Women of Vision
Celebrating SG Women

In the Year of Celebrating SG Women, we present stories which showcase and celebrate women’s multi-faceted contributions and progress at SNEC and SERI.

Join us to honour and acknowledge our team of amazing women who have made impact in the field of Ophthalmology, inspiring those around them with their brand of ethos in life.

Assoc Prof Audrey Chia
Head and Senior Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Department, SNEC
Co-Clinical Director, Myopia Centre, SNEC
Co-head, Myopia Research Group, SERI

In your role as a clinician and as a researcher, which do you prefer and why?
Each is interesting in its own way. As a clinician, I get to work with parents and children, and make a contribution to their lives as best I can. As a researcher, I get to explore new ways to do things, which could make a difference in how we manage our patients. I think both roles complement each other.

Has female intuition ever played a role in your work as a clinician?
I don’t think in gender terms when I do my work. I think we all develop our clinical personas in our own ways. As females, however, it may be easier — and more acceptable — to connect with patients in a more personal way. As a paediatric ophthalmologist, it is therefore totally okay for me to cluck at, sing to, and play with my young patients.

What is your view of women’s role in research, science and heading organisations?
I think it’s important to have women in all roles in science. At SERI, there is a good mix of genders. I don’t think there’s any difference in the respect and deference we give each other as leaders and researchers within different teams.

How would you encourage more girls to pursue a career in ophthalmology?
I encourage both girls and boys with the right interest, attitude and aptitude to come and join us in ophthalmology. Traditionally, however, Asian females may be too comfortable with taking the back seat; it would be nice to see more females taking up the challenge of playing a more active role in research and in becoming leaders in their own right.

Click here to check out the Women of Vision  series.