S'pore Poly valedictorian aims to be clinician-scientist after observing doctors at work

Straits Times

2 days ago

Mr Donavan Tan, valedictorian of Singapore Polytechnic's School of Chemical and Life Sciences, will be studying at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. PHOTO: COURTESY OF DONAVAN TAN
S'pore Poly valedictorian aims to be clinician-scientist after observing doctors at work The TL;DR: Mr Donavan Tan Jia Jie, valedictorian of Singapore Polytechnic's Chemical and Life Sciences cohort, e-mailed over 300 doctors for job-shadowing opportunities. More than 10 said yes, sparking his ambition to become a clinician-scientist.
Between December 2022 and January 2023, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) biomedical science student Donavan Tan Jia Jie e-mailed more than 300 doctors individually asking them if he could shadow them at work to gain first-hand insight into the profession.
Thirteen of them said yes. F rom February to April 2023, Mr Tan rotated through more than six medical specialities, including general medicine, neurosurgery, palliative medicine, and oncology, spending two to five days at each placement, typically from 8am to 6pm.
His behind-the-scenes look at life as a doctor inspired him to want to study medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
The soon-to-be 20-year-old recently graduated from SP with a perfect 4.0 grade point average (GPA) and was awarded the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Award, which is presented to outstanding course gold medallists from technology or computer-related disciplines at each of the polytechnics.
He has applied for deferment from national service to study medicine at the National University of Singapore, where he has been offered a place.
Looking back at his experience of observing doctors at work, he said one moment stood out. At the National Cancer Centre, he met a teenage patient, not much older than himself, who was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer .
'It was difficult for me, because he was someone around my age, a teenager who hadn't had the chance to fully experience life, to pursue his passions, start a family or contribute to society,' Mr Tan said.
'He had a prognosis of less than a year.'
That experience ignited a sense of purpose in him – what began as a passing interest in medicine became a committed pursuit of oncology.
His final-year project was a seven -month research on breast cancer at NUS Medicine.
'I realised I wanted to do more for patients like him, to help them live their lives to the fullest,' said Mr Tan, who was a research intern at the Cancer Discovery Hub, National Cancer Centre Singapore from March to May 2025.
'The path to medicine definitely hasn't been easy,' he said. 'But what kept me going is knowing that, soon, I will have the opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on the community around me.'
One of Mr Tan's lecturers, Mr Goh Tong Hng, also guided him to consider medicine as a career, as well as regularly checked in on his academic progress, offered advice, and helped him prepare for interviews.
After graduating from SP, Mr Donavan Tan worked as a research intern at the Cancer Discovery Hub, National Cancer Centre Singapore.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF DONAVAN TAN
Mr Goh 'was always there not just as a lecturer, but as a mentor', he said.
Mr Tan, who achieved an L1R5 (raw) score of 7 at O levels, chose the polytechnic path for its practical learning and specialised curriculum, even though it meant a more challenging route to university.
To bolster his application to study medicine at NUS, he also volunteered for community work.
At Presbyterian Community Services, he connected with elderly residents living alone. At Meet-the-People sessions in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, he assisted residents in drafting case letters to agencies, gaining exposure to the struggles faced by underprivileged families .
Under the Family of Purple Heart programme, which supports caregivers' emotional and mental well-being, he managed volunteers and coordinated outreach efforts.
'I wasn't sure where my interests truly lay, so I wanted to cover as many aspects of society as possible,' he said. 'Each experience touched a different need in the community, and I was keeping an open mind about where I could make the most impact.'
Mr Donavan Tan did his final-year project and internship at the Department of Pharmacology, NUS Medicine, helping to develop targeted treatments for an aggressive type of breast cancer.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF DONAVAN TAN
His dedication was recognised when he was awarded the SP service-learning award for two consecutive years, in recognition of his commitment to supporting vulnerable and underprivileged communities through active engagement in service projects.
While he acknowledged the importance of a strong portfolio, he said his community involvement stemmed from a genuine desire to serve, not just to impress medical school interviewers.
'I did all these because I genuinely wanted to do something meaningful for the community,' said Mr Tan.
He said: 'For me, it's always been about the bigger picture.'
'I want to do good with my life, not just for myself but for others as well. Medicine offers me the best opportunity to have a lasting, positive impact on the community.'
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