Pivoting his healthcare career at 53: How he's making inspiring shift into fitness and nutrition
Published on
20 Jun 2024
Published by
The Straits Times
With a specialist diploma from Singapore Polytechnic's PACE Academy, mostly funded using SkillsFuture credits, the ex-medical worker can now venture into fields including physiotherapy and rehabilitation
After more than two decades working as a medical staff in cancer care, Mr Maitri Lau was ready for a change.
At 53 years old, his worsening carpal tunnel syndrome – a condition that causes numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand and wrist – made it increasingly difficult to perform precise tasks required in his job, such as preparing and administering chemotherapy medications.
But his desire to help patients remained strong. He started asking himself if he could continue to help others in a different way. It was then that he decided to take the plunge and enroll in the Specialist Diploma in Nutrition and Exercise Science at Singapore Polytechnic’s Professional & Adult Continuing Education (SP PACE) Academy.
Receiving training and certifications in these two areas would allow him to stay within healthcare, but also pave the way for him to branch out into fields like physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
“A career in nutrition and fitness seemed like a very positive area of healthcare,” Mr Lau, who took the course in 2023, says. “It’s about improving someone’s everyday life.”
Working in the sector also made him increasingly aware of the necessity of healthcare professionals trained in rehabilitative therapy.
“As Singapore’s population gets older, more and more people will need rehabilitation. Even among those who aren’t elderly, they’re more likely to go for physiotherapy as a preventive measure to maintain their muscular strength,” he says.
Mr Lau, who is also an avid swimmer and jogger, says his motivation to further his studies was twofold: He reasoned that taking the course would not only allow him to advance his career but also apply the knowledge gained from the course to his own exercise and nutrition regimes.
He adds that it would also allow him to closely monitor his ageing parents’ diet and physical health, ensuring that in their old age, they would be receiving adequate nutrition, or that they would be able to recover smoothly should they need surgeries or operations.
Gaining a sense of fulfilment
Pursuing this goal was not easy by any means. Mr Lau attended classes after his shift at work, with sessions scheduled from 6.30pm to 9.30pm on Mondays to Wednesdays. This meant that he had to rush from his workplace in Novena to classes in Dover.
“It was really stressful sometimes,” he admits. “Especially on days where there were exams after work.”
But the classes gave him something to look forward to – especially on practical days, where the hands-on aspect was particularly enjoyable.
For instance, during the nutrition segments, he and his classmates would be tasked with making certain meals that met a set criteria of nutritional requirements, such as specific amounts of protein or micronutrients.
And in spite of the makeup of the 30-person class being extremely diverse — ranging from students who had just graduated from polytechnic to retirees even older than himself — he found his classmates positive, easygoing and motivated.
Furthermore, studying under lecturers who were also professional physiotherapists and fitness specialists gave him a greater understanding of their job scopes, and by extension, the career options available to him in future.
It was the combination of all these things that gave him the strength to, in his own words, “cross the finish line”.
“The course is really like running a marathon,” he says. “It’s tough, but you have to keep telling yourself, it’s a matter of mind over body.”
More than expanding your career
So now that this marathon is done, what’s next for Mr Lau?
Having recently left his job last month, he plans to take a break before embarking on the next stage of his career. But he is already looking out for the next course to enrol in – an attitude that Mr David Chai, director of SP PACE Academy, hopes many others will follow.
“In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, staying competitive and relevant requires adaptability and a proactive approach to change,” says Mr Chai. “This underscores the increasing need for individuals to upskill and reskill.
“As a strong proponent of lifelong learning, I firmly believe that continuous personal development is essential for success in the future economy.”
SP PACE Academy offers part-time diploma and post-diploma courses that cover a wide range of studies such as Specialist Diploma in Robotics and Automation, Specialist Diploma in Digital Marketing and Analytics, Diploma in Engineering (Aerospace), Diploma in Applied Science (Industrial Chemistry and Life Sciences) and Diploma in Business Practice (Accounting).
Other courses that are currently open for registration include Specialist Diploma in Energy Efficiency and Management, Diploma in Design (Visual Communication), Specialist Diploma in Data Science (AI), Diploma in Maritime and Offshore Management, Specialist Diploma in Building Information Modelling Management and Diploma in Border and Security Management.
With the rolling out of the $4,000 SkillsFuture Credit (SFC) top-up unveiled during the Singapore Budget earlier this year, Singaporeans aged 40 and above like Mr Lau can use their credits to cover up to 90 per cent of their course fees.
Mr Lau says he is eyeing the latest wave of emerging trends, such as artificial intelligence, and exploring how to integrate them into his existing knowledge base.
But as much as it is about expanding his career options, he is also motivated by the desire to upkeep his mental agility and fight off the “ageing brain”, as he calls it.
“The mind is like a muscle,” he says, quoting one of his Singapore Polytechnic lecturers. “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
Looking to keep your mind active, obtain new skills, or just meet like-minded people? Check out the courses offered by Singapore Polytechnic’s Professional & Adult Continuing Education (PACE) Academy here.
Study with SkillsFuture credits
If you’re a graduate from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) under 30, you qualify for the ITE Progression Award. Beneficiaries can receive up to $5,000 in their Post-Secondary Education Award upon diploma enrolment, and another $10,000 upon completion.
Over 40? The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme can cover up to 90 per cent of your course fees.
With more than 400 short courses and specialist diplomas available at SP PACE Academy, ranging from applied drama to full-stack web development, there’s never been a better time to advance your qualifications.
Visit the SP PACE website to learn more about furthering your education at Singapore Polytechnic.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Reproduced with permission.
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