Cheng Zhi Liang Ashleigh is a Healthcare Merit Award scholarship recipient and holds a Bachelor of Podiatry and a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) from the University of Newcastle, Australia. As a Podiatrist at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, he assesses, treats and manages a variety of foot conditions.
The health of our feet can sometimes be overlooked, despite their fundamental role in our daily lives. Yet, it is only when foot problems arise that we truly comprehend the critical importance of maintaining their well-being. That is where podiatrists like Cheng Zhi Liang Ashleigh, come into the picture.
Ashleigh assesses, treats and manages a variety of foot conditions ranging from lower limb musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries as well as acute foot management of patients suffering from lower limb complications, in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH).
“With the incidence of diabetes rising in Singapore, much of my job scope is centred around the management of the diabetic foot, a complication of long-term uncontrolled diabetes that can have devastating consequences,” he shared pensively.
Finding His Footing in Podiatry
Pursuing a career in podiatry was certainly not a decision that Ashleigh made in haste or on impulse. He first came across podiatry towards the end of his national service when he found out that a family member and an army friend were seeing podiatrists to manage their lower limb issues. That piqued his interest in podiatry and led him to explore the idea of pursuing a career as a podiatrist.
“As a podiatry degree cannot be undertaken locally, I had to first ensure that a career in podiatry would be right for me before taking that big step,” he said, “So, I took up a Podiatry Assistant role in KTPH and my experience there cemented my interest in becoming a podiatrist!”
“Being in a position to prevent these foot complications for our patients provides me with a sense of accomplishment and is a huge motivating factor for me in my work!”
Cheng Zhi Liang Ashleigh
Getting an Ideal Head Start
After completing his National Service, Ashleigh cherished his time as a Podiatry Assistant at KTPH, where he worked alongside podiatry scholars who were recipients of the Healthcare Merit Award (HMA) by MOH Holdings (MOHH). Witnessing how the scholarship empowered and guided them in their podiatry journeys motivated Ashleigh to seek the same opportunity. Ultimately, he became a HMA Scholar and enrolled in the Bachelor of Podiatry and Health Science (Honours) programme.
The scholarship provided Ashleigh with the peace of mind to focus on his studies without financial worries. He also received support from scholarship officers who consistently ensured his well-being and smooth progress throughout his academic journey.
“With the bulk of my study curriculum spent in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was reassuring that my scholarship officers continued to keep in touch with us through online meetings and catch-up sessions, allowing us to meet and interact with other scholars and scholarship officers virtually!” he said appreciatively.
Additionally, the scholarship provided Ashleigh with valuable opportunities for growth throughout his studies and career.
“Events organised by MOHH provided me with the opportunity to meet fellow scholars from different disciplines and clusters to gain a better understanding of our respective roles within Singapore’s public healthcare system,” he shared.
Now that Ashleigh is a Podiatrist in KTPH, he is grateful for his university studies that provided him with a strong foundation in podiatry. The regular Continuing Education (CE) sessions that the KTPH Podiatry team offers, which involve clinical skills training, case study discussions, and knowledge development relevant to podiatry, ensure that Ashleigh’s knowledge gained from his university studies remains up-to-date and relevant.
Cheng Zhi Liang Ashleigh
A Challenging but Rewarding Career
“As I am still in the early days of my podiatry career, most of the challenges I face involve being familiar with Singapore’s public healthcare system as well as honing the personal and clinical skills required of a podiatrist,” he explained.
When Ashleigh wants to improve the level of care he provides, he will take the initiative to seek advice from his senior colleagues, who have been excellent in providing constructive feedback on the areas of improvement.
Podiatry in Singapore’s healthcare system focuses largely on the management of lower limb complications of the diabetic foot such as longstanding chronic wounds, multiple surgical operations as well as minor and major amputations. Such complications affect not only the patient’s health, but also their quality of life.
“Being in a position to prevent these foot complications for our patients provides me with a sense of accomplishment and is a huge motivating factor for me in my work!” he shared excitedly.
As a Podiatrist in KTPH, Ashleigh spent his time rotating between several specialty clinics and services, both inpatient and outpatient.
“Now, I am more involved in the podiatry inpatient service and much of what we do revolves around the acute management of patients suffering from lower limb complications such as foot ulcers. Depending on the patient’s needs, the care we provide ranges from bedside wound debridement, conventional wound care, specialised wound dressings to offloading modalities (reducing pressure at high-risk areas), such as specialised footwear,” he explained.
Ashleigh shared that one of his most memorable encounters was treating his first patient with a diabetic foot wound in the inpatient wards.
“At that time, I was very new to inpatient service and wound debridement and was struggling with the application of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) dressings for patients. However, with the support of my preceptor and senior colleagues, I found myself growing in confidence in my technical proficiencies. Eventually, I progressed to being confident enough to manage by myself in applying NPWT dressings on patients’ wounds!” he beamed.
Poised for Growth
Ashleigh hopes to see himself becoming a competent Podiatrist whom his junior colleagues and patients can rely on.
“There is still a long way to go until I can achieve that, but I’d like to take on any opportunities that allow me to reach my goal, be it through continuous professional development, attending learning enrichment courses, or furthering my studies in the future!” he declared.
Indeed, the KTPH Podiatry team has been a constant source of support throughout his journey as a Podiatrist, offering him ample opportunities for growth and development.
Ashleigh shared, “The KTPH Podiatry team has continually supported me in my journey as a Podiatrist since I joined. This support has come in many forms, be it through providing me with an excellent preceptor who tailored my learning based on my professional needs, a supportive and ever-patient team, opportunities for self-improvement and so much more!”
This article was first published in BrightSparks Magazine July 2023. Republished with permission from CareerBuilder Singapore.