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Women in Global Health

8 March 2023

This International Women's Day, SDGHI celebrates our incredible women within the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre whose diverse set of skills and expertise strengthen our global health community and contributions every day.

We spoke to some of these women from across a range of roles and perspectives within the Academic Medical Centre about their motivations for contributing to Global Health.



Dr Anne-Claire Stona


Dr Anne-Claire Stona

Research Fellow
Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Centre for Regulatory Excellence,
Duke-NUS Medical School

"Global Health is a vast subject matter that encompasses everything from infectious diseases to well-being. I am particularly passionate about global mental health, a topic that has been marginalised for too long and I'm eager to participate in implementing promotion and prevention programmes so that people can acquire knowledge and skills to take care of their mental health."




Deidre
A/Prof Deidre Anne De Silva
Head & Senior Consultant
Department of Neurology (SGH Campus),
National Neuroscience Institute

"The inequity in access to proven healthcare strategies is a key motivator of my participation in Global Health. I am inspired by the enthusiasm and dedication of healthcare providers in other countries who work so hard despite limited resources, striving to improve care systems and healthcare provision for their patients."






Shereen
Shereen Soon
2nd Year Medical Student
Duke-NUS Medical School

"Global Health provides me with an opportunity to make a tangible impact on the lives of people who are often marginalised and underserved. By collaborating with communities implementing evidence-based interventions, and advocating for policy change, we can create a more equitable world where everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthy life."

 




Biauw Chi


Assoc Prof Ong Biauw Chi
Group Chief Risk Officer, SingHealth
Senior Consultant, Department of Anaesthesiology,

SGH & SKH

"I am humbled by the work our healthcare friends from across the region do in their home countries. As much as we are eager to share our own experiences, I find that I learn a tremendous amount from them as well. The passion to do the best for our communities is infectious and the friendships made last a lifetime."




Dana
Dana Chow
2nd Year Medical Student
Duke-NUS Medical School

"Rudolf Virchow once said that the physician is the natural attorney of the poor. With Virchow’s words in mind, I hope to use this privilege given to us as future doctors to simply be the attorney of communities who look towards us as a lifeline — to listen, understand and offer help whenever we are called."





 

Vijaya RaoVijaya
Director
International Collaboration Office, SingHealth
Deputy Director, SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute

"My goal is to act as an enabler of change towards the vision of health equity. Being able to connect with individuals from across the region, whose collective efforts make an impact in Global Health, inspires me."







Felicia
Felicia Ang Jia Ler
Doctoral Researcher
Lien Centre for Palliative Care (HSSR),
Duke-NUS Medical School

"Being part of a growing Global Health movement means that I have this uniquely collaborative, empowering opportunity to be a voice for the underrepresented. I am motivated to write my own narrative as a future leader in health services research!"





Prof Anette S. JacobsenAnette
Senior Consultant
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Clinical Education Lead, Medicine,
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Associate Professor, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Associate Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School

"My projects in global health have largely been capacity-building initiatives, including paediatric and obstetrics & gynaecology programme support and surgeries. Capacity building is but one part of global health, but it is rewarding in that it takes a 'bigger picture' view of the health situation across countries." 





Dr Shephali TagoreShephali
Senior Consultant
Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine,
Global Health Clinician Lead O&G ACP,
Director, International Medical Programmes O&G, KK Women's and Children's Hospital

"The guiding principle in my life remains “vasudhaiva kutumbakam” [ancient Sanskrit quote] that suggests "the world is a family". To make tangible improvement in the life of ‘my own’ family members, as a global citizen, I feel privileged, and indeed empowered through my efforts in Global Health initiatives, to improve meaningful outcomes, thus making our world a better place!"



Irene
Irene Ang

Assistant Manager
International Collaboration Office,
SingHealth

"Our efforts – no matter how small – towards contributing to a better and more equitable health system in the region can help people lead better lives. This encourages me to do my best."

 

 


 

Suci
Dr Suci Wulandari

Research Fellow
Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness,
Duke-NUS Medical School

"Efforts to improve healthcare access must be directed systemically, strategically, and in a timely manner to create influence and to transform policy. I continue working to strengthen health systems and build countries' capacities to achieve health equity. After all, health is meant to be a necessity, not a luxury."




  

Yip Wai Yan
Dr Yip Wai Yan
Senior Consultant
Department of Neonatology,
KK Women's and Children's Hospital

"Global Health is appealing as it is a 2-way learning journey. We have a wealth of expertise in Singapore to share with others, and likewise we have much to learn from our neighbours about frugal innovation and working within constraints."




   

KarenAssoc Prof Karen G Peres
National Dental Research Institute Singapore,
National Dental Centre Singapore
Oral Health ACP, Health Services and Systems Research Programme
Duke-NUS Medical School

"We all share the challenge of immense health inequalities and the potential to work collaboratively to improve people's lives. The Global Health journey taught me that defending and encouraging female leadership and empowerment in the most diverse of realities is necessary. Diversity in research, including gender balance and gender perspectives, help to enhance the scientific quality and social relevance of research."


 

Dr Sharon FooSharon
Consultant, Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, OBGYN,
KK Women's and Children's Hospital

"What motivates and inspires me are the people I’ve met on the ground on various Global Health projects — their passion, dedication and innovation in delivering the best possible care for patients despite limited resources, sometimes in very challenging physical environments. It's a privilege to be part of their story and to be able to build something together."






Wai Wai
Dr Ma Wai Wai Zaw

Consultant Anesthesiologist,
Singapore General Hospital

"The challenges to health are complex and daunting, the solutions appear elusive and out of reach — yet receding is not the solution. Perhaps our hope for a better future begins with our personal reflections on the existing inequities, in order to inspire and create opportunities for positive change that is within our capacity."