With Singapore set to become a super-aged society this year, more healthcare workers will be needed to meet the growing demand for care. However, no single profession can meet that demand alone. It requires a broad team, from doctors and nurses to allied health professionals, administrators, ancillary and support staff, all working together to deliver quality care.

After all, the foundation of healthcare lies in its people.

Singapore's Academic Health System

At the National University Health System (NUHS), this shapes how care is delivered. As an Academic Health System, NUHS focuses on nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders and re-imagining the way work is designed so that each professional group can practise at the top of their licence.

We take a look at some of the people at NUHS who make this possible through the work they do every day.

As such, she worked to set clearer milestones and define the skills trainees needed to develop further at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH).

This helped new staff better understand what was expected of them and how to improve, without repeating the same steps each time they moved between trainers.

“It helps them see what they are working towards and how to get there,” she said.

But that openness to learning goes both ways. While she mentors others, she is also constantly learning from fresh perspectives, new ideas and even the questions trainees ask.

“There is something to learn from each other, not just seniors, but juniors too,” she elaborated. "Over here, learning never stops. That is how we prepare for what healthcare becomes next.”

“Training is like an investment; you need to put in time and effort before you reap the returns.”

– Ms Ng Wan Jing

At the heart of this redesign is ensuring support for the people delivering care every day.

"People-first healthcare means coming to work with genuine enthusiasm, knowing we have the support to do our jobs well,” he explained.

NUP’s people-first approach is reflected in its plans for the years ahead, which include efforts to strengthen team-based care, expand social prescribing and enable care managers and pharmacists to take on broader roles.

Technology is part of this shift as well, with tools such as AI-assisted documentation being explored to reduce administrative workload and give clinicians more time with patients.

“Having AI assistance for documentation and clinical checks allows us to focus on meaningful patient interactions,” he said.

“The future of primary care depends on empowering every professional to practise at the top of their licence.”

– Dr Haresh Singaraju

Her care also often extends beyond her patients to their families, offering reassurance during an especially challenging time. However, working in such an emotionally demanding environment can take a toll.

“Working in Paediatric Oncology is undeniably emotionally heavy, especially when death and dying is involved,” she admitted. Because of this, Ms Su and her colleagues make it a point to look out for one another, especially after particularly difficult cases.

“As a team, we often have debrief sessions with all staff involved in a patient’s care, to provide support, closure and a safe space to speak openly,” she said. “Through these moments, we become stronger for the next patient, and the many more who need us.”

Working within an Academic Health System also means witnessing meaningful change up close. For example, Ms Su has seen treatments such as CAR-T cell therapy move from research into real patient care, offering new hope to children and their families. For her, it is the impact on patients, made possible by this combination of medical progress and human compassion, that gives her work meaning.

Outside of her clinical work, Ms Su carries that same compassion into the community.

She volunteers at animal-assisted therapy sessions, bringing therapy dogs to children undergoing treatment. What began as a personal love for animals has become another way of supporting young children. During these sessions, she reads each child’s cues carefully, adjusts her approach and creates a sense of calm, just as she does in the ward.

“I wanted to share with them the same comfort, purity and gentleness that dogs have given me,” she said.

“Compassion is what carries people through the most difficult moments.”

– Ms Clara Su

“To me, ‘WECARE’ is about compassion, collaboration and empathy,” he said. “It’s how we treat patients, and how we treat each other.”

His appreciation for this culture deepened after two recent experiences that showed him its value in practice.

In the first instance, he faced a sensitive staff situation and turned to a senior colleague for guidance. “She didn’t just advise me. She joined the conversation and showed me how to handle it with empathy and clarity,” he recounted.

In another situation, when a project stalled, his reporting officer stepped in to help move things forward.

“Her presence made a big difference. It helped us move past something we couldn’t resolve on our own,” he said.

These experiences have shaped how Mr Mok sees leadership as he continues to grow into his role. "I've learnt that effective leaders listen before advising and guide rather than command," he shared.

"Support is practised through listening, mentoring and being there for one another when it matters most."

– Mr Jeremy Mok

Not all contributions to care happen in front of patients. This is the case for Mr Muhammad Hisyam, who works behind the scenes at NUHS to help shape the systems that clinicians rely on every day.

“My work may not be immediately visible to patients, but it plays a crucial role in shaping their healthcare experience,” he said.

As part of the medical informatics team, he works closely with clinicians, nurses and operations staff to refine workflows within the electronic medical records system. While these improvements may seem small, they add up to smoother processes, fewer delays and more time for patient care.

“When a nurse can access information more efficiently, or a doctor can place orders with fewer steps, it makes a real difference,” said Mr Hisyam.

"Behind every clinical breakthrough is a system designed to support it. That is how we build the future of care."

– Mr Muhammad Hisyam Bin Adnan

That belief guides her in her role as a Patient Service Associate at NTFGH, where she is often the first person patients meet.

With a steady, reassuring presence, she helps patients understand what to expect and puts them at ease from the moment they arrive.

Ms Azeyana believes that meaningful impact is not measured only by clinical breakthroughs or research milestones. It is also found in everyday interactions that build trust.

“It’s in the little things. Helping someone feel less anxious. Making things clearer. Being there when they need it,” she said.

Indeed, her role reflects a shared understanding across NUHS: every interaction matters, and every patient deserves thoughtful, attentive care.

“Care begins when a patient feels seen, heard and supported.”

– Ms Noor Azeyana Binte Ajis

If you are curious about the people and roles that keep care moving across NUHS – from frontline service and pharmacy to informatics and beyond – explore current openings and pathways here.

In collaboration with Ms Clara Su, Assistant Nurse Clinician, NUH; Ms Noor Azeyana Binte Ajis, Senior Patient Service Associate, NTFGH; Mr Jeremy Mok, Senior Physiotherapist, AH; Ms Ng Wan Jing, Senior Pharmacist, NTFGH; Dr Haresh Singaraju, Associate Consultant, Family Physician, NUP; and Mr Muhammad Hisyam Bin Adnan, Senior Medical Informatics Specialist, NUHS.