From Pharmacist to Educator of Pharmacists
 

From Pharmacist to Educator of Pharmacists

Dr. Yeong, (third from right) during this year's Pharmacy Night

From Pharmacist to Educator of Pharmacists

Dr. Yeong Siew Wei, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UCSI University
 
Being a full-time teacher is never easy. Add that to being a full time Dean of an entire faculty, it is not only challenging, but at times can be trying as well. However, Associate Professor Dr. Yeong Siew Wei, Dean of UCSI University’s newly-formed Faculty of Pharmaceutical  Sciences, takes it all in her stride.

Dr. Yeong was encouraged by her father to study Pharmacy when she entered University. Her education finally took her to the University of Kansas in the United States of America where life was very different from what she was used to at home in Malaysia. "They emphasized a lot on extra-curricular activities, and once we even had to complete an assignment where we had to observe art work at the Art Museum and then relate it to Pharmacy!" she reminisces. According to Dr. Yeong, the few Malaysian students were not too happy with the strange assignment. "We realised later however, that it wasn’t about art or science, but really, it was about looking at things from a different perspective".

It was also a norm for students there to work part-time while studying. Dr. Yeong worked as a research assistant to Dr. Faiman, a Pharmacology professor, on a research project. As a research assistant, she had to attend research team meetings, listen to discussions on the research projects, and many other related duties. "In retrospect, the experience I had while working with him has been tremendous, and my tenure at the University has shaped a lot of what I do today".

Upon graduation, Dr. Yeong obtained a pharmacy license in the United States, and began to work as a community pharmacist in Witchita, Kansas. A year and a half had passed by when opportunity came knocking, and she received a chance to further her studies. "By then, I had some money saved up from what I had earned, so I decided to return to school", says Dr. Yeong. The Doctorate of Pharmacy programme at the University of Kansas Medical Centre at Kansas City was more clinical pharmacy-intensive and involved many hospital clerkship rotations.

It was at the end of 1996, when she completed her studies, and decided to return to Malaysia. For about half a year after that, Dr. Yeong was at a private hospital and obtained the Malaysian pharmacy license. In the mid-90s, pharmacists in hospitals were more about dispensing medicine, and manage stock. Dr. Yeong quickly began to miss the University environment. In 1997, she became a lecturer at the International Medical College, and in 1999 joined Sedaya College, and thus began her 10-year journey at UCSI University.

From lecturer to Dean, there have certainly been ups and downs. Just like everyone else in the working world, Dr. Yeong detests meetings. "I realize however, that although time-consuming, meetings are always necessary to clear the air, and communicate your ideas and establish tasks to ensure an efficient workflow", The best part about being an educator, is of course, seeing students graduate during convocations. "It brings me joy to hear parents and employers praise my faculty staff on our students’ success".

Dr. Yeong says that she has never regretted being an educator. "Being an academician is rather different from having a job in the business world. Having an academic career means you have to be a self-motivator. One needs to be interested in learning about things and have the inclination to train the next generation. Persistence and self-discipline are key character traits that you must have".
     
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