​I moved to Singapore in 2004 after qualifying as a specialist in Internal Medicine in United States. As a US-trained physician, I was able to offer a different perspective of medical education as we moulded the curriculum at Duke-NUS.

I felt strongly that graduate medical education injects diversity of experience, education and viewpoints into the profession, and I was excited to be part of that transition in Singapore. I was attracted to the chance to play a pivotal role in the startup of a medical school that focused on training the future leaders in medicine in Singapore.

I will never forget the moment when I was asked by the Class of 2015 to be one of their two Graduation hooders during the Graduation Ceremony at Academia. To me, this is the highest honour the students could give to a faculty member as hooders are the ones who place the graduation hood on each new doctor — a ritual that marks the formal transition from a student into the role of doctor. It was a touching experience for me as the students have worked so hard to get to that point and I could share their joy in a very personal way.

Dr Mara Catherine Mcadams
Assistant Professor and Associate Dean, Duke-NUS Medical School