Some people find their calling once. Tang Li Wen has found hers twice — first in occupational therapy, and later on watch with the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC). Though the uniforms and settings differ, she sees both roles as grounded in the same values: commitment, responsibility and service. As SPD marks Professionals’ Day on 4 September, Li Wen’s journey reflects the growth that often comes from stepping beyond familiar roles.
Li Wen embarked on her path to becoming an occupational therapist by chance in 2010, after a childhood friend applied for the three-year occupational therapy course at Nanyang Polytechnic following their GCE ‘A’ Levels. Intrigued, Li Wen decided to find out more – and discovered a field that brought together her interests in both arts and sciences. “I was drawn to the course as it was a mix of arts and science, and I have yet to stop learning since then,” she recalls. She became an occupational therapist in 2014 and has kept that passion alive ever since.
Growing through different clinical settings
Since joining SPD nearly three years ago, Li Wen has had multiple opportunities to rotate across different programme settings. These rotations were intentional, designed to broaden her clinical exposure across a wider spectrum of caseloads and service models. Beyond direct clinical work, she also mentors newly registered occupational therapists, co-designs training programmes, and helps update SPD’s training materials, among other responsibilities.
“This rotation allowed me to appreciate the spectrum of what an occupational therapist can offer across various services. I remember supporting adults with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in one of my rotations. As an occupational therapist who had primarily worked with adults with physical disabilities and elderly throughout my career, the exposure to post-18 autism services was definitely a steep learning curve,” said Li Wen.
“Over the year, it required me to go beyond what I knew and to develop a deeper understanding of the unique needs, behaviours, communication styles, and functional challenges faced by adults with moderate to severe ASD. Despite some difficult moments – including being scratched and grabbed by some of the clients – I learnt to adapt my approach and facilitate meaningful engagement for clients with diverse levels of cognitive, sensory, communication, and behavioural needs.”
Learning as an ongoing journey
For Li Wen, personal growth is central to excelling in providing high-quality client care. Keen to look beyond conventional clinical boundaries, she is currently pursuing a Master of Community Health with the National University of Singapore (under the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine).
“Having worked in the healthcare space for more than a decade across different settings, I see health as a broad canvas. I wanted to advance my knowledge in ways that will challenge me to offer more as an occupational therapist,” said Li Wen. With the support and understanding of her reporting officer and supervisors, Li Wen has moved to a part-time work arrangement so that she can protect her focus and avoid burnout.
She has also temporarily stepped back from her SAFVC commitments but hopes to return later in 2026. “I believe that there are different seasons in our lives, and each season comes with different priorities and responsibilities. For me, this is currently a season of learning and professional development.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to close the gaps she sees between occupational therapy and community health, and to find new ways to support her clients. As part of her continued professional development, Li Wen was offered the opportunity by her reporting officer and management to take on an adjunct teaching role at the Singapore Institute of Technology. She will begin teaching Year 1 students this month on an assigned Occupational Therapy-related module.
“At this stage of my career, personal and professional growth are equally important and interconnected. Professional growth allows me to continue developing my knowledge, skills and perspectives so that I remain relevant and contribute meaningfully to an evolving healthcare landscape. Personal growth means that I become more self-aware, resilient and intentional about how I manage different responsibilities.”
Two uniforms, one commitment
Whether she is supporting a client to gain confidence and independence or keeping watch at sea alongside servicemen and women, Li Wen brings the same commitment, responsibility and dedication to service.
As we commemorate Professionals’ Day, Li Wen’s story reminds us to embrace every opportunity to learn, while giving ourselves the space to pace the journey.
As she puts it, “growth is not always about how quickly we progress, but about continuing to learn, adapt, and contribute meaningfully wherever we are.”