By Irene Tham

Lim Kang, 28, medical officer at Tan Tock Seng Hospital

IF THERE is one word to describe Lim Kang, it would be "dedicated".

Not just as a doctor but as a gamer, until he gave it up to devote his time to his professional craft.

The 28-year-old medical officer at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's (TTSH) general surgery department began playing in 2000, when he was a second-year medical student at National University of Singapore.

He used to devote three to four hours a day to World Of Warcraft (Wow) and EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey.

He gave up his favourite pastime two years ago as getting into TTSH's Orthopedics Surgery training programme was more important.

The programme typically attracts hundreds of applicants but accepts only 10 trainees a year.

Kang applied last year but could not get in and he plans to reapply this year.

This means mugging for exams on top of his 12-hour work days.

Why did you stop gaming?

I think most adult gamers come to terms with the fact that their real lives are more important.

For instance, in WOW, gamers usually spend one hour before a dungeon raid to gather guild members and prepare ammunition and healing potions.

The dungeon raid itself can easily take three to four hours - or more - in bigger dungeons.

The irregular hours of my job made it hard for me to keep up with my guild mates.

What was your longest record for playing video games non-stop?

Two days without sleep during my annual leave.

What would you do if your patient is worried that your gaming would affect your performance at a surgery?

I would explain to him that gaming is like any other social activity.

If I am well rested the night before the surgery, I do not see why gaming would affect my performance.

How would you feel if you found out that your own surgeon or lawyer spent the previous day playing video games, before an important operation or a case?

Doesn't this show that he is already well prepared for the operation?

I would be truly impressed.

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.

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