Duke-NUS Alumni Clinical Observership (DACO)
The Duke-NUS Alumni Clinical Observership (DACO), currently only offered to students on our Pre-MD Pathways, is a 2-day attachment where students are paired with a practising doctor, who is a Duke-NUS alumnus, for a taster of what their work entails. Observerships are carried out thrice a year and are meant to be an introduction to shadowing.
If medicine is a career that you would like to pursue, shadowing a doctor is a good springboard to gain insights into the profession. We encourage all prospective MD students to seek further shadowing opportunities on their own initiative.
Learn how to make the most of your shadowing experience.
Things to Note
1. The 2-day observership will take place on any 2 consecutive days within the period stated, depending on doctors’ availability. Please ensure that you make yourself available for the entire window.
2. Depending on the hospital/institute assigned for the observership, additional requirements, such as administrative fees, health screenings, vaccinations and more, may be stipulated.
3. Observers are responsible for obtaining any necessary vaccination required by the hospital they are assigned to before the observership takes place. While not all hospitals require vaccinations, you are strongly encouraged to obtain the following vaccinations beforehand for your own safety. As certain vaccinations include booster shots spread out over many weeks, do give yourself ample lead time (approximately 2 months). Please also note that certain hospitals enforce the need for vaccinations. e.g. those matched to doctors at KKH will require the following:
a. Chickenpox: Applicants must have-
i. Varicella IgG positive OR
ii. Completed 2 doses of chickenpox vaccine OR
iii. Doctor-diagnosed chickenpox infection in the past
b. Rubella/MMR: Applicants must have-
i. Rubella IgG positive OR
ii. Completed 2 doses of MMR
c. Applicants with pediatric/ neonatal patients contact must have:
i. 1 dose of Boostrix/Tdap vaccine as an adult
4. Observers must be medically fit during the observership period.
For enquiries, email admissions@duke-nus.edu.sg.