Blooming TWOgether

This doctor wants to make prevention infectious
COVID-19: reflections from the frontline
Extending care beyond borders
The people who shape Changi General Hospital
A culture of creating possibilities

THIS DOCTOR WANTS TO MAKE PREVENTION INFECTIOUS

Clinical Assistant Professor Jaime Chien
Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases

From her earliest days at CGH, Clin Asst Prof Chien was drawn to its collaborative culture and the way roles extended across specialties. As a young doctor starting out, this approach to teamwork affirmed how she wanted to practise medicine – grounded in partnership and shared purpose.

Having spent a large part of her career working exclusively within her specialty in infectious diseases management, Dr Chien regards joining CGH in 2018 as a “missing puzzle piece” in her journey as a doctor.

STRIVING FOR COMPLETE CARE

Infection prevention, as part of infectious disease management, is one of Dr Chien’s subspecialities. While this centres largely on vaccination, she believes that early detection and treatment of certain infectious diseases increase the chance of full recovery. Another area she sees as key in preventing or minimising thes everity of infectious diseases is good overall health.

At CGH, Dr Chien practises general medicine alongside her work in infectious disease management. This positions her at the start of the patient journey, giving her a better picture of individuals’ health and the opportunity to care for a wider group of patients. Her daily routine – inpatient ward rounds in the morning and outpatient clinic duties until early afternoon, followed by a digital review of patients’ antibiotic prescriptions – demonstrates her belief in taking a holistic approach to medicine.

Dr Chien was drawn to infectious disease management because it concerns public health on a global scale. Although she feels that Singapore handled COVID-19 relatively well, with the country’s fatality rate among the lowest in the world, she is determined to be even better prepared for the next pandemic. For her, it is not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’. “We know one thing for sure – change is constant,” she asserts. “Although science is getting better, viruses also get smarter.”

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

Dr Chien’s deep understanding of infectious disease stems from transformative early experiences. During the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, while in clinical training, she was immersed in patient care and had to learn fast. It shaped her belief that infectious disease management must begin with prevention, emphasising, “If you prevent it from even starting, then there is no infection to deal with.”

In addition to strengthening her resolve and resilience, these experiences taught her that it takes more than care to overcome pandemics like COVID-19.

COVID-19: reflections from the frontline

Perhaps most telling of Dr Chien’s character was her approach to patient care during the pandemic’s uncertain early phase. When safety protocols meant a patient could not receive family visits, Dr Chien recalls visiting the patient regularly, brightening her spirits and making her laugh.

Another doctor at the forefront of caring for critically ill patients atthe height of COVID-19 was Clin Asst Prof Jansen Koh, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, and Assistant Chairman of Medical Board, Performance Excellence. As protocols had to be adapted quickly in the face of a new and unpredictable disease, his priority was to ramp up training for staff performing resuscitations whilst fully gowned in protective gear, ensuring they could respond safely and effectively. For him, what stood out most was the unity that emerged.

“The pandemic rallied everyone in CGH to work closer as one. The amount of energy, cooperation, enthusiasm and teamwork was heartening. I saw tired but happy faces every day and every single person was stepping up to help, to act, to coordinate, to volunteer and to cover for one another.”

Clin Asst Prof Jansen Koh, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, and Assistant Chairman of Medical Board, Performance Excellence

Dr Kamalakannan Srimalan, Principal Resident Physician in General Medicine and then-Clinical Lead for Emergency Planning & Operations, reflects on witnessing this unity first-hand: “To me, the CGH medical team, with its moniker #oneCGH, is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Amidst the responsibility for coordinating ward conversions and workflows, he saw colleagues from departments he had never worked with step up overnight. The experience revealed the strength of partnership and formed bonds that continue to this day. “My colleagues are also my pillars of strength,” Dr Kamal adds.

Beyond the hospital walls, the wider community played a vital role in sustaining spirits, as Mr Stephen Chong, Chief Human Resource Officer, recalls: “The outpouring of support and appreciation from the community since the onset of the pandemic was a constant source of encouragement for the frontline healthcare workers at CGH, often cheering them up after a hard day’s work.”

Each gesture, big or small, reminded staff that they were not alone in the fight.

CGH staff undergoing COVID-19 testing during the pandemic.

Extending care beyond borders

The resilience and compassion witnessed during COVID-19 did not end with the pandemic itself. It continues to shine through daily stories of care, teamwork and leadership, evident in how the CGH care team serves others.

On 28 March 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Mandalay, Myanmar. Anticipating the urgent need for care, six healthcare professionals from CGH joined the Singapore Emergency Medical Team (SGEMT). The 34-member contingent was swiftly deployed to establish a field hospital under Operation Falconwing. “The team saw a total of over 1,800 patients in just a week – exceeding our initial projection,” recalls Clin Prof Ng Kee Chong, CEO, CGH and Deputy Group Chairman, Medical Board (Disease Outbreak & Preparedness), SingHealth, who spearheaded the SGEMT efforts.

Despite demanding field conditions, the team supported one another while adapting to local site conditions, language barriers and limited infrastructure. Together with local authorities and volunteers, they provided emergency medical care to patients who had gone without treatment for days.

For Dr Sim Guek Gwee, Senior Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine, it was about constant adaptation.

“Every day, we refined our workflows to keep things running smoothly. Teamwork made that possible.”

Dr Sim Guek Gwee, Senior Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine

For some patients, the acts of care proved deeply meaningful. Nurse Clinician Nurhafizah Binte Mohamed recalls: “We provided a lumbar corset to a patient with shooting pain down her lower limbs. She was overjoyed when the pain subsided and she could dance again.”

Assistant Nurse Clinician Muhammad Rakib also remembers a patient who returned every morning to greet the team after his condition had stabilised and he was discharged: “His genuine smile and heartwarming presence reminded us that even small gestures of care can leave a lasting impact.”

Behind the scenes, logistics staff ensured smooth operations continued through clear coordination within the SGEMT team and rapid workarounds – along with the support and help of the locals despite location shifts, weather disruptions and tight timelines. Across crises and continents, CGH’s healthcare heroes show that care is guided by protocols, but truly defined by the human connections that anchor an enduring mission to serve with heart.

The people who shape Changi General Hospital

The move to CGH marked a new chapter. Gone were the rattan baskets. Pneumatic tube systems and robots became her partners in care. During the H1N1 outbreak and later COVID-19, Rasinah donned full personal protective equipment (PPE) to accompany patients and colleagues safely. Whatever the risks, she has always stepped forward, driven by the same determination to care. “40 years on, I still enjoy my work at CGH, doing my best to help patients in the best way I can,” she remarks.

When Pharmacist Lim Wee Heng transferred from Toa Payoh Hospital to CGH on opening day, it was a time of handwritten labels and manual dispensary cards. In the decades that followed,he facilitated the digitalisation of our pharmacy practice and transition to an integrated management system. Wee Heng led the implementation of automated medication cabinets in CGH’s ICUs and operating theatres in 2004, a milestone for him and for Singapore.

Under Wee Heng’s guidance, his team responded to the expanding service demands by initiating several quality improvement projects that significantly reduced wait times, which ultimately improved patient satisfaction and care quality. Today, Wee Heng leads the training of CGH’s pre-registration pharmacists and is involved in charting the development of pharmacy technicians. “Seeing them succeed and grow into confident pharmacists is incredibly rewarding and it’s been a privilege to play a part in their journeys,” he beams.

As the hospital flourished, so did Foo Seck Guan, who has served for more than 35 years in radiography. He witnessed CGH’s transformation first-hand, starting with analogue X-rays at Toa Payoh Hospital and later driving digitalisation at CGH as a Senior Principal Radiographer.

Among the fruits of his labour, Seck Guan is most proud of his role in the quality improvement team that reached the finals of a Singapore Productivity and Standards Board competition in 1998, and the immense effort of his department during SARS when they worked long shifts in full protective gear, reorganising teams to ensure staff and patient safety. Seck Guan also contributes to CGH’s mentorship programmes, a commitment that reflects his own philosophy: “Never stop learning, stay curious and be open to new approaches.”

“Even as the workforce population grew, the camaraderie and teamwork remained.”

Foo Seck Guan, Senior Principal Radiographer, Department of Radiography

BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN BUDDING NURSES

That same spirit of growth and guidance continues to shape CGH today, embodied by mentors like Dr Li Fuyin. Having spent more than two decades in nursing, Fuyin carries forward this culture of shared learning in nurturing the next generation.

For Fuyin, every mentoring moment is a two-way exchange. She listens deeply, encourages reflection and helps nurses connect their daily routines to a greater purpose. Whether sharing insights from her years in community and inpatient settings or walking alongside junior colleagues on home visits, she believes that growth happens through curiosity, confidence and compassion.

Her approach has cultivated a new generation of nurses who think critically, collaborate across disciplines and deliver care with heart. Under her mentorship, they not only hone their clinical judgement but also discover the joy and meaning in their profession.

This spirit of guidance and growth continues to strengthen CGH’s ecosystem of excellence, where shared learning, compassionate leadership and collective purpose ensure care flourishes for generations to come.

“I want to give back to the profession by sharing my knowledge and experience. Mentoring allows me to inspire, support and empower the next generation of nurses, helping them navigate the challenges and opportunities in our field.”

Dr Li Fuyin, Senior Nurse Clinician (Advanced Practice Nurse)

Dr Li Fuyin, Senior Nurse Clinician (Advanced Practice Nurse) in an engaging discussion with her mentee, Eng Kok Wee, Senior Staff Nurse.

A culture of creating possibilities

Prof Ng Wai Hoe, Group CEO, SingHealth and former CEO of CGH (middle) poses together with various robots and care team members, symbolising a new age in CGH.

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