Welcome, Class of 2029!

Welcome, Class of 2029!

The Duke-NUS White Coat Ceremony marks a significant milestone as our students officially enter the medical profession. This pivotal moment is symbolised by the donning of the white coat and the recitation of the Hippocratic Oath, representing a commitment to the values and responsibilities of medicine.

Our 19^th cohort, the Class of 2029, is comprised of individuals from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds. This year, students range in age from 22 to 33, including 46 career-switching professionals who have chosen to pursue medicine after successful careers in fields such as law, software engineering, and economics—the largest group of early-to-mid-career professionals who have switched paths to pursue medicine in the School’s history. Alongside them are recent graduates from both local and international universities, as well as seven students admitted through Duke-NUS’ conditional pathway programmes in partnership with Singapore’s top universities.

Professionals vs fresh grads

Academic backgrounds

Academic Backgrounds of Class of 2029

Citizenship distribution

Citzenship distribution of Class of 2029

Undergraduate universities

Hear from the Class of 2029

“I want to be a doctor who sees patients beyond their diagnoses—someone who is mindful of the broader context of their lives, and who doesn’t take for granted the privilege of being present during their most vulnerable moments.”
Inarah Farahah Muhammad Azlan

“I believe that by the time I graduate from medical school and finish my residency, the performance and capacity of Singapore’s healthcare system and hospitals will have grown by leaps and bounds. I hope to both contribute to this growth as well as share these achievements with the world through health development work.”
Kole D Utzinger

“I believe many conditions can be detected early or even prevented altogether with the right tools, education and systems in place. I want to work on solutions that empower patients to take charge of their health and make care more proactive, compassionate, and effective—especially in areas like heart health and lifestyle-driven diseases.”
Tania Chattopadhyay

“Through the course of my [English Literature] undergraduate studies, I have been blessed with many knowledgeable professors and a wealth of reading material that enliven me not just in an aesthetic sense, but also philosophically and spiritually, forming an important ‘human’ foundation for the medical profession.”
Tang Zheng Yang Tony

“Working in health economics research made me realise that the numbers we analyse represent real people. That reminder grounds me, and it is something I will remind myself going into medicine. I hope to always see the human, not the case.”
Tan Yan Ning

“Taking the next step into medicine together feels incredibly special–not just as a personal milestone but as a shared dream we’ve nurtured side by side,” says Ms Shruthi Kumar, with Ms Swathi Kumar adding: “We’ve always challenged and supported each other, and now, we’re excited to approach learning with different viewpoints and to bring our different strengths to medicine, together.”
Shruthi Kumar and Swathi Kumar

“I want to be a doctor who is hands-on, passionate and relentless in advocating for the best outcome for every patient. I would be someone who perseveres in the duty I have undertaken to provide the best care, treatment and recovery solution for them.”
Seah Xue Er, Cheryl

Aspiring doctors from Duke-NUS’ Class of 2029 celebrate the beginning of their healthcare journey (Credit-Duke-NUS Medical School) 1

Photos and Videos

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Contact Us

For any enquiries, please email us at communications@duke-nus.edu.sg.