​LKCMedicine celebrates International Women's Day

​At LKCMedicine, we’re committed to promoting women at every stage of their career in all fields of expertise. To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, we’ve asked some of them – from students to members of our senior leadership team – to talk about their inspiration, careers, goals and share words of encouragement for others keen to follow
in their footsteps.

​	​ “We're slowly but surely redressing the historical gender bias so that it is no longer unusual to find women as presidents of scientific societies or heads of academic departments.” Professor Naomi Low-Beer, Vice-Dean for Education

​“Dare to be yourself. Women in leadership are bringing forth authenticity albeit sometimes imperfectly expressed. It creates vulnerability but encourages a psychologically safe environment for all to thrive and grow.” ​Dr Serene Ng, Chief Operating Officer

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​ “What I’ve always wanted for my research is not just academic papers, but that it influences policy and practice. I aim to link evidence from both the health professional education literature and the practice of health professional education.” Jennifer Cleland, Professor of Medical Education Research and Director of MERSU

​“I have met few gender-related obstacles at work and in the healthcare profession in Singapore. Contrary to expectations, a career in emergency medicine is not family-unfriendly – just look at the number of women emergency physicians in Singapore! With support from our family, most of us do well and rise to the same positions as our male colleagues.” Associate Professor Tham Kum Ying, Assistant Dean for Year 5

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​ “As doctors, it is our calling to be at the forefront during disease outbreaks. I'm thankful to the tutors who have shown us that this is what it means to be a doctor. During our time at LKCMedicine, we were exposed to patient interaction and teamwork, starting right from Year 1, teaching us to always place our patients at the heart of what we do.” Dr Claudia Tong, LKCMedicine Class of 2018 ​

​ “What I love about family medicine is that it focuses on the person as a whole – the physical, psychological and social aspects all come into play – and family physicians manage patients of all age groups, from infants to the elderly in the community.” Associate Professor Tang Wern Ee, Assistant Dean for Family Medicine

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​“It is an extremely exciting time to be in research. About 10 per cent of all cancers carry a high hereditary genetic risk while genetics play a key role in a further 30 to 40 per cent. This knowledge is powerful as it means we can provide early intervention and screening to those who need it the most.” Joanne Ngeow, Associate Professor of Genomic Medicine

​ “When I started to learn biology systematically, I knew there was nothing more intriguing than finding out how things work and do not work in our body. The idea of discovering something new that could be translated into new treatments or diagnostic strategies is fulfilling. That's why I decided to work in research.” Wang Xiaomeng, Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine

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​ “Do not be afraid to pursue a career in science. As much as it entails a lifetime of dedication and can be almost all-consuming, it also guarantees a sense of fulfilment no other occupation can give you, knowing that every day, you are one step closer to making a difference.” Marie Loh, Assistant Professor of Molecular Epidemiology

​ “I started engaging in research during my high school and undergraduate years, fell in love with it, and was determined to make it my career! What greater blessing than working on something that you truly enjoy every day? Curious, creative, persistent and attentive to details are qualities of scientists – these are found in girls too! Girls have the power to be the scientists they dream to be! Life is too short to live the dreams of others.” Christine Wong, Nanyang Assistant Professor

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​​ “Medical knowledge has been expanding exponentially; the doubling time has grown from an estimated 50 years back in 1950 to around 2 months in 2020. How can doctors keep up with such a knowledge explosion in medicine? My research tries to address this by building a smarter way to translate medical knowledge into better care and outcomes.” Lorainne Tudor Car, Assistant Professor of Evidence-Based Medicine

​​ “If you’re interested in science, you should be brave and pursue a career in it. Science challenges you to think critically, be open to new ideas and criticisms, and to always believe in yourself. There is no career like Science. It is the most exciting and rewarding field to be in!” Lee Shuen Yee, inaugural LKCMedicine PhD graduand

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​ ​“Chase all the dreams you have, for opportunities are not just found, they are created. Do not ever let anyone dampen your spirit nor reject yourself from a chance to grow with your passion. Once you find something you love so deeply, hug it tightly, because you will literally wake up each morning excited about what the day is about to bring!” Goh Xin Rong, LKCMedicine Class of 2021 medical student who aspires to pursue a career in forensic medicine while serving Singapore's community of migrant workers

“At LKCMedicine, we are sensitive to gender in our talent recruitment. Already a third of our full-time faculty is women. We’re striving to increase that number in the coming years because we believe that to realise the School’s potential, we need the perspectives of a diverse team at every level.” Susan Chang, Deputy Director, Faculty Affairs

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