PULSE Issue 46 | Jan 2026
At the National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS), a doctor’s development extends beyond clinical training to include professional growth, ethical judgement, and compassion for patients. Through structured training, close mentorship, and real-world experience, NUHCS prepares the next generation of doctors to deliver high-quality cardiovascular care with confidence and accountability, ensuring patients remain central to every clinical decision.
Core Pillars of Expertise
Working as a multidisciplinary team, the NUHCS team provides coordinated patient care while offering junior doctors broad exposure to the full spectrum of cardiovascular medicine.
Department of Cardiology Focused on the diagnosis, medication or procedural treatment, and long-term management of heart conditions, from common heart diseases to complex and rare disorders. | Department of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery (CTVS) Training takes place across operating theatres, the Cardiothoraic Intensive Care Unity (CTICU), inpatient wards, and clinics. - Cardiac Surgery: comprehensive care for a broad spectrum of heart diseases, including specialised care for children provided by the Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Team. - Thoracic Surgery: advanced treatment for conditions affecting the lungs and chest, performed using minimally invasive techniques. - Vascular Surgery: holistic management of diseases affecting blood vessels throughout the body, from aortic conditions to limb-saving procedures. |
Doctors-in-training: PACES Cardiology Postgraduate Programme
NUHCS supports doctors at all stages of their careers through structured learning opportunities, including the Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES) Cardiology Postgraduate programme. This programme is designed to strengthen core clinical skills in cardiovascular medicine, focusing on bedside examination, diagnostic reasoning, and patient-centered communication.
Through structured teaching rounds, case discussions, and a dedicated PACES Cardiology course, essential competencies that are critical for postgraduate certification and real-world practice are refined, ensuring that medical students are prepared for examinations as well as the practical demands of patient care.
Training Junior Doctors Through the Senior Residency Programme
The Cardiology Senior Residency Programme at NUHCS is a structured three-year programme that prepares junior doctors, or Residents, for independent practice in cardiovascular medicine. Residents gain broad clinical exposure across key cardiology subspecialities, including interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, advanced imaging, heart failure, and structural heart interventions.
Training takes place across inpatient wards, catheterisation laboratories, coronary care units, and outpatient clinics, offering comprehensive learning across the continuum of care. Residents also rotate through NUHCS @ Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH), gaining exposure to a diverse patient population and wide spectrum of cardiovascular conditions, all within the same high standards of clinical governance and academic culture. Daily bedside teaching, multidisciplinary discussions, and guided clinical decision-making allow doctors-in-training to develop technical competence while fostering professionalism, empathy, and teamwork.
Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Programme
The Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Programme at NUHCS trains residents to combine technical surgical skills with critical thinking and patient-centered care.
Structured mentorship, hands-on surgical practice, and participation in multidisciplinary teams form the core of the training. Residents are exposed to both cardiac and thoracic surgery specialties, each offering distinct learning opportunities and contributing to a comprehensive understanding of cardiothoracic care.
Vascular training at NUHCS adopts a multidisciplinary, team-based approach that equips residents to manage complex cases, balance risks and benefits, and work closely with specialists across disciplines. Trainees gain exposure to a wide range of vascular conditions – from complex aortic disease, to diabetic limb salvage.
NUHCS Educational Programmes offer more than technical training. Medical students and Residents develop leadership skills, gain exposure to innovative technology, and master the delivery of high-quality patient care – equipping them to lead the future of cardiothoracic and vascular care.
