10th START Award Ceremony

Awards & Achievement,

Asst. Professor Paul Victor Patinadan – 10th START Award Ceremony

We are excited to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof Paul Victor Patinadan, who has been honored with the prestigious Inauguration Grant during the 10th Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent (START) Award Ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Education (MOE). This significant recognition is a part of MOE’s effort to support Singaporeans passionate about pursuing academic careers.

At this year’s START Award Ceremony, MOE awarded grants and scholarships to 28 outstanding individuals dedicated to furthering their academic pursuits. Prof Paul’s journey is a shining example of dedication and passion in the fields of palliative care and education. From his early days as a researcher, to completing his doctoral studies, and now as an Assistant Professor at NTU, his work has consistently reflected his commitment to advancing research and improving lives through compassionate care.

His research on palliative care is not only impactful but also timely, addressing the evolving needs of society in end-of-life care. We are incredibly proud of Prof Paul’s achievements and his ongoing contributions to both research and teaching. His journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring academics and researchers, showing the importance of perseverance, passion, and a commitment to making a difference.

Congratulations once again, Prof Paul! We look forward to witnessing your continued success!

TEDxNTU | Food Voice : The identity you never knew you had

Death Education, Talks & Webinars, ,

Food Voice : The identity you never knew you had | TEDxNTU

Presented by Asst Prof Paul Victor Patinadan

“”We all eat. It’s an indisputable natural fact, fueling our bodies with calories for energy and nutritional benefit. But here’s the intriguing question… How many of you truly LOVE to eat?””

In this captivating talk, Dr. Paul Victor Patinadan delves into the fascinating realm of Food Voices —a unique connection with food that begins from the day we are born and persists even after we die. Drawing from his extensive experience in Thanatology (i.e., study of death) – focused psychosocial interventions and therapies, Paul sheds light on profound realizations he has had of the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of our eating habits in his interactions with individuals at the end of life or those grieving the loss of a loved one.

Breaking the Wall of Undignified Dying in Asian Palliative Care

Death Education, Talks & Webinars,

Breaking the Wall of Undignified Dying in Asian Palliative Care

Presented by Asst. Prof Paul Victor Patinadan

The Falling Walls Lab is an international forum for the next generation of outstanding innovators and creative thinkers. It aims to promote exceptional ideas and to connect promising scientists and entrepreneurs from all fields on a global level. Participants get the opportunity to present their research work, business model, or initiative to peers, a high-calibre jury made up of experts from academia and business, and the general public – in 3 minutes each.

Asst. Prof Paul Patinadan explores the concept of dignity in late stages of life, and using the Family Dignity Intervention (FDI) as a way of understanding the lived experiences of patients and their families.

 

TEDxNTU | Art-Based Storytelling

Death Education, Talks & Webinars, ,

Art-Based Storytelling: A Powerful Tool for Healing and Sharing | TEDxNTU

Presented by Assoc Prof Andy Ho

“What happens when you cannot share your personal story because it is too traumatic or you don’t want to remember certain parts of your past? You might think your life has no meaning, and feelings of grief and loss can take over.”

In this TEDx event hosted by NTU, Professor Andy Ho delves into the profound power of storytelling, illuminating how it serves as both a balm for healing and a bridge for shared human experience.

 

 

ARTISAN 2.0 (2021): Connecting Youths and Seniors in a Pandemic

ARTISAN, Research Related,

ARTISAN 2.0 (July 2021): Virtually Connecting Youths and Seniors in the Midst of a Raging Pandemic

ARTISAN (Aspiration and Resilience Through Intergenerational Storytelling and Art-based Narratives) was developed by Associate Professor Andy Ho with his PhD student Ms. Stephanie Hilary Ma of the Action for Community Health (ARCH) Laboratory at the School of Social Sciences of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), in partnership with National Arts Council, the National Museum of Singapore, TOUCH Community Services and Care Community Services Society. The aims of ARTISAN are to alleviate loneliness, cultivate resilience and build social connectedness among the young and the old through a holistic and multimodal intervention framework that combines the 3 distinctive elements of 1) participatory arts; 2) facilitated storytelling, and 3) curated arts spaces.

From our pilot study in 2018, the research team found that both senior and youth participants experienced significant increase in life satisfaction and resilience, as well as decreased loneliness. ARTISAN, with its intricately designed art and heritage program was able to connect participants’ individual stories with the national stories of Singapore to forge a deepened national identity and a stronger sense of unity under the skylights of the museum space.

Following the successful outcomes of the pilot study, the team sought to better understand the mechanisms underlying ARTISAN’s integrative framework, as well as the interplay between different intervention components including intergenerational storytelling, creative art-making and curated museum tours. As such, ARTISAN 2.0 (Deconstructing the Integrative Efficacy of a Multimodal Art-based Intervention to Strengthen Understanding and Demystify Misconception on Arts Heritage and Health) was conceived.

ARTISAN 2.0 involves a research study that test the effectiveness of holistic health promotion among 5 intervention conditions including (1) the full ARTISAN programme; (2) Intergenerational Artmaking; (3) Intergenerational Museum Tours; (4) Intergenerational Storytelling; and (5) Intergenerational Exercise. While the programmes were designed to be run in-person, it was translated onto an online platform for the safety of all due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With strong partnership amongst all stakeholders, a virtual implementation of ARTISAN 2.0 was developed, encouraging creative and active engagements from the comfort of the participant’s homes.

In July this year, 140 youth and seniors were paired and collectively embarked on a 5-week virtual adventure while improving their holistic health over various activities. The pairs enjoyed the activities as a group on Zoom and forged deeper intergenerational relationships in breakout rooms. Participants in the physical exercise group worked up a sweat virtually through intergenerational aerobic exercises led by a skilled physical trainer. Those in the intergenerational art-making programme explored a myriad of visual art mediums with their partner, an enthralling experience of creative expression led by a local artist. Youth and seniors in the intergenerational museum tours discovered Singapore’s artefacts and unique history through interactive virtual tours of the galleries, live streamed from the National Museum of Singapore. In the intergenerational storytelling group, participants shared their life experiences and wisdom with each other, and were transported to various times in their partner’s lives. Participants in the ARTISAN group experienced an intricate combination of curated live streamed museum tours, professionally led art making and a guided narrative experience, based on the empirically based ARTISAN framework themes of discovering their national heritage, building lasting social bonds, reflecting upon resilience while overcoming adversities and collectively building dreams and aspirations for their future.

After five weeks of engaging in the various programmes offered in the ARTISAN 2.0 study, participants experienced positive life changes such as confidence to learn new skills, greater zest for life, and strengthened relations with others. An 18-year-old female participant shared that the ARTISAN “programme gave (her) a lot of positive interactions, and (she) really enjoyed listening to the big group sharing. It was very enjoyable for (her) as it was like a stress reliever. (She) was generally happier throughout the five weeks, and (she) was engaging (her) family in conversation more (often) as well.” Similarly, a 69-year-old male participant “realised that if (he was) able to communicate with the (youth) participants during the five weeks, why can’t (he) communicate with (his) grandchildren? This programme encouraged (him) to open up to his grandchildren.”.

Participants also observed improvements in their wellbeing and quality of life after completing the ARTISAN 2.0 programmes. One 30-year-old female participant explained that she was “diagnosed with insomnia but realised that these five weeks (of attending ARTISAN) have been so good, (she) had no troubles sleeping (at all).” In terms of psychological health, a 76-year-old female participant shared that “(her) mood has been better, and (she) has less frustrations” and the programme made another 70-year-old participant “feel like (she) has become younger at heart”.

For some older participants, joining an online programme may seem challenging to navigate. Over time, with weekly practice, the support provided by facilitators and fellow participants as well as a willingness to learn, many were able to independently enjoy the activities on zoom. A 68-year-old lady mentioned that “during the first and second week, (she) needed guidance from (her) grandchild. At the end of the programme, (she) can log into Zoom by herself.” Initially, some youth participants were also worried about engaging with seniors on an online platform, however, their concerns were eased as they found the online platform and the ARTISAN programme to be “a very comfortable space, it was very easy for (them) to engage with the seniors, and it didn’t really feel like (the seniors) were from a different generation, it felt more like we were friends talking and hanging out (18-year-old, female)”

During these unprecedented times where physical distancing and staying home remains the default, the ARTISAN 2.0 study showed that virtual arts and heritage intergenerational group-based interventions have vast potential to empower and forge meaningful relationships among youths and seniors, bringing them closer together in healing loneliness. July 2021 was fraught with uncertainty and challenges for many in Singapore, nonetheless, it was an eventful journey for all who were involved in ARTISAN 2.0, fostering a narrative of renewed strength and shared humanity.

Image 1: Holding up emblems and pictures of loved ones to start off a wonderful morning of sharing life’s best moments, exchanging stories and wisdom for participants in the storytelling group

 

Image 2: Participants in the physical activity group showing their strength after a virtual morning workout together

Image 3: Participants in the museum tour groups giving a big thumbs up to thank our museum tour docents for their engaging and wonderful tours.  

Image 4: Fancy some kueh-kueh? Participants in the art-making group sharing clay models of their favourite foods.

Image 5: Participants may be tuning in remotely, but that does not stop them from creating art together. “Our Future Singapore” is a digital collage of the participant’s collective dreams and aspirations for Singapore.

Paul Victor Patinadan – SPS Student Research Award 2020

Awards & Achievement, , ,

Paul Victor Patinadan –
SPS Student Research Award 2020

Congratulations to Paul Victor Patinadan (PhD Student of Psychology) for taking home three national-level awards at the Singapore Psychological Society’s Student Research Awards, 2020. For his paper observing the food voices of terminally-ill Singaporeans; “I Am What I Ate: The ‘Food for Life and Palliation’ (FLiP) Model for Understanding the Lived Experience of Nutritional Assimilation among Singaporean Palliative Care Patients and their Families”, Paul was presented with ‘Best Qualitative Research Paper’, ‘Best Postgraduate Research Award ‘ and moved on to clinch the prestigious ‘Fred Long Award for Research Excellence’.

The inaugural Fred Long Award for Research Excellence honours the decades of service to our Singapore community by the Founder President and Honorary Fellow of the Singapore Psychological Society, Adj Assoc/P Fred Long Foo Yee. This singular distinction is granted to a deserving candidate selected from across all academic institutions in Singapore who has showcased an exceptionally high standard of research-related proficiency.  

Paul’s reflection on the awards:

“Receiving these honours has been incredibly encouraging and motivating. I am elated to see such genuine interest and heartfelt support with regards to the work my team and I strive to accomplish within our community, especially for subject area often met with quizzical frowns or superstitious deflection. I would like to dedicate these awards wholly to the patients and families who allowed us to join them on their culminating journeys via the Family Dignity Intervention study. My deepest gratitude also to my mentor and supervisor Associate Professor Andy Ho Hau Yan, to my wonderful colleagues at the Action Research for Community Health (ARCH) Laboratory of SSS Psychology, and my amazing partner, all of whom continue to inspire and guide me through my own everyday adventures.”

(In the Photo) Paul is seen here with Research Chair of the SPS, Dr. Denise Dillon and Founder President of the SPS, Professor Long himself.

Assoc Professor Andy Hau Yan Ho – HKU Distinguished Alumni Award 2020

Awards & Achievement

Assoc Professor Andy Hau Yan Ho – HKU Distinguished Alumni Award 2020

Associate Professor Andy Hau Yan Ho from Psychology was conferred the HKU Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Social Work and Social Administration (SWSA) of The University of Hong Kong in January 2020. This award recognizes Professor Ho’s illustrious leadership in promoting death literacy and dignity in end of life care, while reshaping regional and international landscapes of holistic palliative and bereavement care through his innovative research programmes and tireless efforts in policy advocacy. His award nominator as well as his doctoral supervisor, Professor Cecilia Chan, said, “Dr Ho has passionately advocated for individuals, families and communities challenged by death, dying and bereavement with endless dedication and compassion. His many social and scholarly contributions to fields of Thanatology and Gerontology are widely recognized by academic, professional and government bodies around the world. He is indeed an exceptional SWSA alumnus.”

Professor Zhang Xiang, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong

Asst Professor Andy Hau Yan Ho – Best Oral Presentation Award

Awards & Achievement,

Asst Professor Andy Hau Yan Ho – 1st Place Winner of Best Oral Presentation Award at The Asia Pacific Hospice and Palliative Care Conference 2019

Congratulations to Asst Professor Andy Ho from Psychology for capturing the 1st Place Winner of the Best Oral Presentation Award presented at the Asia Pacific Hospice and Palliative Care Conference (APHC) on 4 August 2019. More than 300 abstracts were submitted to the conference and only 12 top rated abstracts were selected for oral presentation. Professor Andy’s work was deemed best among all submitted and presented works by 3 panel judges. His presentation, “Family Dignity Intervention (FDI) for advancing Holistic Care in Asia Palliative Care: Preliminary Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial”, shared the exciting results of a novel psycho-socio-spiritual intervention for enhancing hope, spiritual wellness and quality of life among terminally-ill patients and their family caregivers in Singapore.

Asst Professor Andy Ho’s Reflection on the Award

“This award is dedicated to the many end-of-life care patients and family caregivers who have placed their trust in me and my team in sharing their most intimate stories of love, hope, struggles and resilience during life’s most vulnerable and precious moments; we are honored and humbled to have walked this journey with you. This award is also dedicated to my research team at ARCH (Action Research for Community Health) Lab for their tireless effort and deepest compassion in supporting and assisting patients and families facing dying, death and mortality. This research would not have been possible without the generous support from the Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2 Grant (MOE-2016-T2-1-016). We will continue to develop innovative programmes and clinically robust interventions to empower and improve the lives of those challenged by life’s adversities.”

Asst Prof Andy Ho capturing the Best Oral Presentation Award.

Asst Prof Andy Ho and his research team (ARCH Lab) at APHC 2019.

Paul Victor Patinadan – Santander Researcher Mobility Award 2019

Awards & Achievement, ,

Paul Victor Patinadan – Santander Researcher Mobility Award 2019

Congratulations to Paul Victor Patinadan (PhD Student of Psychology) for winning the prestigious Santander Researcher Mobility Award, a collaborative accolade by the University of Surrey and Santander Universities presented at the Doctoral College Conference on 10 July 2019. The title of his oral presentation was “Understanding and Facilitating Dignified Death and Holistic End of Life Care”. The Santander Researcher Mobility Award is presented to promising specialist researchers in order to encourage international exchange and facilitate cross-border collaboration.

Paul’s reflection on the award:

“It was an honour and privilege to present my work at the University of Surrey Doctoral College Conference 2019. The thrust of the conference was “Bridging the Gap”, and the event achieved that objective exceedingly well. I met many international academics from all walks of life and across different disciplines. It was humbling to share in their knowledge, experience, wisdom, and struggles in initiating positive social change. I was heartened to have so many veteran researchers interested in the work I do, and I experienced a professional kinship that I am thankful to have discovered. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my mentor and supervisor Professor Andy Ho, and to my wonderful colleagues at ARCH (Action Research for Community Health) Lab of SSS Psychology, who continue to inspire and guide me every single day.”

Paul presenting his Dignity Research at the Doctoral College Conference 2019 at the University of Surrey, UK.