Waikato-based ophthalmology registrar Dr Vidit Singh is making his mark as the first RANZCO trainee to receive both the College’s Cedric Cohen Medal and the Filipic-Greer Medal. The former was for coming top in the anatomy/physiology/optics exam in 2024 and the latter top in the ophthalmic pathology exam in 2026.
Dr Singh’s achievement is nothing short of exceptional, said Dr Andrew Thompson, RANZCO censor-in-chief. “To be awarded both the Cedric Cohen Medal and the Filipic-Greer Medal places Vidit among a very small group of outstanding trainees, and as the first New Zealand trainee to achieve this distinction, he has set a remarkable benchmark for academic excellence within RANZCO.”
Dr Singh’s initial reaction on both occasions was first one of relief to pass the exam quickly followed by “absolute shock” when he realised he had achieved the top mark. The second time around was particularly surreal, he said. “I’m incredibly honoured to be the first trainee to have been awarded both medals. More than anything, these milestones leave me feeling immensely grateful for my support network.” His wife, Kajol, spent “countless hours” quizzing him despite having no medical background herself.
“I’m also deeply grateful to my pathology study buddies, Drs Hannah Ng and Joevy Lim – we constantly pushed and encouraged each other through months of preparation and I couldn’t have done it without them.” And he gave a huge thank you to Dr Himanshu Wadhwa, his study partner for the basic sciences and who did “a massive final review session with me the day before the pathology exam.”
Reflecting on his chosen profession, Dr Singh said the immediate, life-changing impact it can have on patients is what he enjoys most. “It’s a unique field, where we can diagnose complex conditions simply by looking into the eye and following that up with quick, highly elegant treatments that completely restore sight. A classic example is performing a 10-minute phacoemulsification cataract surgery for a patient who has been limited to perception-of-light vision for years. Watching them return to perfect 6/6 vision is incredibly rewarding!”
