SAOT is proud to celebrate Heidi Tan, Senior Principal Occupational Therapist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and Yvette Choo, Senior Occupational Therapist at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Community Hospital. Both received the Healthcare Humanity Award on 23 October 2026.

The Healthcare Humanity Awards are organised by MOH Holdings and have run since 2004. They are among Singapore’s most prestigious honours for healthcare workers, recognising individuals and teams whose work reflects the deepest values of care. Heidi and Yvette were honoured as part of the NHG Health Bounce Back Support Team, one of 20 teams to receive the award for collaboration from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

OT at the heart of returning to work.

Heidi and Yvette are part of a team of 10 occupational therapists and medical social workers across TTSH, KTPH and YCH. The team supports patients whose illnesses have derailed their working lives. Many of these patients live with long-term conditions such as epilepsy, chronic kidney disease, chronic pain or depression. Their symptoms, like fatigue, pain and anxiety, are often invisible and fluctuating. Yet many do not qualify for formal disability employment support.

Through occupational therapy, these patients’ work readiness and capacity are assessed and built up. Working alongside partners Inclus and UEMS Solutions, the team has helped more than 130 patients secure jobs or regain the ability to look for work independently.

Heidi captures the OT perspective well: for her, “recovery is not complete” until patients have what they need to rebuild their working lives.

A proud moment for our profession.

National recognition of this kind affirms what occupational therapists have long known: work is a meaningful occupation, central to a person’s identity, independence and dignity. Heidi and Yvette’s achievement shows the impact OTs make in vocational rehabilitation. It also shows the value OT brings to interprofessional teams.

Congratulations, Heidi and Yvette! Thank you for championing occupational therapy on the national stage and inspiring OTs across Singapore.

Source: The Straits Times, 23 October 2026.