On the evening of 2 May 2023, the photo book Women Inspiring Women: The Home Edition – Mothers and Daughters in Healthcare was launched amid enthusiastic cheers at the Glass Room of the National Gallery Singapore. Conceptualised and produced by Dr Chua Yang, an O&G specialist and avid photographer, the book contains photographs of 100 sets of mothers and daughters in healthcare, each taken by Dr Chua herself. These women span multiple generations, ethnicities and professions, but all have contributed greatly to Singapore's healthcare.
More than 230 guests attended the launch event, including the mothers and daughters featured in the book, which was graced by Guest of Honour Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and immediate past SMA President Dr Tan Yia Swam. Families and friends socialised and reminisced over drinks to the dulcet tones of smooth jazz performed live.
Dr Tan Yia Swam, Dr Chua Yang and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan at the book launch
The programme commenced with Dr Tan, SMA's first woman President, delivering a short speech about how the photo book spoke strongly to her as a celebration of women, mothers and daughters. The compiled photographs were, Dr Tan enthused, a testament to the deep love and nurturing care that mothers have for their children.
Dr Chua shared how the book began in March 2022 as a small photography project to honour her late mother, Mdm Lee Boon Ngan, and to celebrate healthcare workers as they care for patients and their own families. Eventually, Dr Chua sought to feature a total of 210 women, to whom she thanked for their trust and cooperation, and for taking the time amid their busy schedules to meet with her.
Dr Balakrishnan then took the stage and shared his admiration for women doctors and their unwavering strength. Medicine is a difficult course to pursue, and motherhood is an endeavour no less prodigious, but these ladies, he declared, have admirably accomplished both. He ended his speech by wishing all a happy Mother's Day in advance. Dr Chua and Dr Balakrishnan officially launched the photo book and led a small tour of the exhibition.
Though the book launch concluded, the exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore remained open to the public from 3 May to 4 May.
We are also pleased to share that Dr Chua has kindly gifted her photo books to the SMA Charity Fund (SMACF). Donors will receive a copy of the photo book with every $100 donated to SMACF. As of 8 May 2023, this generous gesture has raised $93,670. Dr Chua's altruism exemplifies SMACF's motto of "Supporting Tomorrow's Doctors Today" and we are thankful for her support. To find out more about SMACF and its works, please visit https://smacf.org.sg/.
Dr Grace Kwan and her medical student daughter Elizabeth Leong, one of the featured mother-daughter pairs
More about the photo book
Women Inspiring Women contains forewords from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Dr Tan Yia Swam and Association of Women Doctors (Singapore) Founder President Dr Lucy Tan-Ooi. Each mother-daughter photograph set is accompanied by the story of the subjects' healthcare practice and how they came to it. These personal anecdotes show the mothers and daughters as people, beyond mere pictures on a page. The photo book truly spotlights the inspiring influence that mothers have on their daughters, and the mutual support and love they share.