Studied Architecture Before Medicine: Medical Student Explores the Connection Between the Two

8world News, 2 Aug 2024, 读了建筑学再学医 医学新生探索两者间的关联
22-year-old Lim Yu Wen studied architecture before enrolling in medical school. While others might view her as "wasting time," she does not share that opinion.
Duke-NUS Medical School held its White Coat Ceremony today (2nd), officially welcoming 78 new medical students, including Yu Wen.
Yu Wen had long wanted to become a doctor, but she was also interested in other subjects, especially architecture and urban planning. She worried that if she studied medicine right away, she would not have the opportunity to explore other subjects.
When she learned about Duke-NUS's direct entry programme, which allows students to first pursue their preferred courses and then enter medical school upon graduation, she decided to seize this valuable opportunity. She first studied Architecture and Sustainable Design at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) before pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.
This programme, a collaboration between Duke-NUS and other universities, offers conditional admission to outstanding undergraduates, allowing them to explore different academic interests before enrolling directly into Duke-NUS Medical School.
"Why choose the longer path?"
This decision meant Yu Wen had to spend four years studying architecture, followed by another four years studying medicine. To others, it might seem like "wasting time," but she firmly believes in the path she has chosen and feels that she has not wasted time.
Yu Wen mentioned that some people found her choice of studying architecture "a bit strange" since it is not closely related to medicine. During her first one or two years in university, she even questioned whether she had made the right choice.
Seeing her peers clearly focused on their career paths and moving towards their goals made Yu Wen feel somewhat confused. Additionally, without any seniors who had studied both architecture and medicine, she had few people to consult when she had doubts.
Professors, relatives, and friends also questioned her decision of "why choose such a long path," which initially disappointed her. However, she reflected on these questions and encouraged herself to apply her acquired knowledge.
She is grateful that her family supported her decision from the beginning without any doubts. Her younger siblings also gave her a lot of recognition, which reassured her and helped her regain confidence.
Architecture and Medicine are Not Completely Unrelated
Although architecture and medicine seem unrelated, Yu Wen believes there is a connection between architecture and social healthcare.
She argues that architecture needs to consider people's various needs. For example, the living environment can affect health, and urban planning can help understand how hospital design can promote patient health.
Yu Wen also pointed out that both architecture and medicine are highly demanding fields that often require long hours, so her study of architecture prepared her for the rigorous demands of medical training.
While she has not yet decided on a specific specialty, she hopes to choose a field that allows for more interaction with patients. Besides caring for patients, she also wants to explore research related to the built environment and health.
Inspiration from Her Mother's Illness
Yu Wen's desire to become a doctor was influenced by her mother's battle with cancer when she was in primary school. Her mother, despite being ill, continued to run a business and care for her three children.
Yu Wen observed her mother's struggles and thought that becoming a doctor would allow her to help others and enable them to continue pursuing their passions.
In junior college, Yu Wen participated in many community activities. Through these activities, she interacted with people working in hospitals, which inspired her and strengthened her resolve to become a doctor.
In 2020, Yu Wen, along with friends from junior college, launched SG Stories of Youth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health gained attention, so she aimed to create a platform for young people to share their stories, which would be compiled into a book.
Yu Wen said it is not easy to find time for community activities. During her first year of university, she took a break from community work, and she felt a sense of emptiness without it.
She believes that contributing to the community can be done in various ways, not just through direct involvement, and she tries to balance academics with community work.
She hopes that becoming a doctor will not only allow her to help patients but also enable her to apply her expertise to both medicine and architecture while continuing to give back to society.