Since completing my specialist training as an otolaryngologist, I have found that my other passion is teaching.
NUS Otolaryngology Undergraduate Teaching
I was involved in some aspects of undergraduate teaching at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, where I assisted my mentor Dr Brian Westerberg in teaching some modules on otology to the undergraduate students. At UBC, otolaryngology is done as an elective only. Core topics are taught as a lecture and small group tutorials are done. The exposure to the field of otolaryngology is hence very limited. I feel that the NUS students are very fortunate that the Department of Otolarynology has laid out such a comprehensive program in the field of otolaryngology for them. Many aspects of ENT have primary care issues and its up to us to teach the NUS students these clinical pearls.
Motivation
Since returning from my HMDP fellowship year, I have been concerned about the teaching and training methods used for the ENT trainees in the national training programme. Previously, the numbers of trainees selected were very limited due to the restricted intake and high calibre of the applications. The motivation and the drive of the trainees were hence very strong. With the increasing intake of trainees, there appears to be a drop in the standard and motivation of the trainees to learn. With such a big group, the weekly teaching sessions have turned into a very didactic monologue with minimal interaction with the trainees. It becomes difficult to assess if they have actually understood the teaching material and are able to assimilate their knowledge to clinical practice.
To get a trainee or student motivated can be difficult. There have been sessions where students remain tight lipped and appear not to be willing to participate in a interactive tutorial. I have striven to design my lectures and tutorials to allow interaction and probing. It allows me to identify who needs more attention and extra coaching.
Leaving no one behind
One concern with the current ENT National Training Programme is the 6 monthly rotation to different hospitals to do their ENT postings. Originally, the intent was to increase the trainees exposure to different approaches and operations to manage similar conditions. One unfortunate consequence is that weaker trainees are identified too late into the posting for remedial action. Before corrective action can be taken, they are rotated out and a similar cycle begins. This has led to increasing meeting between the postgraduate training directors for each hospital with ENT trainees. These meeting allow us to exchange information of the trainees about their performance and areas where they can improve.
Pushing for excellence
In my role as the Program Director and Department Postgraduate Training Director, I have aimed for excellence in education and teaching for my junior staff. In training them to be good clinicians, this will improve our clinical standards and patient care. In achieving a reputation at NUH ENT has an excellent teaching environment, we can then attract the best applicants for our up and coming NUHS ENT Residency Programme.
Problem Based Learning
NUHS ENT residents are given mini-projects to review into a summary of a given topic. This can start from an outpatient encounter where the resident is unsure of the appropriate management for a given symptom.
The resident will do a textbook and literature review that is then summarised and presented to the Department. This learning activity is logged into a ??eLearning Evaluation Document.??f

Case based learning