They once relied on the Duke-NUS Bursary to pursue their medical calling. Today, Dr Karen Nadua and Dr Lim Kheng Choon are paying it forward, helping ensure that others can do  the same.

For Dr Karen Donceras Nadua (Duke-NUS ’11) and Dr Lim Kheng Choon (Duke-NUS ’11), the journey into medicine was anything but easy. It demanded perseverance, sacrifice and the generosity of those who believed in their potential.

Both were recipients of the Duke-NUS Bursary during their training. Today, they give back to the same fund, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent others from pursuing their ambitions of a career in medicine.

“Being a doctor has always been a dream of mine. My father was the family’s sole breadwinner, and I had three younger siblings pursuing higher studies at the time,” said Dr Nadua. “I was very grateful that the Duke-NUS Bursary allowed me to pursue my dream, and my parents could support my siblings in pursuing theirs.”

Dr Karen Nadua (Duke-NUS '11) gives back to students as both a donor and a mentor.

The support she received laid the foundation for her career and instilled a sense of community and responsibility. Today, as a Consultant in the Infectious Disease Service at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), Dr Nadua gives back, both as a donor and mentor. “I have been a beneficiary, and I want students who are in need to be able to benefit the same way I did,” she shared. “Teaching is another way of paying it forward, to encourage those who are still on their way to fulfil their dreams.”

Dr Lim’s path was less conventional. In 2004, while serving on a tsunami relief mission to Medan with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), he witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact of medical care. The experience led to his decision to leave a stable career as an aircraft mechanical engineer. “Back then, I had to quit my job to pursue a full-time medical education,” he recalled. “My family had to deal with childcare and other living expenses. I also had a mortgage.”

The demands of medical school were intense: academically, emotionally and financially. “The Bursary allowed me to fully focus on my studies,” he said. “So, when I had a steady income, it was just a very natural thing to want to pay it forward to help those who come after me.”

Dr Lim Kheng Choon (Duke-NUS '11) gives back because he believes in the levelling power of medical education.

Now a Senior Consultant in Neuroradiology at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), Dr Lim continues to champion accessibility in medical education. He also serves as a director with the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) Charity Fund, which actively supports students in financial need.

“Medical education is one of the great levellers of society,” Dr Lim shared. “It is important to have doctors from diverse backgrounds. Not just those who can afford it, but also those with the talent and drive who may not have the means. That’s how we build a medical community that serves everyone better.”

The Duke-NUS Student Financial Aid Fund supports tuition fees, living expenses and other costs associated with the School’s four-year graduate-entry MD programme. It plays a vital role in ensuring that the future of medicine is shaped by ability and passion, not privilege. Today, alumni like Dr Lim and Dr Nadua help to sustain this support system, keeping the door open for others just as someone once did for them.

Both doctors have gone on to thrive in specialised roles that demand technical excellence and leadership. At SGH, Dr Lim leads advanced imaging work for the brain and spine, improving diagnoses for complex neurological conditions. At KKH, Dr Nadua manages infectious diseases in children, a field that has only grown in urgency in the wake of global health challenges. They both trace their success back to the same source: a hand extended when it mattered most.

“Giving back just means that I’m now fortunate enough to be able to help others,” said Dr Lim.

Dr Nadua agreed: “To give is to receive because it’s an extension of service. It’s simply my way of service.”

Just like Dr Nadua and Dr Lim, you can also give to support Duke-NUS students in need. Make a gift today via our Give.NUS platform.