In my medical officer and registrar years, I had the privilege of working under inspirational senior clinicians who led me beyond clinical practice to service development and nurturing the next generation. Their hearts and minds were not merely department nor hospital centric, but always had the perspective of a wider healthcare service.When the Outpatient Dispensaries (OPDs, before Polyclinics were built) were overloaded during flu outbreaks, we were sent out to help. When smaller hospitals were short of staff, we were rotated to provide cover. When MOH saw the need to develop geriatric services, a medical unit in TTSH was converted into a geriatric medicine department and an active plan was conceived to develop services across the clusters. I have no doubt that many disciplines grew in similar fashion nationwide - committed clinicians paved the way to create departments and expanded their disciplines in various hospitals and specialist centres. Many of these continue to collaborate, whether in service, education or research; and the Covid situation in the past year has shown that our health care services, both public and private, can work together.

Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909), an American historian, minister and writer, wrote the story “Ten Times One is Ten” – about a fictitious character Henry who influenced ten others, each of whom in turn influenced another ten. 27 years later, the figure reached one thousand million… Their philosophy? “Look up and not down, Look forward and not back, Look out and not in, Lend a Hand”. The simple approach in this story inspired several charitable groups in real life.