold approach: Singapore’s only graduate-entry medical school welcomes individuals aged 22 to 33, with many holding advanced degrees, and all bringing unique life experiences. Together, they represent 57 Singaporeans, four permanent residents, and 17 international students from places like the Philippines, China, India, and the U.S.
Professor Thomas Coffman, Dean of Duke-NUS, sums it up best: “We bring together diverse minds united by a shared purpose—to serve, to heal, and to improve health for generations to come.”
The Class of 2029 isn’t just preparing to be competent clinicians. They are future scientists, policy-makers, innovators, and healthcare leaders—people who will shape how medicine adapts to an increasingly complex, globalized world.
And as they recited the Hippocratic Oath, they weren’t just pledging to treat illness. They were committing to something much larger: to carry with them the values, perspectives, and passions of the lives they led before medicine—and to weave those lessons into the lives they will touch as doctors.
For more information, please visit www.duke-nus.edu.sg
Source: Duke-NUS Medical School
