Vascular and Interventional Radiology (VIR) Fellowship

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Next vacant fellowship positions available:

2025: 3 positions

2026: 3 positions

Clinical Fellowship applications are reviewed twice a year:

Applications received between 01 August and 31 January would be reviewed in February
Applications received between 01 February and 31 July would be reviewed in August

Next application review: Aug 2024

Please do not apply without first contacting the IR Fellowship Director.

Introduction:

The Vascular and Interventional Radiology (VIR) Fellowship at the Department of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (DVIR), is specifically crafted to offer international radiologists a profound exposure to a diverse range of vascular and non-vascular interventional procedures within Singapore's largest tertiary hospital.

This program is strategically designed to serve as a distinctive developmental opportunity, empowering young radiologists to acquire novel procedural skills and expand their clinical knowledge, which can subsequently be applied and shared within their home institutions.

Training Setup

Singapore General Hospital is a 1600 bed acute tertiary hospital, providing cutting edge medical treatment in all specialty disciplines.

The Department has access to 8 interventional radiology suites housed under the Division of Radiological Sciences, which are equipped with state of the art machines including the Philips Azurion 7, two Siemens Artis Q, and two Toshiba hybrid angio-CT systems. All IR suites are equipped with Ultrasound scanners for US guided/assisted interventions. DVIR is staffed by 21 Interventional Radiologists and performs about 10,000 vascular and non-vascular procedures a year.

A wide range of VIR procedures are performed* including:

Oncological interventions:

Transarterial Chemo-embolisation (cTACE, debTACE) and radio-embolisation (Y90 spheres)
Thermal ablation (RFA; MWA) and non thermal (IRE) of liver tumours
Ablation of renal and lung tumours
Biliary drainages, dilatations and stenting
Pre-operative lung tumour localisation

Musculoskeletal interventions:

Vertebroplasty (including stenting) for benign and malignant spine disease
Nerve blocks and ablations (degenerative and malignant indications)
Thermal ablation of bone and soft tissue tumours
Palliative embolisation of MSK tumours

Vascular interventions:

Dialysis access (AVF/AVG) angioplasty and thrombolysis
Lower limb angioplasty/stenting, thrombolysis and debulking procedures
IVC filter insertion and removal
Hepatic Venous-portal Pressure Gradient measurement (HPVG

Emergency interventions:

Embolisation for trauma, tumour, bleeding gastrointestinal tract, bronchial embolisation
Pulmonary Thrombectomy and catheter directed therapy
Transjugular portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration

Genitourinary interventions:

Nephrostomies and ureteric stenting
Hysterosalpingogram and Fallopian tube recanalisation
Angiomyolipoma embolisation
Prostate artery embolisation / Uterine fibroid embolisation

Others:

Venous access (PICC, tunneled and non tunneled central catheters, ports)
Image guided biopsies (including transjugular liver biopsy) and drainages
Fusion and contrast enhanced US guided procedures
Radiological guided gastrostomy insertion and NJ tube insertion

* variable case mix and first operator experience for fellowship is expected *

Training Curriculum

Hands-on Procedural and Clinical training:

BASIC IR TRAINING (2 – 3 Months): familiarising with departmental protocol and workflow, evaluation of patients pre- and post- procedure and competent in basic procedures (tailored to individual fellows previous experience), basic skills in IR
SUBSPECIALTY ROTATION (9 – 10 months): taking on more complex procedures performed under direct consultant supervision, in addition to rotation through HPB (hepato-pancreatico-biliary), MSK (Musculoskeletal), Vascular and GI-GU (Gastrointestinal - Genitourinary) subspecialties
All clinical activities will be performed under the supervision of VIR consultants, initially as assistants and subsequently as primary operators
All fellows are rostered for weekday and Saturday extended hours duties. There is no overnight calls.
Fellows are tasked to participate in non-procedural clinical roles i.e. clerking in of patients, pre- and post-procedure management of patients, and ward rounds.
Involvement in Departmental teaching and administrative events, including M&M meetings, biopsy audits, research meetings and MDT meetings are compulsory.
Additional opportunities to be rotated through to the IR service at Sengkang General Hospital and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital can be discussed.
No neuro-intervention training opportunities are available under this fellowship.

Example of fellow weekly roster:

Week 1	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thurs	Fri
Early AM		Liver MDT	Education Meeting	Vascular MDT	Admin Meeting
AM	IR suite	IR suite	Clinical duties	IR suite	Clinic
PM	IR suite	IR suite	Clinical duties	IR suite	IR suite
Late		Extended shift

Fellow responsibilities:

Maintain a logbook of VIR procedures performed/assisted performed
Respectful behaviour towards other members of IR team (nurses, radiographers, clerical staff)
Maintaining patient confidentiality, professional, and ethical behaviour
Attend outpatient clinics and perform inpatient consults
Ward rounds to review patients pre and post procedure.
Participate in weekly education (including teaching of junior residents), monthly mortality & morbidity, biopsy audit and research meetings
Fellows are expected to do a minimum of 4 teaching presentations.
Attend interdisciplinary rounds (eg Vascular surgery-DVIR, Urology-Radiology, Gastroenterology/hepatobiliary surgery-Radiology rounds) with emphasis on multi-disciplinary approach to patient management
Annual leave (entitled 21 days) application to be made in timely manner

Academia and Research :

Research engagement is strongly encouraged.
Fellows will be required to do at least 4 journal readings and presentations in 1 year
Research time off (1 session per week) to conduct at least 1 research or audit project can be discussed.
Submission of an abstract to a conference is compulsory. Submission of a manuscript for publication is encouraged.

Faculty

Prof Tay Kiang Hiong (Senior Consultant and Head of Department)
Prof Tan Bien Soo (Senior Consultant)
A/Prof Dr Richard Lo Hoau Gong (Senior Consultant)
A/Prof Farah Gillan Irani (Senior Consultant and Deputy Head of Department)
Dr Sivanathan Chandramohan (Senior Consultant)
Dr Luke Han Wei Toh (Senior Consultant)
A/Prof Apoorva Gogna (Senior Consultant)
Dr Shaun Chan Ju Min (Senior Consultant)
Dr Ankur Patel (Senior Consultant)
A/Prof Too Chow Wei (Senior Consultant)
A/Prof Nanda Kumar (Senior Consultant)
A/Prof Leong Sum (Senior Consultant)
Dr Zhuang Kunda (Senior Consultant)
Dr Sonam Tashi (Senior Consultant)
Dr Jasmine Chua (Consultant)
Dr Kristen Alexa Lee (Consultant)
Dr Alfred Tan (Consultant)
Dr Mark Wang (Consultant)
Dr Alexander Tan (Consultant)
Dr Heng Tseng Hui (Associate Consultant)
Dr Lee WeiYong (Associate Consultant)

Admission Criteria

Postgraduate medical qualification in Radiology e.g. FRCR, MMed or equivalent
5 years radiology residency training or equivalent at expected start date of fellowship (eg. for 3 year training programs, a further 2 year postgraduate experience required)
Proven competency in English per Singapore Medical Council’s requirements for clinical fellowship
Selection of interventional radiology fellows will be prioritised based on the following:
Regions with little interventional radiology expertise (priority for ASEAN and countries with MoU for training)
Candidates in a position to develop public service and train next generation of interventional radiologists over time
One year and self funded fellowship applicants preferred
Candidates with no or early interventional radiology experience preferred

Application process for eligible applicant

Once accepted for fellowship, the registration process facilitated by PGMI will take months to be processed.
It is in your interest to respond to PGMI emails promptly. Failure to adhere to timelines (PGMI queries, source document verification, English competency exams) following approval of application may result in withdrawal of fellowship offer.
All current and future employment (please indicate if none) must be indicated on application form. Incomplete forms will be rejected in the first instance.
Limited sponsored fellowship positions are available (maximum 3 at any one time). All applicants will automatically be considered for sponsorship (SGD$2000-4500 per month) from Department of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (DVIR) / Division of Radiological Sciences and SGH/PGMI fellowship award.
There is high demand for fellowship position, with more applicants than positions available for both sponsored and self-sponsored positions
Email is the main line of communication, it is in your interest to respond to the emails promptly.
Failure to adhere to timelines (PGMI queries, source document verification, English competency exams) following approval of application may result in withdrawal of fellowship offer.

The following estimated administrative fees are required prior to start of fellowship (as of December 2023):

SGH-PGMI Administrative Fee: SGD 500 per application
Temporary Medical Registration with Singapore Medical Council Application fee: SGD 300
Temporary Medical Registration with Singapore Medical Council Practicing Certificate Fee: SGD 450
Training Employment pass from Ministry of Manpower

Application Fee: SGD 105
Issuance Fee: SGD 225
Multiple Journey Visa (if applicable) : SGD 30
Malpractice Insurance Coverage : SGD 455 - 910
Work Injury Insurance: SGD 100
Basic Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Course: SGD 204
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Course: SGD 327
Pre-attachedment Medical Examination in SGH : SGD 300 - 400

The above fees are subject to changes without prior notice and are on top of other expenses like accommodation in Singapore, transport (MRT / bus), communications (cell phone), basic meals, groceries and personal hospital and surgical insurance.

If you are interested, please contact Dr Alfred Tan, DVIR Fellowship Director at alfred.tan.b.c@singhealth.com.sg with a copy of your CV to arrange an interview.

Past Fellows:

2023: Dr Alfhmy Amal Khalil M (Saudi Arabia), Dr Dorothea Akosua Amoh (Ghana), Dr Whilmore Anak Johin (Sarawak)

2022: Dr M Imran Kham (Pakistan), Dr Francisco Joemel Dy (Philippines), Dr Lee Chung Yuen (Malaysia)

2021: Dr Ashton Anand Ramsundar (Trinida and Tobago)

2020: Dr Faisal Al Balushi (Oman)