Medical school fees are notoriously high. To help solicit donations to the Singapore Medical Association Charity Fund, which provides qualified individuals with financial assistance and opportunities to pursue medical education, Dr Chua Yang produced a photo book for its donors. She photographed all 100 groups of mothers and daughters featured in Women Inspiring Women: The Home Edition— Mothers and Daughters in Healthcare and penned all the stories.
Since its release last year, some $120,000 has been raised for the fund along with $40,000 for other charities. Moved by the initiative’s success, Dr Yang is now soliciting donations for women-focused projects through a second photo book that hit the shelves two months ago. Women Inspiring Women: The National Edition – Women in Singapore Holding Up the Sky shines the spotlight on women of diverse professions, age groups, and ethnicities, and chronicles their challenges and triumphs.
The compilation process, she lets on, revealed that our community is full of inspiring women. “I began by listing over 100 occupations, then approached friends and acquaintances about being featured. The list filled up shockingly quickly,” she says.
“Everyone I knew had someone to recommend or someone they were inspired by. Inspiration has that power. It instils passion and motivates.”
Dr Chua Yang on the good that walk among us
Donors who contribute $120 receive a copy of this volume. Proceeds go to the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations’ Star Shelter, which provides temporary shelter to women and children who have been victims of family violence. The Private Museum also uses part of the sum to support its women-led art programmes.
Dr Chua managed to raise the money to publish the books through the generosity of friends. “Publishing books is expensive, but since I raised the money before publication, I could give them away for fundraising purposes. When people give $120, they are not buying the book. I don’t make any money,” she clarifies.
An obstetrician and gynaecologist by training, Dr Chua runs A Clinic for Women at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre. She remembers the exact moment she aspired to be a doctor. “I was three. My uncle, who was a vet, was explaining to me that he was a doctor who treats animals and I wanted to outdo him,” she recounts. Her special interest lies in menopause management, and she is the erstwhile president of the Asia Pacific Menopause Federation and the Menopause Research Society.
In her professional experience, it is still a common misconception that menopause is the start of ageing—we begin ageing the moment we are born. For this reason, she encourages her patients to pursue health and happiness from an early age.
Dr Chua hopes to further the cause of women’s empowerment in other ways, especially since she remembers a time when women in her field faced discrimination. “When I first began practising gynaecology, many patients preferred male doctors because they believed they were more skilled. I have seen young female doctors mistaken for nurses. Thankfully, these things no longer happen.”
But due to market forces, she adds, fewer male doctors venture into the speciality now. Women have come to prefer female gynaecologists. “This speaks volumes about women supporting and believing in each other. I am heartened to see that we are working towards equity to achieve equality.”
Art director: Ed Harland
Videographer: Alicia Chong
Photographer: Mun Kong
Photographer’s assistant: Hizuan Zailani
Hair: Eunice Wong W. Y. using Keune
Makeup: Keith Bryant Lee using Shiseido
