Imperial celebrates LKCMedicine launch

LKCMedicine's London Office team

Imperial recognised the contributions of staff and students to Singapore's newest medical school at an event in London last week

Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), a collaboration between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Imperial, welcomed its first 54 students this August.

At the event in South Kensington on 10 September Singapore’s High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Thambynathan Jasudasen, joined guests from across Imperial to mark the School's opening. In a series of presentations staff and students involved in LKCMedicine explained Imperial's role in the project, which was formally launched in 2010 with the aim to train more doctors to meet Singapore's healthcare needs. 

Professor Jenny Higham with medical students

The LKCMedicine London Office has led on curriculum development and much of the organisation of the project. Paul Ratcliffe, Singapore Project Manager, set out how the LKCMedicine London Office delivered Imperial’s responsibilities for the partnership despite the geographic, administrative and cultural challenges inherent in such ambitious international collaborations.

He said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to be here tonight having seen the whole project through to fruition, and having just seen the first students welcomed a few weeks ago at the White Coats ceremony.” 

Innovative curriculum

Dr Naomi Low-Beer, Vice Dean (Education), gave colleagues an insight into the innovative LKCMedicine curriculum, which is pioneering the use of e-learning tools so students can make the most of their contact time with academics and patients. Dr Low-Beer, who is also an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial, said: “Agreeing to lead the curriculum development for LKCMedicine was the best decision I ever made. This was really brought home for me just five weeks ago when I addressed the talented and enthusiastic students on their first day at LKCMedicine.” 

Professor Dermot Kelleher and High Commissioner Thambynathan Jasudasen

Claire Vassie is a fifth year Imperial medical student who has helped review e-learning materials and forge early links between Imperial and LKCMedicine students, including the work underway to develop LKCMedSoc, a student society to represent the new intake.

During her presentation at the event, Claire said: “Just as LKCMedicine’s innovative curriculum has been moulded by Imperial student input, feedback from Singaporean students will help shape Imperial’s own medicine course.”

Professor Jenny Higham, Senior Vice Dean at LKCMedicine and Vice Dean of Imperial's Faculty of Medicine, gave her reflections on the work that has taken place to turn the vision into reality since negotiations about the collaboration began in 2009, and thanked staff from across Imperial for their tremendous support. 

Professor Dermot Kelleher, Dean of LKCMedicine and Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine, closed the formal proceedings, paid tribute to NTU for their commitment, thanked the staff of LKCMedicine for their dedication and praised the enthusiasm of the first cohort of LKCMedicine students.

Professor Kelleher said: “Creating the new medical school is a historic moment: for Imperial, for NTU, and for Singapore.”