Dear Reader,
We live in interesting times. When I began jotting down thoughts for a draft of this message earlier this year, I had no inkling of the coming virus threat that would work its way around the world, sickening hundreds of thousands, locking down entire cities and communities, upending businesses and slowing global economies. The rapidity of the COVID-19 outbreak has caught many governments unprepared, prompting the WHO to declare a pandemic on 11th March. It is one that the world is still grappling with at the time of this newsletter going to print.
The suddenness and speed with which the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) crossed international borders brought home in dramatic fashion the extreme interconnectedness of our modern lives. It is a vivid demonstration of how the world as we know it is changing. It is being re-shaped by a confluence of forces, from the digital and technological revolutions that are dramatically transforming the way we live, work and play, to the realignment and fragmentation of international political and economic partnerships, and the reconsideration of personal, civic and societal norms and institutions.
In ways big and small, the teaching and practice of medicine is also being fashioned and transformed by these changes. The NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine will mark its 115th year this July with a tribute to the generations of women alumnae who have helped to shape the practice of medicine in Singapore. Our School has weathered two world wars, educated and graduated 10,000 men and women and played a substantive role in the establishment and maintenance of Singapore’s healthcare system. It is linear progression of the sort that we can no longer take for granted or assume to be the norm.
We must ride the winds of change and seize the opportunities that present themselves—in good times and bad—to continually review and refresh our curriculum, and ensure that the medical knowledge and skills we teach and impart to our students will continue to prepare them to confidently and skilfully handle the health challenges awaiting them. Our research efforts similarly will concentrate on seeking better ways to promote and prolong health and health span.
This pandemic has clearly demonstrated that not being ready is preparing to fail. We cannot preserve our heritage by holding on to established practices without constantly seeking improvements and relevance. In this 115th year of our existence, we will celebrate and enhance our history by looking forward and preparing for a constantly changing world. Our vision is to inspire health for all and I hope the stories in this newsletter will challenge, motivate and encourage you on your journey.
Yours sincerely,
Yap Seng