Home Nursing Foundation’s new CEO – Dr Christina Tiong
Dr Christina Tiong, CEO of Home Nursing Foundation (HNF), has been in healthcare for 17 years. No stranger to contributing to the community, her new role in HNF is a natural fit. She joined HNF in January 2018.
What was your earliest exposure to the Health/Social services/Community Care sector?
When I was a medical student, I was attached to HNF and was very moved when I saw how the nurses took care of severely debilitated bedbound patients during their home visits. Apart from that, I participated in medical missions which included helping out in a rural clinic in Chiangklang, Northern Thailand and in urban mobile clinics in Manila, Philippines.
Can you tell us about your past working experiences?
After graduating from medical school, I did Geriatric medicine, Paediatrics, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Outpatient and Emergency medicine. I then took up an MOHH scholarship to do Public Health (policies and management) in Harvard. I subsequently applied these skill sets in Operations such as overseeing an Operating Theatre in NUH and Quality Assurance & Improvement, Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation and clinical policies in TTSH.
The Public Health training came to good use in consultancy work in policy and planning (United Nations, MOH); Clinical innovations (TTSH); as well as hospital infrastructure, Electronic Medical Records and IT implementation (Mount Alvernia). These experiences provided me with opportunities to see things from different perspectives: clinical, operational, technology, service and product development.
Currently, caring for my frail parents with multiple chronic conditions is a valuable personal “work” experience for me too.
What are some of the new plans you have for the organisation?
I aim to build a purpose-led and joyful work culture where each person is encouraged to be at their best. I hope to help our patients and their families find joy in their lives despite challenging circumstances. Last but not least, to support ageing-in-place with sustainable social innovations.
Who inspires you?
I am inspired by Dr Tan Lai Yong¨, Dr Goh Wei Leong^, Dr Loh Cheng°, the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, for their daring devotion to give of their best in serving others, my previous bosses who melded heroism with practicality and my current colleagues, whose daily grind makes a positive difference to our patients and those around them.
¨Dr Tan Lai Yong
- Inspiration to us all: 'Barefoot doc' reaches out to foreign workers
- 'Wandering saint' of Singapore
- The Broken Bicycle Chain: Tan Lai Yong at TEDxWarwick 2013
^Dr Goh Wei Leong:
- It Changed My Life: Dr Goh Wei Leong switched from Maserati to charity after Mongolia trip
- Singaporeans need to make sacrifices for migrant worker welfare: On the Record with Dr Goh Wei Leong, HealthServe
°Dr Loh Cheng
