From educators to friends: NUS Pharmacy’s inaugural Preceptor Appreciation Event
On 3 May 2019, the NUS Department of Pharmacy held a Preceptor Appreciation Event to thank all preceptors who have mentored the Class of 2019 in the Academic Year 18/19. Over 50 students, staff, and preceptors joined in to celebrate the end of the pre-employment clinical training (PECT) programme.
The programme started off with speeches of appreciation by Ms Tan Mui Ling, the coordinator for the PECT programme, as well as Associate Professor Alexandre Chan, Deputy Department Head (Clinical). To capture the spirit of PECT learning, the event attendees then watched a heartwarming photo collage video created by Ms Tabitha Ng (Class of ’19), which depicted students’ PECT experiential learning journey in a photo collage video.
This year, to express its appreciation for the preceptors who have worked with the department in guiding the students throughout their PECT rotations, the department called for nominations of outstanding preceptors from the graduating cohort. After careful selection, a panel of judges selected two winners, one each for the Indirect and Direct Patient Care Rotations: Mr Lim Kai Kiong (Johnson & Johnson) and Ms Ng Jia Yi (Guardian Health & Beauty), respectively.
Citations by students for the award winners
Before the winners were announced, their students gave rousing speeches expressing their gratitude for their preceptors’ mentorship.
Mr Lim Kai Kiong (Head of Regulatory Affairs, Johnson & Johnson Singapore) receiving the award from the NUS Pharmacy Head of Department, Professor Christina Chai
Ms Sarah Xing (Class of ’19) nominated Mr Lim for “(going) above and beyond the basic role of a preceptor to provide for his PECT students”, and for “consistently (valuing) learning over performance”.
“KK showed us genuine concern. Despite his busy schedule, he makes sure to check in on us regularly in the pantry to ensure that we are on task with our assignments and coping well emotionally. His dedication and support endure even after PECT.”
– Sarah Xing Huiwen (Class of ’19)
In his nomination of Ms Ng, Mr Lim Ying Fu (Class of ’19) highlighted her “understanding and support” in the days during his arduous attachment at Guardian. Notably, he appreciated her emphasis on developing a sense of independence. Ying Fu was also inspired by the phenomenal patience Ms Ng displayed in the community pharmacy towards her patients and students.
“Undergoing PECT at Guardian was never easy. Other than having to undergo full time work in the day, we also had to complete self-study assignments in the evening for tutorial sessions every week… Jia Yi’s support comes in many ways, such as encouraging me when times are tough, providing additional help in areas that I am weak in, and affirming me in areas I have done well.”
– Lim Ying Fu (Class of ’19)
Ms Ng Jia Yi (Senior Pharmacist, Guardian Health & Beauty) receiving the award from the NUS Pharmacy Head of Department, Professor Christina Chai
Hear from the winners on how they feel about winning this award
“I am extremely honoured to be voted as the best preceptor in the patient care category. It is very rewarding to know that my work is appreciated by the preceptees, which gives me motivation to do even better”.
– Ms Ng Jia Yi, Guardian Health & Beauty
“It is an honour and surprise. I did not know there was such an award and thought that it was only for preceptors in the clinical setting. They say it takes a village to raise a kid, and that is how I feel about winning this award. It is not my effort alone but the collective effort by all the preceptors at J&J, the supportive management and all other functions which made this possible”.
– Mr Lim Kai Kiong, J&J Singapore
Hear from the winners on their views about being a preceptor
“All preceptees have different area that they can improve on, therefore I try my best to customise the training to provide relevant guidance for each of them so that they are able to learn effectively. I believe that soft skills e.g. communication skills, teamwork and problem-solving skills are as important as good clinical knowledge. During the rotation, I always encourage the preceptees to work independently, but also not to be afraid to ask for help when they need it. I hope that the training I have provided will be useful when they start practising as a registered pharmacist, regardless which sectors they will be working in.”
– Ms Ng Jia Yi, Guardian Health & Beauty
The students surprise us – no matter how tough a challenge we throw them, they are able to overcome them. Their transformation is rapid, from the first day they step in to J&J to the last day, we can definitely see changes in them. We just hope they remember what they learn and bring these skills to wherever they are going next. It is fulfilling to see them learn and grow, and the greatest satisfaction is to see their transformation. And in the process, we preceptors get to re-learn as well, for something we take for granted, and for the initial purpose we entered the profession. While teaching, we are being taught as well.
– Mr Lim Kai Kiong, J&J Singapore
The students celebrated the end of the PECT journey with their mentors, and, perhaps more importantly, the start of their lifelong learning journey together at a tea reception at the end of the award ceremony.
Article by Zhang-He Goh (Class Ambassador, Class of ’19)