What began as a love for sports sparked Ho Jiaying’s journey into physiotherapy. Today, that same passion drives her to inspire and guide the next generation of physiotherapists at SIT.

For Ho Jiaying, her first introduction to physiotherapy was as a student playing competitive squash in school.

She shares: “So, you know, when you get injured, you need to go and see a physio? That’s how my first contact with a physiotherapist came about.

Over the years, I have been active in sports. This tied in well with my eventual decision to become a physiotherapist to help athletes not only recover but excel in their chosen sport.”

Taking Her Places

As a physiotherapist of more than 20 years, Jiaying has had the opportunity to be involved with the many different aspects of physiotherapy. “But because of my interest in sports, I stayed very focused on wanting to specialise in sports physiotherapy.”

This interest eventually led her to a job at the sports clinic at the Singapore Sports Institute, where she frequently accompanied Singapore’s national athletes to international sports tournaments overseas. This included being part of top national shuttler Loh Kean Yew’s team during the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) World Championships at Huelva, Spain in 2021.

Jiaying was part of top shuttler Loh Kean Yew’s team at the 2021 BWF World Championships in Spain. (SIT Photo: Ho Jiaying)

Despite being personally mentioned by Kean Yew as having played a significant role in fixing an ankle injury prior to his winning championship match, Jiaying is quick to downplay her contribution.

“I don’t really want to take any credit, because the accomplishment is ultimately his. But what I would say is that it is extremely fulfilling to be involved in helping athletes achieve whatever they have set out to achieve.”

Jiaying was part of Team Singapore’s medical contingent at the 2019 SEA Games. (SIT Photo: Ho Jiaying)

Getting into Academia

From working in hospitals to sports clinics to private practice, Jiaying finally found her way into full-time academic work as a Professional Officer (PO) with SIT in 2022. For her, however, it wasn’t as much a switch as it was a natural progression.

“I have always been involved with teaching. Even when I was working in Singapore General Hospital during the earlier part of my career, I was teaching my juniors as part of the residency programme.

And, before I joined SIT full-time, I had already been working here as an adjunct lecturer since 2017. This was when SIT became the first university in Singapore to offer a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physiotherapy programme. It is still the only one to do so today.”

For Jiaying, she derives immense joy in supporting students as they grow, progress, and graduate. It is both her way of giving back to her profession and a source of personal fulfilment. 

Jiaying and SIT Physiotherapy students provided support for participants at the 2022 Standard Chartered Marathon. (SIT Photo: Ho Jiaying)

“I began my career as a physiotherapist with just a diploma, at a time when Singapore had yet to offer any physiotherapy degree programmes. Over the years, I pursued my bachelor’s degree and later two Master’s degrees in Sports and Musculoskeletal Sciences. Having walked this journey, I believe it is important to empower the next generation by sharing my knowledge and experience so that one day, when I grow old, I can feel assured that my juniors will be well equipped to care for me.”

As a PO at SIT, Jiaying shares that she is part of a team that helps to bridge students and industry. Hence, in addition to teaching and carrying out administrative duties at SIT, she continues to practice as a physiotherapist for a private clinic one day each week.

“This arrangement allows me to stay closely connected with the industry, enabling me to bring fresh, real-world insights that inspire and equip my students for their future careers.”

Jiaying and her Physiotherapy students joined visiting consultant Dr Daniel Bodkin for a hands-on isokinetic workshop, putting theory into practice.

Raising the Profile of Physiotherapists

While the level of awareness about what physiotherapists do has certainly grown in Singapore, there are still some misconceptions about the profession.

“Sometimes, people think that we are just masseuses. We are actually movement specialists who play an important role in healthcare. More than just injury management, our work also involves injury prevention. This means understanding a patient’s underlying problems and empowering them by teaching them exercises to look after themselves and reach their objectives.”

As such, Jiaying wants aspiring physiotherapists to come into the profession with their eyes wide open.

“They need to know that it is a role that requires a lot of interaction with a lot of different people. They must have the passion and perseverance to keep going even when things don’t go as planned. But, at the same time, it can be a hugely rewarding experience, when you see your patients recover, or when you help your clients to reach their goals.”