{"id":37650,"date":"2026-03-19T20:50:35","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T12:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=37650"},"modified":"2026-03-19T20:50:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T12:50:35","slug":"doctor-who-started-clinic-for-people-with-intellectual-disabilities-is-st-singaporean-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=37650","title":{"rendered":"Doctor who started clinic for people with intellectual disabilities is ST Singaporean of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SINGAPORE \u2013 A doctor who started Singapore\u2019s first dedicated clinic for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) was named The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2025.<\/p>\n

On March 19, Dr Chen Shiling was presented the award by its patron President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was the guest of honour at the award ceremony at Temasek Shophouse.<\/p>\n

Determined to tackle gaps she saw in the healthcare system for people with ID, Dr Chen quit her job at a public hospital in 2013 and founded Happee Hearts Movement a year later.<\/p>\n

The charity, which runs the IDHealth clinic, a community-based healthcare service in Upper Thomson Road, has since served about 500 people with ID and more than 1,000 of their caregivers.<\/p>\n

At the ceremony, Dr Chen, 45, received a trophy, along with a $20,000 cash prize, a five-night stay at any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts\u2019 global properties, and a pair of Singapore Airlines (SIA) business class tickets. <\/p>\n

She was nominated alongside seven other finalists, including former school canteen vendor, Ms Lydia Susiyanti Sukarbi, 37, who provides free breakfasts for underprivileged children in her neighbourhood, and Mr Steven Goh, 48, who founded charity Helping Joy to help hoarders declutter their homes.<\/p>\n

The finalists each received a certificate and a $5,000 cash prize, a three-night stay at any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts\u2019 global properties, and a pair of SIA economy class tickets.<\/p>\n

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Dr Chen Shiling speaking at the ST Singaporean of the Year 2025 award ceremony on March 19.<\/p>\n

ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now in its 11th year, the award \u2013 organised by The Straits Times \u2013 honours a Singaporean individual or group that has made significant contributions to society. <\/p>\n

It also pays tribute to those who have put Singapore on the world map or have gone beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

UBS Singapore has been the presenting sponsor of the award since its inception. The other sponsors are SIA, and Millennium Hotels and Resorts.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s award was decided by a panel comprising ST editors, UBS representatives and individuals who have made their mark in various fields. The panel also took into account the results of more than 9,000 votes from the public.<\/p>\n

Two other accolades were added for the first time to recognise a broader group of Singaporeans.<\/p>\n

The ST Singaporean of the Year (International Impact) award, which honours a Singaporean or local organisation that has made a positive impact outside of Singapore, was given to Mr Robert Kee<\/span><\/a>, 77, a former entrepreneur who runs a charity helping impoverished children and families in Cambodia and Nepal.<\/p>\n

Gymnast Amanda Yap, 16,<\/span><\/a> won the other new accolade \u2013 ST Young Singaporean of the Year \u2013 which recognises a Singaporean under 18 who has shown courage, compassion, empathy, kindness or a spirit of service, and has made a positive impact among peers.<\/p>\n

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(From left) ST Singaporean of the Year (International Impact) award winner Robert Kee, ST Singaporean of the Year award winner Chen Shiling and ST Young Singaporean of the Year award winner Amanda Yap.<\/p>\n

ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Among the ceremony\u2019s guests were past winners, including 2025 recipient, Mr Koh Seng Choon, who founded a foodcourt<\/span><\/a>, <\/span><\/a>Dignity Kitchen,<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/a>which employs people with disabilities. <\/p>\n

SPH Media chief executive Chan Yeng Kit also attended the dinner event.<\/p>\n

As a doctor in 2010, Dr Chen started organising health screenings for people with ID when she was volunteering with various social service agencies and discovered that many of their health problems were poorly addressed.<\/p>\n

Patients with ID may not be able to communicate their pain and symptoms, instead expressing it through shouting or agitation, which can be mistaken for behavioural problems. They also have a higher prevalence of other health conditions, including mobility issues and sensory processing difficulties, said Dr Chen.<\/p>\n

Her attempts to persuade government agencies, philanthropic groups and other organisations to set up a dedicated healthcare service for people with ID\u00a0went nowhere, so she decided to start it on her own.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

IDHealth\u2019s team, which is made up of doctors, nurses, social workers and allied health professionals, started seeing residents with IDs living in adult disability homes in 2024. It plans to launch three new services in palliative care, dementia care and preventive health in 2026.<\/p>\n

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Dr Chen Shiling interacting with a patient. She founded Happee Hearts Movement, a charity which runs a community-based healthcare service that has served about 500 people with intellectual disabilities and more than 1,000 of their caregivers.<\/p>\n

ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mr Jaime Ho, editor of The Straits Times, said the nominees represent the very best of Singapore, and their stories show that heroism is not about a single grand gesture, but a consistent and even persistent commitment to causes beyond themselves.<\/p>\n

Addressing the finalists, Mr Ho said: \u201cYou have shown us that even in a world that can feel complex and challenging, kindness, grace, and determined action remain our most potent forces.\u201d<\/p>\n

President of UBS Asia-Pacific and co-president of UBS Global Wealth Management Iqbal Khan said of the winners: \u201cGuided by a deep sense of responsibility and sustained effort, they have used their unique skills \u2013 whether in healthcare, sport or business, to make a meaningful difference, not just in Singapore but far beyond its shores.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Kwek Eik Sheng, executive director of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, said: \u201cFrom serving the vulnerable to creating inclusive opportunities and representing Singapore globally, each finalist reminds us that extraordinary impact begins with belief and conviction \u2013 and that our nation\u2019s true strength lies in how we uplift, empower and encourage one another.\u201d<\/p>\n

SIA\u2019s chief sustainability officer and senior vice-president of corporate planning, Ms Lee Wen Fen, said: \u201cThe remarkable work of this year\u2019s recipients reminds us that small acts of kindness and compassion can create profound and lasting impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Yvonne Tay, Temasek Shophouse\u2019s chief executive officer, said: \u201cThe nominees of the award remind us that every Singaporean can be a part of building a more connected and inclusive country that we call home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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