Assistant Professor Shawn Goh is the fourth academic from the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (NUS Nursing), National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, to be inducted into the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) as a Fellow. The others are Professor Wang Wenru, Professor He Hong-Gu and Assistant Professor Catherine Dong.
A/Prof Shawn Goh was among 253 nurse leaders inducted at the New Fellow Induction Ceremony on 8 October 2023 in Washington, DC, US. Retracing his journey from the beginning, he chats with NUrSing about his passions, most memorable projects, current research focus, and aspirations for the future.
NUrSing: Congratulations on your achievement! How did you feel when you first knew that you would be in AAN’s 2023 Class of Fellows?
A/Prof Goh: I didn’t expect to be inducted—so it was a delightful surprise. With around 400 fellowship applicants worldwide and only 253 inducted, it is an honour to be the only Fellow from Singapore inducted into this prestigious Fellowship in 2023. Additionally, this year happens to be the 50th anniversary of the AAN. This makes my induction extra unique.
NUrSing: You attended the induction ceremony. How was it?
A/Prof Goh: Imagine, the people I met at the ceremony are people who write nursing care models we use in our teaching, people we cite in our research papers, and people whose work influences how we practice as nurses. Then there are also the nurses who sit in the US Senate, influencing policy across the US. It’s inspiring to come face-to-face with all these people and see how the Academy accomplishes its mission of impacting people’s lives. But if I were to choose one favourite moment, it must be when I got to take pictures with my idol, Emerson Ea, whose works I cited in my PhD thesis.
NUrSing: Can you share with us the journey leading up to your AAN fellowship?
A/Prof Goh: I started in the practice as a mental health nurse. Although I subsequently moved on to teaching, I always remembered my beginning. Thus, when I completed my Master of Nursing in 2009, I decided to take the opportunity to do something that can help to advance mental health knowledge and healthcare. During this time, I realised that much of our knowledge in mental healthcare came from research and studies conducted overseas. While the literature provides guidance, cultural and context differences limit their usefulness and applicability to our situation. That was how I got started on research—and kept going.
Over the years, mental health has seen growing interest. People have become more open to talking about it and are more aware of mental health needs. Correspondingly, there is also a shift in research focus. The emphasis is increasingly changing from studying reactive care of the disease state to preventive strategy—like how to protect the mental well-being of people like you and me. Insights into these pertinent issues help inform policymakers and hopefully be useful in the future.
One example is my research on “The Impact of COVID-19 on Nurses Working in a University Health System in Singapore: A Qualitative Descriptive Study”. Published when little was known about COVID-19 and vaccines were still under development, the study proved timely and useful for subsequent research during the pandemic. It was the top-cited article in the International Journal of Mental Health from 2020 to 2021 and again from 2021 to 2022. While this study is unlikely to remain the top-cited paper forever, I hope the knowledge can help future nurses and healthcare workers if another pandemic happens.
As much as my curiosity and thirst for learning guide my research, they also influence how I teach my classes. The relationship I have with my students is bi-dimensional. I am simultaneously a teacher and a student—I impart what I know from my practice, reading and research to my students, but I also learn about social media and other trends from them. This makes teaching very fulfilling and stimulating—some interactions gave life to my research topics.
NUrSing: What is next on the horizon for you?
A/Prof Goh: I see the fellowship as an affirmation of my work. Hence, I will keep doing what I am passionate about—teaching and research. There is a certain synergy between the two. For instance, some of my research involves teaching or the evaluation of my teaching outcomes. Other times, I gained a deeper understanding of patients’ issues through my research. I share these in classes to better prepare students who will eventually be nurses in the field one day.
The blending of teaching and research has brought me much joy over the years—they provide learning opportunities and quench my thirst for knowledge. Of course, not every day is sunshine and rainbows, and sometimes I feel less enthusiastic. But I embrace every aspect of teaching and research, including the challenging ones.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSING FELLOWSHIP
With over 3,000 Fellows, the American Academy of Nursing fellowship comprises Nursing’s most accomplished leaders in education, management, practice, and research. More than a recognition of one’s achievements within the Nursing profession, each Academy Fellow is responsible for contributing their time and energy to six areas.
- Enhance quality of health and nursing
- Promote healthy ageing and human development across the life continuum
- Reduce health disparities and inequalities
- Shape healthy behaviours and environments
- Integrate mental and physical health
- Strengthen the nursing and health delivery system, nationally and internationally
