Veterans of Camden

From Left: Ms Caryn Peh, Dr David Ng, Dr Rashid Tahir, Dr Patricia Hancock, Dr Wong Yik Mun, Ms Elizabeth Cowle, Dr Maurine Tsakok, Dr Tan Hooi Hwa


For some medical practitioners, the move to Camden Medical marked the beginning of a major professional milestone, while for others, the Centre has been a place to continue their lasting engagement with patients.

We spoke to a group of established veterans who have been with the Centre for over a decade, to learn more about their personal stories and why they have chosen to call Camden Medical home.

Enduring Memories

Ming Clinic’s Dr Roger Pang, Dr Tan Hooi Hwa and Dr Wong Yik Mun have just celebrated their 35th year of practicing together – 17 of which are at Camden Medical. For them, the building has become an integral aspect of their practice and where they have cared for multiple generations of patients.

For husband and wife team, Dr Rashid Tahir, Consultant and Mdm Haslinda Putri Harun, Director, of The Kids Dentist, the building marks where the former moved into private practice and has been a place that has grown his skills, client base and reputation. “Camden Medical has a special place in my heart. At the end of each day when I turn off the lights and close up the office, I think: I really like working here. I can’t imagine working anywhere else,” said Dr Rashid.

The building also carries more than professional significance for Dr Woffles Wu – who began his career in private practice at Camden Medical 18 years ago. “My son is as old as my private practice. As a child, he would play and run around in the clinic and downstairs in the open ground floor space – it was his playground,” he reminisced.

A Great Sense of Community

Importantly, added Dr Pang, it is the people who have made Camden Medical special. “We like the fact that there is a dedicated team who sees to our needs. Audrey (Vice President, Marketing) is the face of Camden Medical and is always responsive when we need something, and is always ready to help and listen.

"There is a feeling of community and home here.” In fact, the simple act of eating lunch and bumping into his peers at the small café on the ground floor is a welcoming break each day, said Dr David Ng, Clinical Director, Implant Dental Centre. “Over time we’ve formed an informal lunch crew,” he said. This interaction also helps cement friendships and professional bonds. “The good thing about Camden Medical is that it is easy to do intra-building referrals,” he added.

Design

Architecture was a particular attraction to Dr Woffles Wu, who wanted a place that reflected his own personality and passions. “When I knew it was a Richard Meier building, I thought it was a great place to start the next phase of my career in private practice,” he said. Dr Wu, an avid art lover and collector – and whose clinic is showcase for several interesting pieces – loved the distinctive circular design, clean lines and white façade of the Centre.

The building’s iconic design is also a talking point and a recognisable feature that makes it easy to locate, noted Elizabeth Cowle, Managing Director, International Medical Centre. “It is impressive and recognisable for our new patients, many of whom are expats.”

Privacy and Comfort

The welcoming yet private nature of the building also serves some clinics especially well. “The discretion helps, because we serve royalty and other VIPs,” noted Caryn Peh, Managing Director of Group Clinic Services at Eu Yan Sang. Another bonus, she pointed out, is that the rooms have access to natural light, which is helpful in Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment. Other doctors also mentioned that the access to windows, scenery and light are some much-loved aspects.
Take Dr Maurine Tsakok, who was so taken by the space that she set up her clinic in the showroom as-is. “I didn’t change a thing!” she laughed “I chose this place because of the windows, because most medical clinics have none.” The high ceilings and unique space have also served as a canvas for her art. “Patients tell me that my clinic looks like an art gallery!”

Respected Practitioners across Specialities

These factors are bolstered by other pluses. Dr Rashid shared, “Patients have a positive perception of the medical services here because Camden Medical has a reputation of being home to quality practitioners.”

As the Centre houses various specialties under one roof, it is convenient for patients from overseas, added Dr Patricia Hancock of SmileFocus. With 21 specialisations from across the diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative spectrum of care, patients enjoy the ease of getting their teeth cleaned, doing their annual screenings and seeing a physiotherapist all on the same day and in the same location.

Connectivity

A Company for Women’s Dr Lai Fon Min also cites the building’s proximity to private hospitals as a plus, as it means he is close to his patients, an important factor for an obstetrician-gynaecologist. “And it’s near my home,” he added with a laugh. The Centre – at the fringes of Orchard Road – is centrally located and accessible, but in a less busy part of the shopping belt, offering a stress-free travel experience for doctors and patients alike.

The Veterans (11 years and more)

• Jerry Tan Eye Surgery (19 years)
• Maurine Tsakok Clinic (19 years)
• Woffles Wu Aesthetic Surgery & Laser Centre (18 years)
• The Ming Clinic (17 years)
• Dr Alex Chee, Singapore Dental Surgery (14 years)
• SmileFocus (13 years)
• Eu Yan Sang Premier TCM Centre (14 years);
• A Company for Women, Obstetrics and Gynaecology (13 years)
• Fresenius Medical Care Tanglin Dialysis Clinic (13 years)
• IYAC Aesthetics & Anti-Aging Clinic (12 years)
• Gromark Aesthetics Centre (12 years)
• Aquatic Therapy International (12 years)
• CG Dental Care (12 years)
• Implant Dental Centre (11 years)
• International Medical Clinic (11 years)
• International Dental (11 years)
• The Kids Dentist (11 years)

The Decade Club (10 going on 11 years)

• Eye & Retina Surgeons
• GynaeMD Womens & Rejuvenation Clinic
• International Dental
• Medora Centre for Aesthetic Medicine
• T32 Dental Care