As local programmes on speech therapy were not available then, Melissa set her sights on pursuing speech therapy studies overseas. To support her ambition, she took up the Public Service Commission Overseas Specialist Award. (Speech Therapy is now offered by MOH Holdings under the Healthcare Merit Award and Healthcare Graduate Studies Award.)

Besides the financial support, the scholarship opens doors to opportunities for scholars like Melissa to develop leadership skills and gain insight into the roles of various ministries and national policies. For example, Melissa was invited to a meeting with the Minister for Health who was visiting London and was briefed on changes in Singapore’s healthcare landscape.

“Such opportunities also allowed me to develop friendships with other scholars, whom I still meet in the course of my work now.” she beamed. Studying abroad was a decision Melissa did not regret as she got to learn more about the healthcare systems and processes of other countries and made friends with the locals who could help keep her updated on overseas healthcare practices.

“My advice to aspiring students keen on pursuing a health science degree abroad – immerse yourself in the culture of your country of study, enjoy your time overseas and study hard!” she shared.

Upon graduation, Melissa returned to work at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for a span of 15 years.

Melissa’s unwavering commitment to her work paid off as she was appointed Head of Department early on in her career. Not one to rest on her laurels, Melissa’s drive for continuous learning and professional growth propelled her to further advance her knowledge in areas related to management after being appointed as a Head of Department. With sponsorship support from SGH, she seized the opportunity to enrol in the Master of Business Administration (Specialisation in Healthcare Management) programme at NUS.

“The programme enabled me to take a macro view of healthcare systems and be aware of financial considerations when looking at operationalising services and utilising resources,” she said.

Reflecting on those early years, she shared: “Those were the formative years of my career as it enabled me to develop my clinical skills and specialise in head and neck cancer management. It was the start of my leadership journey.”

Melissa also served as the President of Speech and Language Therapy, Singapore (SALTS) from 2004 to 2008 which gave her exposure to issues at a national level, contributing to her growth and position as a current member of the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC). She is also the Chair of the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Credentials Committee and SLT Curriculum and Organisation Review Committee.

After serving in SGH as a Head of Department for ten years, Melissa was transferred to Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) to spearhead the establishment of its newly set-up Speech Therapy Department. At SKH, she provides long-term strategic direction for the department in alignment with institutional and national priorities and oversees the daily operations to ensure that quality speech therapy services are provided to her patients. Concurrently, she is the Deputy Director of SKH Allied Health and works on initiatives to improve patients’ access to allied health services there.

These invaluable opportunities have helped Melissa to further hone her leadership and management skills. Consequently, when the opportunity arose in 2022 to become the Deputy Chief Allied Health Officer at the Ministry of Health (MOH), Melissa was wholeheartedly prepared and enthusiastic about taking on the role.

Beyond her department and institution, Melissa plays a vital role in reviewing and formulating allied health policies and strategies for the country and actively participates in several national committees offering valuable input on matters related to allied health services and manpower.

“I believe every opportunity is a chance for me to learn and grow. It is also my passion and goal to establish speech therapy in Singapore!” she ardently expressed.

Among the initiatives Melissa has made significant contributions to is the National One Rehabilitation Framework. “This framework aims to improve patients’ accessibility to rehabilitation and right-site patients to the appropriate setting based on their clinical needs, thereby improving clinical outcomes in a cost-effective way,” she explained.

Melissa is also the Chair of the EatSafe SG initiative that aims to standardise dysphagia diet and fluid terminologies across healthcare settings to ensure patient safety when patients transit across the care continuum.

“Currently, different healthcare institutions refer to dysphagia diets using different terms and following different texture characteristics. The EatSafe SG initiative ensures that patients, when transferred to another healthcare setting, are served the same diet texture of the right diet characteristics that adheres to recommendations given by a Speech Therapist. Ultimately, it aims to ensure patient safety,” she further explained.

Melissa’s path towards a career in healthcare was not simply a coincidence but a result of deep-rooted interest. She attributes her fascination with the field to her mother, who served as a teacher-in-charge of the Singapore Red Cross Youth, a uniformed group in her school.

Observing her mother practising first aid skills like bandaging and cardiopulmonary resuscitation sparked Melissa’s curiosity. She was drawn to the idea of being a part of a helping profession and making a meaningful contribution to society. After her A-levels, Melissa found a temporary clerical position at SGH and it further cemented her interest as she enjoyed the hospital environment and the field of medicine.

Now fully immersed in her chosen profession, Melissa passionately pursues her calling every day.

“I feel fulfilled knowing that I’m contributing to caring for the health of Singaporeans and being able to shape how healthcare is delivered to our population,” she shared.

Melissa shared that Speech Therapists can also take an active role in educating their patients and caregivers about the national Healthier SG campaign and encouraging follow-ups with their registered General Practitioners (GPs) and regular health screenings.

“Our speech therapy profession can look into ways to ensure our young children have early access to speech therapy to enhance their language stimulation, educate occupational voice users on using healthy voicing techniques and support programmes that keep our elderly folks’ minds active,” she shared enthusiastically.

Looking towards the future, Melissa hopes to continue leading initiatives that empower allied health professionals to improve the quality of care and achieve better clinical outcomes for patients. Indeed, there is a growing recognition of the vital role that they play, leading to increased opportunities for shaping policies and service delivery models.

“This is certainly an exciting time for allied health professionals as they are in demand in all settings across Singapore!” she exclaimed.

If you are keen to make a difference in Singapore’s healthcare sector like Melissa, join MOH Holdings as a Healthcare Scholar to explore a rewarding career in allied health!

This article was first published in BrightSparks Magazine July 2023. Republished with permission from CareerBuilder Singapore.