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Mr Sean Ang was nominated as a Shining Star as part of the PSS initiative

1. Why did you choose Pharmacy as your profession?

Since I was 14, I have always been fascinated by how medications work.  I wanted to be involved in drug discovery to create a drug that would cure many people suffering from a particular illness.  That’s how my fascination with medications started.

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

As I went through my Pharmacy course in NUS, I realized that lab work was not my cup of tea.  On the contrary, I was involved in many projects that required me to communicate with people.  I wanted to be involved in a profession that allowed me to make use of those skills to help people.  In a retail setting, I am able to spend a little more time to build a relationship with my customers/patients.  Once the bond is established and they consistently come back to me, I get to see a more complete view of their condition and I can better personalize a treatment regimen for them.   

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

I am motivated by the fact that I can make a difference in someone’s life by building a relationship with them and sharing my knowledge so that they are empowered to handle their own medical ailments.  

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

Grades are just a small part of how successful you can be in this job.  In fact, the way you communicate with your customers is the most important.  With those skills, you can build a relationship and communicate information in a way that can benefit them the most.  It is also important to have compassion for your customers, because the genuine desire to help people recover from their conditions makes this job a lot more fulfilling.  

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

With an ageing population, polypharmacy becomes a problem because many of the elderly have multiple chronic conditions.  Being the drug experts, I think pharmacists are very well placed to help monitor their medication use and detect various drug errors. 

Also, with the population becoming more and more educated, self-medication will become an increasingly common phenomenon.  Pharmacists, especially those in the community setting, are the ambassadors of the profession in the community and they could provide quality advice to this group of patients.

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

It was when I wheeled home a customer after work at around 10.30pm.  He was on a wheelchair and lived alone. As he lay on the bed, he looked more and more uncomfortable and eventually suffered 2 epileptic attacks.  My partner, Mr Leng, and I stayed till 5.30am to nurse him and to support him throughout the epileptic attacks

7.  Describe your career progression path

After this attachment, the next progression will be up to area manager where I can have a more holistic view of the way the business is run.   

8. Can you describe a typical day at work?

In unity, pharmacists are store managers as well, so we get to learn the business aspect of things.  When we come to work, we check through the accounts from the previous day, before following up on various tasks communicated to us from the head office.  As the store opens, customers start to walk in to approach us for advice. This is the opportunity to interact with the customer and help him in any way I can.

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

Good communication skills and compassion.

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

I hope they will one day be empowered and familiar with various methods to help themselves recover from their ailments.  

 

Customers' Compliment Of Mr Sean Ang

Shining Stars is a PSS initiative to showcase our role models in community pharmacy