What attracted you to study at King’s?
King’s is one of the best dental schools in the world and I wanted to go for the best!
Why dentistry?
I was always interested in – and, in fact, I still am – art and aesthetics. I was also a very keen science student. And dentistry involves all those elements. It was a good fit for me.
What’s your favourite memory of your time at King’s?
As undergraduate students, we worked hard and we played hard. Some of my fondest memories involve me heading out after my morning lectures to Soho to enjoy a meal with friends or heading into Covent Garden to go shopping… then dashing back to make sure I didn’t miss my afternoon lectures.
What’s the key skill or lesson you learnt at King’s?
To persevere, work hard and go for your dream. And that ethos still drives me today.
You’ve had a varied career in dentistry and orthodontics…
I suppose I have. I set up my own practices and I became the Chief Executive Officer of TP Dental Surgeons in 2005. I’ve been a Visiting Clinical Tutor at the Postgraduate Orthodontics Department at the National University of Singapore since 1997 and I was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2013. I’ve also had roles on the Singapore Dental Council, the Dental Specialist Accreditation Committee in Orthodontics for College of Dental Surgeons Singapore and on the Academic Advisory Board for Invisalign.
And the thing all these positions have in common? They are all started with my admission into the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences at King’s College London. It gave me such great grounding and such a sound foundation that I will always be grateful.
What’s been your proudest achievement so far?
My proudest achievement so far is to build a multidisciplinary group practice that conducts high-level dentistry and employs the latest technology. This allows me to be at the cutting edge of my sector, and it also means I work in an environment where I can inspire and pass my knowledge, skills and experience down to the next generation of dentists and orthodontists.
What's been the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is to balance my love of clinical work with the administrative necessities and the responsibilities of employing and inspiring my staff and other work colleagues. But I guess those problems are familiar to anyone who runs a complex business.
You've been involved with the King’s Alumni Association of Singapore. Can you tell us about that?
I benefited so much from my education at King’s and I’d like to make sure that many other people have that opportunity to enjoy that experience. It is really heartening to see the increase in the number of students enrolling from Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region. I hope this trend continues.
What's next for you?
I hope to bring the same high standard of dentistry that we enjoy in Singapore and the UK to countries that do not have it yet.
Finally, what advice would you give to fellow alumni wanting to follow in your footsteps?
The world is your oyster if you study and work diligently. Always follow through with continual education, too. And remain ethical and professional in all your dealings.