It’s being out there at the ‘front-line’, interfacing with people and healthcare professionals from all diversity. The challenge on being able to ‘see the patient as a whole’, ‘thinking-on-the-feet’, and making warranted decisions, are very satisfying. And the results conveyed or feedback received have been very self-educational. I have learnt from my patient-customers as much as I have been able to give / share.

 

3.    What helped/ motivated you to be where you are today?

Every time, someone walks in and say “Thanks …”, “I hope you stay here and don’t go elsewhere”, or the fact that they travel from inconvenient places,  …and perhaps the ultimate – “I regard you as my friend”, “my personal pharmacist”…!

 

4.    Who would you say is your role model, who inspired you to excel in the pharmacy field that you choose?

My Mum and Dad are my ultimate role models; by the way they cared for children, giving everything, expecting nothing in return; and their constant encouragement in placing good health as top priority. I witnessed their compassion in sharing home cooked food with a homeless man that frequent our front lawn back in Sitiawan. From them, I learned dedication and compassion.

 

5.    What is your advice for your fellow pharmacists and for people who are considering this career?

Pharmacy is a lifetime vocation which bestows the humble privilege and opportunity to make real impacts in the common people’s health-and-life. Earn their trust and leave behind a legacy. Regardless of whichever pharmacy path one undertakes, visualize the common average man, woman and child, and the impact your daily career action will have on each one of them …and then, imagine that they are your own family members.    

 

 

6.    Given that Singapore will be experiencing one in three citizens aged 65 and above by 2030, how do you think pharmacists can contribute to the healthcare of this group of people?

 

Pharmacists must be an integral part of the common people’s trusted network of healthcare resource. We can start by raising our profile as key purveyors of good medicine, advice and trusted confidentiality. As ‘front-liners’ in the community setting, pharmacists must aim to be the primary customer-visit consultation point for treatment or referral. The ‘openness’ nature of community pharmacy is ideal for easy patient-access, effective monitoring of chronic ailments, and patient-encouragement, whilst working in close collaborative partnership with other key healthcare professionals. And in the process of establishing patient rapport and integrity, Pharmacists should as well aim to make Pharmacists the Most Trusted Profession!

 

7.    What is the most memorable moment in your pharmacy career?
Most memorable is every time when a patient-customer comes back just to say “thanks, the medicines you recommended made all the difference.” And parents saying how their children would want to come back to see me; and one very young Caucasian lady actually came by one day to give me a single simple stalk of flower. That made my day!  

  

8.    Describe your career progression path.

I started pharmacy life in a hospital and community pharmacies around Melbourne. Then spent some years in Guardian Malaysia and the pharmaceutical industry before relocating to Singapore to start regional work around Asia Pacific. After some years of country-regional sales, marketing, training-development and medical support, I’ve come almost full circle back to Community Pharmacy with Guardian Singapore.

 

9.    Can you describe a typical day at work?
Starting the day in Guardian is getting ready for your first customer-patient. And staying prepared for the ‘unexpected’, which had involved arresting minor bleeds, patching up wounds, removing splinters, keeping a lookout for serious medical conditions, helping a man about to lose consciousness, and helping with self-administering injections. How satisfying!

 

10.  What do you think are the important skills that a pharmacist needs to be equipped?

 

I’ll touch on traits instead. Be approachable and genuinely concerned of your patient-customers’ health concerns, openly engaging, empathetic and honest. Let them know you care. Listen, observe …and ‘feel’ their concerns.  Ask questions to fill in the “info gaps”, and mentally map out the treatment possibilities within financial practicalities. Listen to your heart for the optimal treatment and discuss it with your ‘new-found friend’.

 

11.  What is your wish list to your patients/ the public who comes to you