Clinical Observership in Orthognathic Surgery and Virtual Surgical Planning---Singapore

Article from Singapore

Clinical observerships offer a valuable opportunity to gain new perspectives, refine skills, and experience different healthcare systems in practice.

In this interview, Dr. Anang Dwi Parmana, an oral and maxillofacial surgery resident from Indonesia, reflects on his two-week attachment at the National University of Singapore, where he explored orthognathic surgery and virtual surgical planning in a highly structured and collaborative environment.

Interview with Dr. Anang Dwi Parmana

(A human and AI were used for light editing.)

Tell us more about yourself.

My name is Dr. Anang Dwi Parmana. I am 34 years old and from Indonesia. I began my Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency in 2021 and am now two months away from completion.

My interest in OMS developed during my general dental training, where I discovered a strong passion for surgical procedures, facial trauma management, cleft-related cases, dental implant surgery, and orthognathic surgery. This motivated me to pursue advanced training in this specialty.

After graduation, I plan to work in a hospital while also contributing to academic activities and continuous professional development. In the long term, I aim to further develop my expertise in trauma, orthognathic surgery, cleft management, and implantology.

What motivated you to travel to Singapore for a clinical attachment?

I was motivated to apply for a clinical attachment at the National University of Singapore because of its strong reputation as a regional center of excellence in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

NUS is recognized for its high standards of clinical care, multidisciplinary collaboration, and advanced surgical management, particularly in orthognathic surgery and implantology, which align closely with my clinical interests.

As I approach the completion of my residency, I saw this as an opportunity to broaden my clinical perspective beyond my local context and gain insights that I can apply in Indonesia.

What did you learn during your time at NUS/NUHS?

During my time in Singapore, I had the opportunity to closely observe orthognathic surgeries and learn about workflows supported by virtual surgical planning.

What stood out most was how systematically the entire process was organized. The integration of VSP and CAD-CAM technology, combined with strong multidisciplinary collaboration between surgeons, orthodontists, and engineers, enabled highly precise and personalized patient care.

Case discussions were thorough and protocol-driven, ensuring that both functional and aesthetic outcomes were considered.

How has this experience influenced your future career or surgical practice?

This experience has motivated me to place greater emphasis on digital planning, evidence-based practice, and structured case management.

I am inspired to gradually adopt these principles in my future practice. It also encouraged me to become more actively involved in academic activities and continuous professional development.

Overall, it has given me a clearer vision of the standard of care I aim to achieve.

If you had to describe Singapore’s OMFS program in 2–3 words, what would they be?

Structured. Advanced. Collaborative.

Beyond clinical experience, what would you recommend to visitors?

I visited Marina Bay, Merlion Park, Universal Studios at Sentosa, and the Sultan Mosque. The city’s organization and cleanliness left a strong impression.

I also enjoyed visiting local hawker centers and trying dishes such as Hainanese chicken rice and laksa. The variety and accessibility of food were remarkable and reflect Singapore’s multicultural heritage.