Aimen Ismail, MS-2 Medical Student Enrichment Program Summer
2011 Singapore, Singapore
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History and Commerce Urbanized city-state off the southern tip
of the Malay peninsula One of the four Asian Tiger countries Worlds
fourth leading financial center Worlds top five busiest port Worlds
top three oil refining center Worlds second biggest casino gambling
market Fourth largest foreign exchange trading center after NY,
London, and Tokyo Easiest place in the world to do business
according to the World Bank
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Culture and Religion Population of around 5 million, with 2.9
million born locally Fertility rate is 1.1 child/woman Three ethnic
groups: Chinese (74%), Malay (13%), and South Indian (9%) Official
languages: English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil 1/3 of Singaporeans
are Buddhist, most of them Chinese
Christianity>Islam>Taoism>Hinduism
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Education and Research Educational stages: primary (6 yrs),
secondary (4-5 yrs), pre-university (2-3 yrs) Two prestigious
public universities: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and
National University of Singapore (NUS) 34 th in the world and 4 th
in Asia, according to the Times Singapore Biomedical Sciences
Initiative launched in 2000 to establish Biomedical Sciences as
pillar of economy http://www.a-star.edu.sg/
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Healthcare 6 th in the world according to WHOS last ranking of
world healthcare systems in 2000 Life expectancy 83 for women and
79 for men Universal healthcare system in which government ensures
affordability through com- pulsory savings (payroll deductions) and
price controls, while care is provided by private sector
Supplemental insurance also provided by employers Medical tourism
hub: 200,000 foreigners seek care each year goal is one million
foreign patients by 2012
http://www.dsppaglobal.com/projectinfo.asp?newsid=24http://whatareyoudoingbooboo.blogspot.com/2009/12/singapore-general-hospital.html
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My Experience
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Preparation Had wanted to visit for years Beginning in November
2010, began emailing faculty at the Cancer Sciences Institute and
Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School After finding a mentor, started
preparing application for Training Employment Permit for Ministry
of Manpower No special vaccinations needed Found funding at UAB
MSEP and CaRES program
Accommodation Lived off campus in a (very) small studio
apartment available for short-term lease Fully furnished with bed,
desk, bookshelf, fridge, washing machine, dryer, microwave,
toaster, television, hotplate, and cooking and eating utensils
Adjacent to MRT station (20 minute train ride and 10 minute walk to
work) Whopping 1300 USD per month
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KBG_PLAT.JPG
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Food and Transport Expenses Abundance of food options Pizza
Hut, Subway, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Auntie Annies, etc Spent
about 400 USD/month on food and groceries Two transport options:
MRT or taxi Spent about 80 USD/month on transport THUS, total
expenses so far: 1300 + 400 + 80 = 1780 USD /month on just rent,
food and transport
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Sightseeing SINGAPORE tourism is huge part of economy Singapore
Zoo Singapore Bird Park Universal Studios Singapore Broadways
traveling Lion King Musical Singapore flyer Marina Bay Sands Malls,
malls, and malls! Lots of European designer brands Myriad signature
restaurants and places to relax by the sea MALAYSIA Kuala Lumpur
Petronas Towers and KL Tower Putrajaya, administrative capital
Genting Highlands Cameron Highlands LANGKAWI!!