Training requires leadership and direction. The idea of having postgraduate deans in the hospitals described by Mr Koh Yong Guan, the Permanent Secretary for Health, in a speech in the Singapore General Hospital, a year ago, is a step in the right direction. In the same vein, we also need postgraduate deans in our polyclinics.

The role model, the ethical and the human side of doctoring were highlighted in the 1997 SMA Lecture given by Dr Wong Heck Sing. He reminded the audience of what Dr Gwee Ah Leng observed more than 20 years ago, "a fool without morals is only a nuisance, but an intelligent mind bereft of scruples is a danger to society."

One may attempt to synthesise the ideas articulated. The vision is to produce five-star doctors. We also need to produce ethical and caring doctors. We can see the need to give the doctors in training, good role models to emulate. We also need to have teachers trained in the tasks of teaching. We need to teach our young doctors not only knowledge and skills but also impart to them the attitudes and the values of doctoring.

Of course, we need to balance service and teaching. Patients have a role to play too. There are many who have recounted their illnesses, or bared their bodies for examination in order that the medical students learn something important from the living books. We must be grateful for their contributions.