Q: What are your views on pursuing lifelong learning in healthcare?

Ms Teu: Lifelong learning is essential in healthcare to ensure that we keep our knowledge current and skills up to date in order to remain relevant and continue to provide safe and effective patient care. Lifelong learning also helps healthcare professionals pursue a wide variety of new knowledge and skills in areas that they are passionate about and interested in.

Q: What are the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in continuing education?

Ms Teu: As the healthcare world is a vast and complex one that is always evolving, lifelong learning can help empower healthcare professionals to think more broadly and keep up with current trends in healthcare education, innovation and technology.

Q: What was a recent CET course that you took with NUS Medicine?

Ms Teu: This was the Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning for Healthcare Professionals. Although the course was conducted online, it was still very engaging. It was interesting to connect and share our experiences with participants from the different organisations and areas of specialty. Through our discussion, we were able to exchange our viewpoints and approach the learning materials with a better perspective.

Q: How has this CET course supported your career development?

Ms Teu: The course supported my professional development by equipping me with the skills and knowledge to perform a learning needs analysis, to develop a curriculum and have a greater understanding of the various teaching strategies and evaluation methods.

Q: What motivates and drives you to pursue continuing education in healthcare?

Ms Teu: I have always been quite curious and love learning new things, so I am motivated to continue pursuing education in healthcare. I joined this course because I felt that I had a gap in knowledge and skills in the areas of planning, delivering, teaching and learning activities. It has been such an exciting and empowering journey to learn new skills and knowledge and be able to gain a broader understanding of how things work!

Click here to view an excerpt of the interview with Ms Alaine Teo.

This column is dedicated to the pursuit of continuous learning and development and takes its name from the banyan tree. It has roots that grow deep, anchoring it firmly in the soil. The tree spreads its shade wide and far and provides space for reflection and discussion. We invite you to come and take a seat under its shade.