From preceptor to mentor and friend

Published on 27 January 2025

Seven years and counting – Senior Principal Clinical Pharmacist Ms Esther Bek and Senior Pharmacist Ms Koh Ying Pei reflect on their mentor-mentee relationship.

Back in 2018, Senior Pharmacist Ms Koh Ying Pei began her career in pharmacy, eager to learn and contribute. But she would soon come up against the realities of the working world. “The learning curve for both clinical knowledge and operational skills was very steep,” recalled the 29-year-old, who underwent her pre-registration pharmacist training at Bukit Batok Polyclinic.

Thankfully, like other trainee pharmacists, Ms Koh was assigned a preceptor during her initial six months to guide her in fulfilling the requirements for registration. She was paired with Senior Principal Clinical Pharmacist Ms Esther Bek, who helped her navigate the steep learning curve – from sharpening her clinical knowledge and practical skills to building rapport with teammates.

Guided by her mentor Ms Esther Bek (right), Ms Koh Ying Pei learned the ins and outs of processing prescriptions in an accurate and timely manner.  

“It was daunting to adapt to a new environment, but Esther supported me from day one and motivated me to carry on and do better,” said Ms Koh. That nurturing relationship has continued to the present day. Although Ms Bek is now based at the National University Health System Pharmacy (NUHSP) headquarters and no longer sees Ms Koh daily at the polyclinic, she serves as a mentor and advises Ms Koh in her professional and personal life.

From precepting to mentoring

As a trainee, Ms Koh received a lot of support from Ms Bek, particularly in dealing with the burnout and stress that healthcare workers often experience. “At one point during my training, I began to doubt my passion for healthcare and came close to giving up,” she admitted. “I felt exhausted, drained, and had difficulty staying focused while revising for my exams.”

Fortunately, Ms Bek was there to lend an ear and cheer her on. “Esther patiently listened to my concerns and was never judgemental,” said Ms Koh. “Rather than forcing a solution on me, she gave me space to consider my options while offering unconditional encouragement. She helped me frame my situation in a positive way, teasing out what had gone well in my training and setting aside extra protected time to go through those topics I was struggling with together.”

Ms Bek’s kindness and unwavering support left a lasting impact on Ms Koh. Even though she has since taken on leadership responsibilities at the polyclinic and is a mentor herself to junior pharmacists and students, she considers Ms Bek a role model and keeps in touch with her to discuss work-related matters or to simply chat about life in general.

Likewise, Ms Bek, 47, remembers her mentee just as fondly. She describes Ms Koh as a quick learner, resilient and unafraid to ask for help. “Ying Pei holds herself to high standards, and this shows in her day-to-day work and desire to improve,” said Ms Bek. “She is willing to try new things and step outside her comfort zone.”

Ms Bek’s definition of a mentor is to be a good listener, walking the talk, and engaging young pharmacists through authentic interactions. It is an extension of the preceptor’s role, which formally ends once the preceptee has completed their training. “Mentors should think long-term, journeying with mentees not just to prepare them for the profession but to support their overall well-being,” explained Ms Bek, noting that Ms Koh sometimes seeks her advice on personal issues.

Their relationship has grown closer over the years into one of colleagues and confidants. Despite pursuing different pharmacy career paths, with Ms Koh choosing the professional track instead of following her mentor in the clinical track, they enjoy catching up to share experiences and update each other on their lives. 

“I still see Ying Pei as someone I want to nurture and help grow in the profession,” said Ms Bek. “She is now a fellow pharmacist whom I can go to for her opinions. I value her fresh perspective as part of the younger generation, and how upfront and forthcoming she is with me.”

Working and growing together

In her time at the National University Health System (NUHS), Ms Koh has built a diverse portfolio on top of her daily work of processing prescriptions and managing staff, inventory, and operational workflows at the pharmacy branch. Examples include leading quality improvement projects and, together with Ms Bek, joining a professional development workgroup to refresh continuing education and training programmes for pharmacy staff.

“There are still so many things for me to learn and emerging challenges to tackle. I believe my job role and responsibilities will continue to change and expand in the future,” said Ms Koh. Currently, she is involved in setting up a pharmacy at the upcoming Tengah Polyclinic and will move there once it opens in 2026.  

Ms Koh is appreciative of NUHS’ emphasis on nurturing talent through mentoring and career growth opportunities.  

Meanwhile, Ms Bek transitioned from frontline operations into a mainly administrative role in late 2022. She now oversees clinical practice at NUHSP and, as chief preceptor, supervises other preceptors rather than being one herself.

Maintaining relationships with existing mentees such as Ms Koh is nonetheless important to her and rewarding to boot. “I have gained many valuable friendships,” said Ms Bek, who checks in on her mentees either virtually or in person. “They often provide useful insights that I can apply to my work. I feel like a proud mom every time I see any of them succeed or when they remind me how I inspired them. This drives me to continue to do what I do.”

To junior pharmacists, Ms Bek emphasised the importance of patience and perseverance. “Growing as a pharmacist takes time and continued learning,” she advised. “Find your passion, or that aspect of the job which gives you the most joy and satisfaction. Stay humble and remember that everyone has something to teach you. The journey will be easier if you have a support network of friends, family and professional mentors to turn to for help.”

As for Ms Koh, she is committed to following in her mentor’s footsteps and guiding the next generation of pharmacists. “I want to be a mentor who genuinely cares about the well-being and professional development of my mentees, like what Esther has done for me,” she said.

Speaking from experience, she shared a bit of wisdom with her juniors: “There may be times when you feel lost and lonely in your career. A mentor can shed light on the path ahead and show you what is possible. Make an effort to build a strong rapport with your mentor and be open to their feedback, as this will benefit your personal and career development. Most importantly, stay focused on growing day by day and you will eventually reach your goals.”

Interested to join us as a pharmacist and experience our strong mentoring culture? Learn more about working in our institutions and the work we do here.

In consultation with Ms Esther Bek, Senior Principal Clinical Pharmacist, NUHSP, and Ms Koh Ying Pei, Senior Pharmacist, NUHSP.