Ms Chang Yung Yung is nominated as the Shining Star - a PSS initiative to portray outstanding pharmacists in the retail setting.

1.    Why did you choose pharmacy as your profession?

I inspired to become a pharmacist since a young age. I was a rather sickly child; falling ill almost twice a year which eventually led to bronchitis. The constant coughing and wheezing throughout the nights were simply unbearable, that even sitting down did little to relieve the symptoms. I was subsequently brought to visit the family doctor, who instructed me to inhale this miraculous fruity steam via a nebuliser. The next thing I knew, I could breathe easily! It was from that moment that piqued my interest in studying pharmacy, with hopes that my expertise as a pharmacist will be able to alleviate patients’ sufferings from their illnesses.  

2.   Why did you choose to be a community pharmacist?

There is rarely a dull moment in the community setting; being a community pharmacist enables me to meet people from different walks of life, and to tackle different situations every day. In addition, community pharmacists are involved in the front line of medical care, putting us in an excellent position to reach out to the public more easily and assisting them with their enquiries about medications and healthcare-related products. Moreover, I am able to involve myself in outreach activities – e.g. helping out at I-Quit road shows (smoking cessation events), Workplace Smoking Cessation Programme, health screenings and medication reviews.

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

My motivation stems from the encouragement and support I garner from my parents, family members, ex-preceptors, fellow colleagues and friends. Not forgetting those lovely customers who would return to acknowledge and thank me for  my advice and service. Their gratitude makes me feel appreciated and further motivates me to continue improving myself to better serve them in the future.

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

I have many role models that I look up to. On the personal front, my parents’ unconditional sacrifices and passion for their professions have always inspired me. At work, my ex-preceptors during my pre-registration training and my colleagues have not only taught and showed me how to use our knowledge to help patients, but also to treat them with care, kindness and patience.

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

A career as a pharmacist involves life-long learning, whereby one needs to constantly keep up with the current practices in medicine. No man is an island – we should constantly communicate and build rapport with fellow pharmacists so as to share with each other new knowledge and experiences. The bottom line is always to do better and for the best interest of our patients. For those who are considering this career, patience as well as passion is of utmost importance.

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?

Apart from our usual role of providing medication information, pharmacists can also aid in conducting more medication reviews for the elderly. Poly-pharmacy is a common issue among the geriatric population, and we should seek to simplify their medication regime so as to improve medication adherence and compliance. Pharmacists can also contribute by conducting events to increase public health awareness.

7. What is the most memorable moment in your pharmacy career?

The most memorable moment in my pharmacy career to date is when the customer’s daughter came to thank me personally for taking care of her mother who had previously vomited and nearly fainted in front of me half way through our conversation while asking for Stugeron. I felt very deeply about this incident because it was then that it struck me that my job as a pharmacist does not merely limit to helping and reassuring patients, but also able to touch the hearts of patient’s family.

8. Describe your career progression path.

I completed my pre-registration training in Guardian and have been a full-fledged community pharmacist since then. Apart from my usual duties as community pharmacist, I have been actively taking part in projects like Workplace Smoking Cessation Programme, IQuit events, home-based medication reviews, health screening activities and being preceptor to polytechnic students and NUS Year 2 pharmacy students, as well as in the training of pre-registration pharmacists. Moving forward, I hope to see myself involved in more patient care related projects and also to conduct more training sessions for the pre-registration pharmacists. 

9. Can you describe a typical day at work?

Our day usually starts with getting ready for walk-in patients in dispensing medications, answering their queries, recommending medicines for their minor ailments and guiding them in the proper usage of home-monitoring devices like glucose monitoring and blood pressure monitoring devices. Additionally, we are also required to perform some in-store operation work like ordering medicines to replenish depleted stocks. There are also days whereby we have to leave the pharmacy counter for other duties like smoking cessation activities, health screening events, etc.   On rare occasions would there be unforeseen circumstances – e.g. a customer who was bleeding profusely came into the store to seek our help for wound dressing, or a customer who fainted in the mall and required medical assistance.

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

I think that a pharmacist needs to be equipped with both communication and listening skills. We need to communicate clearly and effectively with patients so that whatever messages or instructions we are trying to convey to the patients will be understood and remembered. At the same time, possessing adequate listening skills is essential to build trust between pharmacist and patients; patients will be more willing to share their personal problems and health conditions when we show genuine interest and concern in their well-being. 

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

Anyone who wish to ask about their medications! We (Pharmacists) always willing to assist in the best way that we can!