Graduate Studies Blog
NANYANG EXECUTIVE MBA
Levelling up as a healthcare leader with the Nanyang EMBA
In 2019, he was appointed Clinic Director of SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP) – Sengkang, a new role that came with new challenges. “I was essentially placed in charge of Sengkang Polyclinic,” Dr Kang recalls. “It wasn’t enough just to be competent anymore. I wouldn’t succeed unless I learned senior leadership competencies in management, operations, and finance.”
Dr Kang needed hands-on knowledge like strategies, frameworks, and decision-making paradigms that could be immediately applied to his work. He also sought to hear first-hand leadership stories from those in similar positions.
His desire to upskill led Dr Kang to the Executive MBA (EMBA) programme at Nanyang Business School. The 13-month programme provided critical support as he took on the added responsibilities of his new leadership role.
Coming into his own as a SingHealth Polyclinics leader
The knowledge Dr Kang gained during the Nanyang EMBA’s modules was immediately applied in his new role. He used the frameworks he learned during the programme to plan long-term budgets, improve processes, adjust strategies, and iron out structural issues.
Such questions were fundamental in guiding his development of SHP’s telemedicine programme. Dr Kang, who served as the Clinical Lead for Remote Care Workgroup in SHP from the year 2020 to 2021, had planned to launch the programme progressively, clinic by clinic, over a period of one year or more. By the end of February 2020, the need for a robust, long-term remote care programme was evident. The urgency of the pandemic forced him to reassess his timeline and develop the programme in just three months.
He says, “At the EMBA, participants were instilled with critical leadership competencies. We learned about creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), assessing situations with agile frameworks, and managing large and diverse teams. This is important because at SHP, I am managing over 150 employees across different disciplines.” With his new business acumen, Dr Kang was able to quickly scale the programme across the SHP network and provide telemedicine services to the polyclinics’ patients.
He employed an iterative approach for the telemedicine programme, continuously improving the rollout according to the feedback from patients who went through video consultations. The programme has grown considerably since its launch, with the aim to triple the number of patients in the next two to three years.
His hard work did not go unnoticed – in 2023’s National Day Awards, Dr Kang was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) for his capable administration of the Remote Care Workgroup, among other responsibilities.
He was also promoted to Director, Regional Clinical Services (North East) of SingHealth Polyclinics, an acknowledgment of his exceptional leadership and contributions to advancing healthcare technology in the organisation.
Driving change in healthcare doesn’t stop there
As our world continues to change, business leaders must exercise creativity to solve never-before-seen challenges.
According to Dr Kang, Singapore has a few challenges to tackle. The first is the country’s ageing society. The two-child policy caused an abrupt change in population in Singapore, which means that today’s elders are dependent on a smaller base of taxpayers for income in their old age. Although this policy is now abolished, the country’s fertility rates remain low, which signifies a growing ageing society in the future.
Additionally, because healthcare standards have improved, people are living longer – a phenomenon he terms as the “silver tsunami”. As the prevalence of chronic diseases increases among the general population, insurance premiums inch higher and higher.
Though technology can be critical in solving some of these issues, it is not as easy as flipping a switch. “Tech is not a be-all, end-all solution”, he highlights. “During the overseas segment of the Nanyang EMBA at University of California, Berkeley, I saw many technologies for the very first time,” Dr Kang tells us. “Healthcare leaders must become more discerning in assessing the value of tech-based initiatives in healthcare settings. Above all, we must remember that caregiving always requires a warm, emotional, and kind human touch.”
Strengthening his personal relationships, in and beyond the workplace
For Dr Kang, one of the Nanyang EMBA’s key legacies was the ability to connect to others on a deep, meaningful level – both in and beyond the workplace.
“When I was a younger doctor, I used to write to my superiors with critiques and suggestions. They took all feedback constructively and groomed me to be a healthcare leader. I want to be the kind of leader who can do the same for the next generation,” says Dr Kang.
Even with his expanded responsibilities within SHP, Dr Kang continues to actively flatten his organisation’s structure so that even the most junior clinic staff can feel comfortable approaching him directly with their concerns.
The network he gained from the EMBA has proved its long-lasting value. “It was more than a network, actually,” he says. “At Nanyang Business School, I found true friends in fellow leaders who truly understand what I am struggling with and know how to support me.”
To this day, Dr Kang continues to keep in touch with members from his cohort. When one of them needs advice, they would all join a Zoom call to hash it out. With a smile, he remarks, “This is the kind of invaluable connection that I will keep with me for many years to come.”
The Healthcare Leader Scholarship offered to healthcare professionals including the pharmaceutical sector recognises the contribution of leaders in driving transformation for healthcare. To find out more about the scholarships available, contact us at execmba@ntu.edu.sg or schedule a chat for a 1-to-1 discussion on your postgraduate aspirations.
Register here for a chat: https://bit.ly/NanyangEMBAchat
The Nanyang Executive MBA is a part-time 13-months programme designed for senior leaders aspiring to transform the way they lead. The programme aims to embrace the connection between business, technology, and innovation–delivering a relevant curriculum to business leaders to help them excel in global environments and adapt to each new wave of digital change.
