Now Doing a PhD, the First President of NUS Public Health Club Shares on the Club’s Origins

Disclaimer: All opinions and views expressed in this article are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not reflect the opinions and views of the NUS Public Health Club, the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and their respective affiliates or employees. 

“Do what we love and love what we do.” 

This is perhaps what Li Yi, the first President of the Public Health Club (PHC), envisioned for the PHC community, while being anchored in the passion for public health (PH). 

Public Health Interest Group became an independent student organisation in 2019 when a group of students, including Li Yi, who were pursuing minors in Public Health, strongly felt that they could step up to do more for the community. Back then, PHC had a different name - Public Health Interest Group.

Li Yi recalled that PHIG originated from being a sub-committee under the Life Sciences Society. That was when they started the Module Repository initiative. Li Yi shared that after one of the founding members, Nicole, “went on an exchange programme in Sweden and saw how impactful their PH student interest group was”, Nicole and the others were inspired to become an “independent student-led interest group that will serve as a platform to provide guidance on PH career options and offer avenues for students to explore their PH interests, be it in research, policy or campaigns.”

The journey of building up PHC was not always easy. But anchored in their desire to grow a community passionate in public health, Li Yi and her team were deeply committed to realising their vision, going beyond the usual scope and time of a regular university student.

Li Yi reminiscenced, “I’m blessed to have this super passionate, talented and resourceful group of friends that were willing to sacrifice their time to get things going, to meet with our collaborators and be ever so supportive and enthusiastic about our initiatives. I’m also glad to have the strong support from the University, MOHT and SSHSPH; their unwavering faith in this very new student group pushed us forward in many endeavours.”

Looking at how far PHC has come since its inception five years ago, Li Yi was filled with anticipation and excitement:

“I’m very proud to see the Club going strong. It is extremely heartening to see a continuity of our past initiatives like the PHC, HCI and module repository, as well as many new, exciting ventures such as the Volunteer Corps and Alumni Relations.”

With the Alumni Relations Committee’s vision being a vibrant, supportive alumni community that upholds the spirit of giving back, Li Yi encouraged PHC alumni to connect with the Club and share their experiences with the juniors. With more alumni mentors, she envisaged students getting the chance to find mentorship opportunities through this community.

“Doing what we love and love what we do” certainly is what Li Yi exemplifies. In her undergraduate years, this has propelled her and her team to establish PHC. Now, she pursues a PhD in biochemistry at the University of Colorado, doing research in RNA biology which sparked her interest in it during her final year project. 

If there is any advice Li Yi would like to give to the juniors, it wasn’t unsurprising when she responded:

“Do what you love, and love what you do”.

We express our gratitude to the staff advisors at Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Dr Andre Matthias Müller and Ms Wendy Tan Mei Ling, for their guidance and support provided to us in the PHC Alumni Relations Interview Series (AY2022/2023).