Matilda masters expanding her health career
After working in infectious disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, Matilda Boey knew she wanted to contribute further to Singapore’s health system, inspiring her to study a Master of Public Health.
Drawn to the University of Newcastle because of its connections with Singapore, its strong reputation and flexibility around study, Matilda completed her studies over the past year while working full-time in Singapore’s National Cancer Centre.
“I recognised the University of Newcastle has one of the highest post graduate employability rates in southeast Asia,” Matilda said.
“In addition to that, I was eligible to study online, so I didn’t have to quit my full-time job while pursuing my Masters.”
With a Diploma in Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Matilda entered her first job with the National University of Singapore in infectious diseases to research tuberculosis, just prior to the COVID outbreak. Working in one of five Biosafety Level three facilities in Singapore, her work shifted completely to focus on the outbreak.
“We had to pivot quickly, focusing everything on COVID. We needed to isolate the virus, identify how long it could live on certain surfaces and what could kill it.”
Reflecting on this time, Matilda said the experience contributed to the person she has become today.
“Looking back, even now, I never expected myself to pull through in that kind of high stress environment. I feel I am a more disciplined person now, as well as more organised and motivated,” she said.
Following the intense experience of working in a pandemic and later oncology, Matilda enrolled in the Master of Public Health, which teaches students how to monitor the health of a population, identify its health needs, and develop and implement policies that promote health, and evaluate health services.
Throughout her studies, Matilda embraced the opportunity to learn and expand her knowledge in new theories. But the biggest impact on her outlook was engaging with so many new people.
“I realised the world is so big and that my day to day is just a tiny puddle of what I can experience. Through doing my masters, I have met so many different people from such diverse backgrounds even though it was online,” Matilda reflected.
Matilda has now accepted an offer from a biotechnology firm where she’ll be working on cell therapies that are the new frontier of oncology treatment. She is excited to use her research and healthcare professional background in this role and explore what the world has to offer.
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Contact
- Kali Somerville
- Email: kali.somerville@newcastle.edu.au
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