Duke-NUS graduates 135 new doctors and researchers

Duke-NUS Medical School conferred degrees upon 135 graduates on May 30, 2026, marking its largest graduating cohort to date. The ceremony honored students who completed the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, PhD programs in Integrated Biology and Medicine, Quantitative Biology and Medicine, and Clinical and Translational Sciences, as well as the Master of Science in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality.

Addressing the new cohort, Professor Patrick Tan, Dean of Duke-NUS, urged graduates to carry forward a commitment to improving lives and strengthening health systems. He advised them to be excellent yet humble, evidence-based yet human, and ambitious yet purposeful in their future careers.

Guest of Honour, Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for the Ministry of Digital Development and Information & the Ministry of Health, encouraged the graduates to hold onto the core reasons they entered the medical field, emphasizing that these motivations would provide strength during challenging times. She underscored that healthcare's essence lies in people.

Keynote speaker Professor Robert Califf of Duke University School of Medicine stressed the responsibility that comes with expertise, urging the graduates to use their talents for the benefit of others. He called for them to lead with courage, integrity, and compassion in a healthcare landscape rapidly evolving due to AI and global changes.

MD graduate Dr. Jiang Qianfeng shared a personal reflection on the importance of presence and human connection with patients, particularly during holidays, illustrating the practical application of compassion in medicine.