Physician Development Programme (PDP)
PDP, or what I call ‘pretend-doctor-programme’, is when you actually get to walk around in NUH wards and look at patients with a supervising doctor. It’s really very exciting the first time you do it, but interest varies from individual to individual as time goes on.
Take the initiative to interact with the patients. Get a feel of what it is like to be talking to a patient about his/her illness. If the doctor allows, even get down to palpating the patient. If you are passive during PDP, you’ll lose interest in no time, because it’s all about cases to you.
Some students end up comparing the doctors who take them for PDP, and then hop to join other groups. I agree that some doctors may not be so articulate, but they are all very willing to teach. If you want to see a particular case very desperately, just ask.
PDP is a real good chance for you to relate what you’ve learnt on paper to the wards, so don’t miss a single session of it!