AWDS PRESIDENT’S 2012 NEW YEAR MESSAGE

Dear AWDS Members and Friends,

I would like to wish all of you “Gong Xi Fatt Chai”!

Last year went by so quickly that I nearly forgot to send out this Dragon Year’s New Year message. Apart from work, we have ageing parents, kids and an awful lot of tasks to take care off. Therefore, as busy women doctors, it is so easy to just lose track of time.

In this new year, as we make fresh resolutions, we must also remember to mind our health and take time to strengthen the bonds between our family and friends. With the last three public holidays occurring in quick succession, I hope all of you had a good time catching up with family and close friends, as well as having fun indulging together in sumptuous New Year dinners.

Over the past year, we participated actively in issues concerning women and healthcare.

Dr Manju Chandran represented AWDS at the CEDAW (Commission to End Discrimination Against Women) closed door session. Crucial topics on women and children’s rights were discussed.

Together with the People’s Association and the Nursing Association, we organized a dialogue with Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education, to discuss healthcare issues.

Members of the committee participated in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean to discuss issues that working women face. This provided us with an opportunity to interact with members from other Singaporean women's associations.

In July last year, AWDS organized a public forum for Women and Daughters. The aim was to enhance communication between parents and their teens and to raise sexual health awareness amongst teenagers.

To cater to the fun and networking aspect of our association, we organized a fashion show featuring Lanvin and had an interesting cooking lesson by celebrated chef Julian Bompard in collaboration with De Detrich. On the 25th of November, we had the annual Lawyer-Doctor event themed 'Passage to India'. This was jointly organised by the Young Lawyer's Committee, AWDS and the Singapore Medical Association.

This year, we will be focusing on the following activities:

• AWDS hopes to bring meaningful activities and programs to undergraduates and junior doctors through the continued mentoring of junior doctors. We will be collaborating with SCWO on their recently-launched Women’s Register online mentoring programme targeted at young women between 18 to 35 years of age.

• Our next major event, a tea for women doctors and their kids, will be held in May. Funds raised will go to a worthwhile charity. I strongly encourage members and their friends to join us in this exciting and worthwhile event.

• Organizing events for public education.

I wish all our Women Doctors a good year ahead, filled with happiness, peace and harmony.

Dr June Goh, President 2010-2012

Updated 12 March 2012