Teach You A Lesson

Every healthcare journey is shaped by people who teach, guide and inspire. This Teacher’s Day, our colleagues share experiences which remind us that empathy, teamwork and kindness are among life’s greatest teachers.

Beh Jyh Yun
Principal Physiotherapist, Rehabilitation, SKCH

Over eight years in SCH, Beh Jyh Yun has learnt that recovery is more than physical strength. One patient recovering from knee surgery taught her that independence means different things to different people.

While she initially focused on improving mobility, she soon realised that what mattered most to him was being able to care for his wife and return home with confidence.

That experience changed how she approached rehabilitation, encouraging her to look beyond the diagnosis and understand what truly matters to each individual.

As an educator and mentor, Jyh Yun has also discovered that teaching is not about having all the answers.

“Teaching is about asking the right questions, creating a safe space to learn, and helping others grow into confident professionals,” she shared.

Looking back, she believes her greatest impact is not measured by what she does for others, but by what she enables them to do for themselves.

Whether with patients or learners, empowering others to succeed has become one of the most meaningful lessons of her career.

Tan Xue Ting
Assistant Manager, Clinical Administration Office, OCH

Xue Ting found her biggest life lessons from an unexpected place - spreadsheets and meeting schedules.

Inspired by the care and compassion shown to her father during his hospitalisation, she joined healthcare determined to make a difference, even if it was behind the scenes.

Since joining SCH in 2022, Xue Ting has learnt that every role matters. At first, she wondered if administrative tasks really made an impact.

Over time, she realised that by supporting clinicians and nurses, she helps create more time for them to focus on patients.

What may seem like small tasks are actually important pieces of a much bigger puzzle.

Working in a community hospital has also taught her to see beyond illnesses and appreciate each patient's unique journey, circumstances and goals.

Through the fast-paced environment, she has learnt to stay adaptable, organised and solutions-focused.

Most importantly, she credits her father for teaching her to face challenges with optimism and resilience.

“My father’s positive outlook continues to guide and remind me that even the smallest contribution can make a meaningful difference in someone's life,” she said.

Siji Thomas Abraham
Assistant Nurse Clinician, Nursing, SKCH

For Siji, nursing has always been about making a difference through kindness, teamwork and compassion.

Inspired by the nurses she observed as a child, she chose a career where she could support patients through some of life's most challenging moments.

Over her four years in SCH, Siji has learnt that every patient has a unique story and that listening with empathy is just as important as providing clinical care.

One of her most meaningful experiences was helping to set up a new ward. While she initially thought the challenge was about preparing equipment, policies and processes, she soon realised the real task was bringing people together.

Through that experience, she discovered that leadership is about trusting others, listening to different perspectives and supporting the team through challenges.

Watching staff from different backgrounds come together with a shared purpose left a lasting impression on her.

“I believe one of life's greatest lessons is that strong teams are built on trust and mutual support,” she said.

When people work together towards a common goal, they can achieve far more than they ever could alone and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Dr Ong Chong Yau
Consultant, Post-Acute & Continuing Care (PACC), OCH

After 19 years in healthcare, Chong Yau has learnt that being a doctor is about much more than getting the diagnosis right. As a family medicine doctor in post-acute and continuing care, his greatest lessons have come from patients, families, colleagues and students.

Caring for patients for years has taught him to look beyond medical conditions and see the whole person. A treatment may be clinically perfect, but if it does not fit into a patient’s daily life, it may not succeed. These experiences have reshaped the way he thinks about medicine, research and innovation.

“Along the way, I have learnt an important life lesson - not every difficult encounter needs to be carried home,” he shared.

Some teach valuable lessons, while others are best to let go with a smile and a deep breath.

For him, healthcare is also about team effort, and small acts of kindness, checking in on a colleague or offering support, can make a big difference.

As he puts it, we care for patients best when we also care for one another.