Endoscopic Training Program

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Dr. Daniell: "We're here at the ISGE meeting and have a chance to briefly talk with Dr. Yap Lip Kee. Dr. Yap is the Director of Endoscopic Gynecologic Surgery and has a very active training program at the largest women's hospital in Singapore - the KK Hospital. Dr. Yap has just been elected as the Vice-President of the ISGE; he was the program chairman for the meeting, which was held in Singapore in 1997. Congratulations - Likee, on your election."

Dr. Likee: "Thank you."

Dr. Daniell: "I wanted to tell the audience something about what you do that I really am impressed with, because I think it's impacting on training of physicians in endoscopy in developing countries throughout Asia. Tell OBGYN.net viewers just a little bit about your training program that you have in Singapore."

Dr. Likee: "The basis of the training program was that in the past, we used to go out, train a few doctors, come back after a few days, and then when we went back again - the training had lost its effect. So we got a bit discouraged because all the efforts were wasted. Then we decided to take a different tack all together. We got the potentially good doctors to come to Singapore, work with us for six full months, after which they are familiar with the ways of good laparoscopic surgery and up to date with the rest of the world. When they go back to their home countries, they are able to develop the infrastructure, and later when we go back - we can help them develop even further. We find that this type of program benefits the committee much."

Dr. Daniell: "So Dr. Yap, tell us some of the different countries that you've had trainees work with you with your department."

Dr. Likee: "We had doctors from the Philippines, Malaysia, China, we're getting somebody from India, and possibly from Indonesia at some stage."

Dr. Daniell: "After you had these doctors come through your hospital, then I know you're still going and traveling a good bit yourself - are you still operating as much in some of these countries as you used to be operating?"

Dr. Likee: Not much difference; we still operate as much as we did before, the only difference is it's much more effective in terms of training because we are now operating at a much higher level."

Dr. Daniell: "Since by being Vice-President of the ISGE, it means you'll be in line to be the President in a few years, what is your vision and your plans for expanding your activities that you cared for down in Singapore? Do you plan to try to have an impact on other parts of the world through your position?"

Dr. Likee: "Initially, Asia obviously is my main area of influence, and the same experience can be shared with my colleagues in other parts of the world, such as Africa, South and Central America, and possibly Oceania."

Dr. Daniell: "I commend you on your activities, and I know that our society - the ISGE - will be under excellent guidance as we go into the new Millennium. I look forward to seeing the results of the seeds you're sowing now. Some of these young physicians, I'm sure, will become leaders in their regions and hopefully, because they've had the chance to learn from you and your colleagues at the KK Hospital in Singapore, they'll also become teachers. This will have a positive influence in Asia, which is a large part of the world and really needs a lot of help in training their younger physicians to do endoscopy. I live in America, and we have access in every hospital to minimal evasive surgery. You live in Singapore where you have first world medicine but you're very good, I think, to be sharing your expertise with the surrounding areas that haven't been as good and efficient in developing their technologies as Singapore, is commendable. Those of you who have not been to Singapore, I think it's the garden spot of Asia; everything works, everything is perfect, and the KK Hospital is the leading hospital there for women's health care. I know it's very kudo for them to have recruited you from private practice to come back into the teaching environment. Are you still dividing your time between some private practice and some teaching, or is it getting more teaching now?"

Dr. Likee: "It's about the same. In the morning, I still do private practice and then devote the whole afternoon to institutional practice."

Dr. Daniell: "I commend you for that. I think you lead by example, and that's why the members of the ISGE have felt that someone like you would make an excellent person to lead our organization as we go forward. So thank you for taking the time to sit with us and let the viewers of OBGYN.net hear a little bit about a very quiet, a very humble man who works and leads by example - which is the way people should lead. So thank you, Likee."

Dr. Likee: "Thank you very much, Jim."