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Vascular and Interventional Radiology (VIR) Fellowship


Next vacant fellowship positions available:

2025: 3 positions

2026: 4 positions


Next application review: Aug 2023


Training program and objectives:

The Vascular and Interventional Radiology (VIR) Fellowship in the Department of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (DVIR), Singapore General Hospital (SGH), is a hands-on clinical fellowship (12 months preferred) which provides the full range of vascular and non-vascular interventional procedural as well as clinical experience. There is also exposure to vascular imaging and research.

Training Setup

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

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 Siemens Artiz Zeego, Siemens and Toshiba DSA with cone beam CT systems, Toshiba hybrid angio-CT systems and Toshiba biplane systems. All IR suites are equipped with Ultrasound scanners for US guided/assisted interventions. DVIR is staffed by 20 Interventional Radiologists and performs about 10,000 vascular and non-vascular procedures a year.

A wide range of VIR procedures 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
  • Cryoablation of renal and lung tumors
  • 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
  • Aortic stent grafts for aneurysmal disease and dissection


Emergency interventions:

  • Embolisation for trauma, tumour, bleeding GIT, PPH, hemoptysis
  • Transjugular portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and Plug Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration (PARTO)

Genitourinary interventions:

  • Nephrostomies and ureteric stenting
  • Fallopian tube recanalisation
  • Angiomyolipoma embolisation 
  • Prostate artery embolistion / Uterine fibroid embolisation / Testicular vein 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 casemix and first operator experience for fellowship is expected *


Scope and Content

Hands-on Procedural and Clinical training: 

  • BASIC IR TRAINING (First 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 (Next 9 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 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
  • Time off in lieu compensation only for extended duties


Example(s) of fellow weekly roster:


​Week 1​Mon​Tue​Wed​Thurs​Fri
​AMIR ​IR (service)​Clinical duties​IR​Clinic
​PM​IR (service)​IR​Clinical dutiesOff in lieu
​IR


​Week 2​Mon​Tue​Wed​Thurs​Fri
​AM​Clinic​IR​IR​IR (service)​Clinical duties
​PM​IR (service)​IR​Off in lieu
​IRClinical duties


IR (service): simple lines / ultrasound guided procedures

Clinical duties: Inpatient review (pre/post op), Assistant Duty radiologist (clerking/discharge of day surgery cases) 

Off in lieu: Time off compensation for extended hours / on call



Fellow responsibilities: 

  • maintain a log book 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
  • daily 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
  • 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


Non invasive imaging training:

  • opportunities to report CTA/MRA examinations (pre and post aortic stent graft evaluation and lower extremity CTA/MRA) and immediate post ablation imaging together with VIR consultants.


Academia and Research

  • Fellows will be required to do at least 2 journal readings every 6 months.
  • Fellows will be given research time off (1 session per week) to conduct at least 1 research or audit project.
  • Fellows are encouraged to present abstracts/posters at local/regional Conferences and submit manuscripts for publications.


Different Types of Clinical Attachment

Types of Clinical Attachment

Observer

Clinical Observer

Clinical Fellow

Nature of training

Strictly Hands-off, observation only (no patient contact)

 

Restricted Hands-on

(Only allowed to assist procedures under direct supervision)

Hands-on Clinical Training

 

Duration of training

Maximum of 4 weeks (28 days)

3 months to a maximum of 6 months

6 months to a maximum of 12 months

Accreditation of training programme

No accreditation required

No accreditation required

Requires accreditation by SMC

Registration with Singapore Medical Council

Not required

Medical registration required

Medical registration required

Ministry of Manpower -

Training employment pass (TEP)

 

Not required

Training Employment pass required

Training Employment pass required


Faculty

  • A/Prof. Tay Kiang Hiong (Senior Consultant and Head of Department)
  • Prof Tan Bien Soo (Senior Consultant and Chair Radiological Sciences ACP)
  • Dr Richard Lo Hoau Gong (Senior Consultant)
  • Dr. Farah Gillan Irani (Senior Consultant)
  • Dr Sivanathan Chandramohan (Senior Consultant)
  • Dr Luke Han Wei Toh (Senior Consultant)
  • Dr Apoorva Gogna (Senior Consultant)
  • Dr Shaun Chan Ju Min (Senior Consultant)
  • Dr Ankur Patel (Senior Consultant)
  • Dr Too Chow Wei (Senior Consultant)
  • Dr Nanda Kumar (Senior Consultant)
  • Dr Leong Sum (Senior Consultant)
  • Dr Zhuang Kunda (Consultant)
  • Dr Jasmine Chua (Consultant)
  • Dr Kristen Alexa Lee (Consultant)
  • Dr Sonam Tashi (Consultant)
  • Dr Alfred Tan (Consultant)
  • Dr Mark Wang (Consultant)
  • Dr Alexander Tan (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 fellowship applicants with IR publications in peer reviewed journals preferred for sponsored positions 


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 future interventional radiologists  
  • one year and self funded fellowship applicants  preferred
  • candidates with no or early interventional radiology experience preferred


Application process for successful applicant


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. 


The following estimated administrative fees are required prior to start of fellowship (as of December 2018):


  • SGH administrative fee – S$535 (inclusive of 7% GST)
  • SMC application fee – S$250 (will increase to S$300, with effect from 01 April 2018)
  • SMC Practicing Certificate – S$200 (will increase to S$225 with effect from 01 April 2018)
  • MPS Indemnity Cover – S$760 for 12 months’ training, S$380 for 06 months’ training
  • MOM training employment pass – S$250 (application fee, pass issuance and multiple journey visa)
  • Basic Cardiac Life Support certification course – S$200
  • Work Injury Insurance – S$107 (inclusive of 7% GST)
  • Pre-attachment medical examination in SGH – S$200 

The following estimated administrative feeds are required prior to start of observership:

  • SGH administrative fee - S$160.50 (inclusive of 7% GST)
  • Training fee – S$1070 per week (inclusive of 7% GST) subjected to training department’s discretion.
  • Application to Ministry of Manpower’s training employment pass – S$250

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.


Fellowship Application

This website was last updated March 2022, next update expected Sept 2022

Please submit applications electronically at www.pgmi.com.sg and contact Dr Leong Sum at leong.sum@singhealth.com.sg

  • Please submit applications electronically at www.pgmi.com.sg
  • 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. 
  • Additional self-sponsored fellows (1 – 2 at any one time) may be accepted. Please indicate if self-sponsorship is an option clearly on application form in section A10 (c)
  • 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.
  • Following candidates officially confirming acceptance of fellowship offer issued PGMI, it requires 6 - 9 months to complete SMC registration 
  • If there are no replies 6 months following application, your application is still under consideration for fellowship at a later start date.  
  • Observerships (strictly no hands on, up to 1 month duration) or Clinical observerships (up to 6 months) are available


For further enquiries on the fellowship or application status, please contact Dr Leong Sum leong.sum@singhealth.com.sg