Renal Medicine Senior Residency Programme

About the Programme

Renal Medicine, or Nephrology, involves the care of patients at various stages of kidney disease arising from different aetiologies. It is considered one of the most challenging and rewarding medical specialties for several reasons:

1. It is the only specialty that sustains life in the presence of a failed organ (via dialysis) and offers a new lease of life through organ transplantation.
2. Nephrologists are trained to manage a broad spectrum of medical conditions, including critical care, transplantation, vascular access, and dialysis treatment. As such, they possess extensive expertise and are well-equipped to handle acute and chronic medical, surgical, and technical challenges. 
3. Owing to the comprehensive scope of Nephrology, there is significant potential for both clinical and basic science research, as well as innovation in technological development. 

We are seeking candidates who are motivated, compassionate, and committed to serving the public alongside the nephrology community. Ideal candidates should be strong communicators and thrive in a team-based environment. If you have completed the Year 3 Residency Programme, BST core postings and ABIM, and have passed the MRCP, we warmly welcome you to apply for the Renal Medicine Senior Residency Programme.

Message from the Programme

The SingHealth Renal Medicine Senior Residency Programme aims to develop competent nephrologists who are reliable, resilient, compassionate, and committed to lifelong learning.

This 3.5-year programme is designed to cover the core curriculum and competencies required of a nephrologist. Beyond clinical training in nephrology, Senior Residents will have ample opportunities to cultivate their interests in education and research. Apprenticeship forms a key component of the training, where invaluable knowledge, experience, and values are passed down from practising nephrologists to Senior Residents—equipping them well for their future careers.

A central focus of our programme is professional development. We aspire for our Senior Residents to continuously engage in lifelong learning to enhance patient care and contribute to the advancement of medical science.

While striving for clinical and academic excellence, it is equally important for Senior Residents to maintain a healthy work-life balance and effectively manage life’s stresses. The programme is committed to supporting them in navigating the demands of medical training alongside their personal commitments.

Dr Kwek Jia Liang
Programme Director, Renal Medicine
Senior Consultant, Department of Renal Medicine, SGH

Why Choose Renal Medicine?

Structured and Comprehensive Training

The Renal Medicine Senior Residency Programme is well-structured to meet the developmental goals of each resident, focusing on core competencies in clinical nephrology, transplantation, hypertension, dialysis, and both clinical and basic science research.

All Senior Residents will undergo three and a half years of core nephrology training, which includes clinical nephrology, transplant, dialysis, and interventional nephrology.

Birthplace of Renal Medicine – Breadth and Depth of Case-mix

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is the birthplace of Nephrology in Singapore. As one of the largest tertiary hospitals in the country, we manage a wide range of kidney diseases—from common to exceptionally rare. The involvement of other SingHealth institutions, such as Changi General Hospital and Sengkang General Hospital, further enriches the case-mix.

Training and working with SingHealth will provide you with unparalleled exposure to a diverse array of patient conditions and clinical scenarios, helping you to build a strong foundation and advance your career in Renal Medicine.

Passionate and Dedicated Renal Medicine Faculty

Our team of passionate and dedicated clinician-teachers includes recipients of national teaching awards. Many of our faculty members are regionally and internationally recognised experts in their field, ensuring you receive mentorship and training from some of the best minds in Renal Medicine.

Access to Research Opportunities

Our department has a rich and active history of research in glomerulonephritis, dialysis and critical care nephrology, and more recently, transplant immunology. We also collaborate with Duke-NUS on clinical and basic science research. As a Senior Resident, you will have access to outstanding research opportunities and expert guidance to support your scholarly interests.

Your Career Prospects & Development

Embark on a lifelong career in Renal Medicine at SingHealth by selecting a career track that best aligns with your strengths and interests.

We offer four career tracks – Clinician Practitioner, Clinician Educator, Clinician Researcher, and Clinician Administrator. As you advance your specialist career within the Medicine Academic Clinical Programme (ACP)*, you will discover a myriad of opportunities in both education and research.

Upon completion of the Renal Medicine Senior Residency Programme and successful passing of the exit examination, you will be eligible for specialist registration with the Singapore Medical Council and can practise as a nephrologist in Singapore.

* ACP is a cluster-wide framework for all clinical specialties to advance in Academic Medicine with resources and funding support from SingHealth and Duke-NUS. Each ACP is based on a clinical discipline and brings together all specialists in the discipline across various institutions for greater synergies in clinical care, education and research.