An old research study found that children of doctors are 24 times more likely to pursue careers in medicine than their peers. Dr June Goh-Rin is the exception. The self-professed tomboy who shared clothes with her brother would climb rambutan trees for fun and try her hand at almost everything—chess, swimming, netball and even opera—once.
“Despite not having anyone in the family in the medical field, I found myself drawn to it,” she shares. If she had to pinpoint a strong contributing factor, it would have been her hospital stay as a child. The care given by the nurses and doctors impressed her so much that she believes it probably played a powerful role in influencing her current trajectory.
Today, Dr Goh-Rin specialises in neuroanaesthesia and neurocritical care—“so there must be an adrenaline junkie somewhere in me.” That would have cemented her contributions to society, but the good doctor knew she could do more to give back. And she did.
“Over half of Singapore residents aged 65 and above live alone or with their spouses only. They depend on caregivers for emotional and financial support. Reduced visits by their loved ones and the suspension of senior-centric activities can lead to increased loneliness.”
Dr June Goh-Rin on one of the social issues she cares about
Dr. Goh-Rin has led the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) for two terms, helmed the ASEAN Confederation of Women’s Organisations, sits on the boards of the non-profit SG Her Empowerment and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, and more. Evidently, female empowerment is a cause close to her heart.
The philanthropist credits her peers as well as Dr Ann Tan and veteran banker Laura Hwang, both also renowned stalwarts, for catalysing her interest in the movement, and her father and husband for being incredible pillars of support.
“My father never let gender norms influence him and always supported and encouraged me to pursue my ambitions. Similarly, my husband has been incredibly proactive in caring for the family while encouraging me to pursue my career.”
In March 2019, she was pivotal in launching Seeds of Change, a fund set up to support women’s development programmes. It ran for three years and disbursed about $230,000 in grants. While the pandemic curtailed the fund’s activities for a year, Dr Goh-Rin and team pressed forward. They arranged the first mentorship sessions in May 2020 for mentors to guide mentees, check on the progress of the projects, and understand areas that needed more support.
“The book All About Eve: Your Women’s Health Questions Answered by AWDS (Association of Women Doctors’ Singapore) is one of my favourite projects. I’m proud that the organisation I’m in produced such a wonderful comprehensive guide for women of all ages on topics that affect their health.”
The work is never-ending. In 2020, Dr Goh-Rin also took part in a series of dialogues organised by several government ministries. The thrust of the talks centred on issues that affect women at home, in the community, and in schools and workplaces.
Of particular interest to Dr Goh-Rin is women ageing. She recently co-led a taskforce that highlighted the plight of vulnerable elderly women in the community during the pandemic. “Over half of Singapore residents aged 65 and above live alone or with their spouses only. They depend on caregivers for emotional and financial support. Reduced visits by their loved ones and the suspension of senior-centric activities can lead to increased loneliness.” SCWO partnered with NTUC Health Nursing Homes for the Adopt A Grandparent befriender programme. Each volunteer would regularly call the elderly to keep them company.
Ultimately, Dr Goh-Rin strives to instil in her children a strong sense of social awareness, that living with kindness and integrity is key to building a better world. She’s certainly done all she can to give back.
Photography: Mun Kong
Art Direction & Styling: Chia Wei Choong
Hair: Aung Apichai, using Kevin.Murphy
Makeup: Keith Bryant Lee, using Shiseido
Photography Assistant: Alfred Phang
