Top image: Benjamin Tan for RICE Media
Joey Tan’s job is not for the faint-hearted. The 29-year-old encounters delicate and, at times, unnerving cases daily as a diagnostic radiographer specialising in ultrasound.
Still, she loves what she does. “I like ultrasound because it’s one of the most sensitive types of scans and can detect abnormalities in adjacent organs.”
Joey’s work at National University Hospital (NUH) has profoundly shaped her perspective on the medical sector. A Healthcare Merit Award scholarship recipient from MOH Holdings (MOHH), she’s set to complete her six-year bond at the hospital this month.
Reflecting on her journey, she admits: “I didn’t know much about diagnostic radiography or what radiographers do, but I jumped at the chance to study overseas with a close friend, who was also keen on this field of study”.
It’s been six years since she graduated from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia with a Bachelor of Radiography and Medical Imaging. However, it’s her time at NUH that truly taught her the intricacies of looking deep into the human body—uncovering stories hidden beneath the surface.
As a diagnostic radiographer, she is often the first to detect serious ailments, though the responsibility of delivering diagnoses ultimately falls on doctors.
“Initially, I felt a responsibility to tell patients what was happening in their bodies, but sometimes sharing that information can make them anxious. So, it’s better to make thorough analyses first,” she shares.
That’s because her scans often reveal conditions that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. One case that left a lasting impression was an 8-year-old’s bladder scan, which unexpectedly exposed twisted and swollen ovaries pressing against the bladder.
With such responsibility, the role demands constant vigilance and swift decision-making. While the ultrasound machine reveals what is hidden behind flesh and bone, it is Joey’s training and experience that ultimately save lives.
When encountering critical conditions like testicular torsion or internal bleeding, she must act swiftly to alert doctors if immediate surgery is required. Joey vividly recalls a case in which a newborn’s kidney scan revealed excessive haemorrhaging in the brain. While using her handheld scanner to examine other areas of the newborn’s body for anomalies, she discovered a major bleed that required immediate intervention.
“I felt really bad for this child, as she had her whole life ahead of her and hadn’t done anything to deserve this condition. But the only thing I could do to help was inform my colleagues quickly and file a detailed report.”
When a patient persistently asks if anything’s wrong, Joey must withhold her conclusions until the doctors announce their diagnosis.
And when scanning terminally ill children, she has to maintain a neutral demeanour lest she dim the hope of their parents. These pressures can add up—she’s human, after all.
She still remembers the surge of emotions she felt last year while scanning an elderly patient whose organs were riddled with cancerous lesions.
A few days later, she learned that the patient had passed away.
Thick Skin, Clear Imaging
Joey recalls her early days as a radiographer—a time before the weight of such diagnoses became a routine part of her work.
“Initially, my mum often bought antioxidant supplements for me. She asked why I chose to expose myself to harmful radiation,” Joey laughs.
Contrary to her mother’s fears, radiography rooms in Singapore are lined with lead to block radiation, and radiographers use protective lead gowns and shields. In addition, Dosimeter badges are worn to monitor personal radiation exposure.
When Joey started work as a junior radiographer, she was intrigued by the array of medical conditions she encountered. From grievous injuries to mysterious medical conditions, radiography is needed to see where human eyes cannot.
But the challenges of being a trainee come with a steep learning curve. Joey began in general radiography, and after nearly two years working with X-rays, she transitioned into ultrasound training.
Not all patients were understanding. “Some patients would get angry and retort, ‘Why am I assigned a trainee? I’m not paying a discounted fee’.”
Despite the bumps along the way, Joey’s dedication to her craft keeps her motivated.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is its diversity,” she says.
“Unlike other department-based healthcare roles, I can be in the emergency department one day and the operating theatre the next. Imaging is often the first step in treatment, so I get to help many people.”
On the frontline, Joey has sharpened her ability to communicate with confidence—a vital skill when working with patients in pain who struggle to cooperate. Over time, she’s learned to navigate these challenges with ease.
“I used to get stressed out or call for help when patients were uncooperative, but I am no longer afraid,” she says. “I view every scan as a mystery that I am investigating.”
Bones and All
Often, a radiographer’s job offers curious insights into human behaviour. X-rays have located coins, buttons, pens and plastic objects that young children swallow. Koon Wei Zhou once found chopsticks lodged in a patient’s rear end.
“I often find objects where they shouldn’t be,” the 28-year-old radiographer divulges.
In more serious cases, however, time and urgency are of the essence. At NUH’s Emergency Medicine department, Wei Zhou frequently sees patients “on the brink of death”.
He remembers scanning a patient who seemed fine—he was coherent and could move his legs. However, Wei Zhou’s scan revealed that the patient’s spine was fractured and separated.
Such moments serve as stark reminders of the unpredictable nature of his work. While the patient appeared unaffected, the scan uncovered a life-threatening condition, revealing just how quickly things can change.
It’s a sobering reality that keeps him grounded in the gravity of his role. Whenever he hears that a patient who was smiling and talking with just the day before has passed, the shock still hits him.
“These moments remind me to always be respectful and composed.”
Both Joey and Wei Zhou have learned to manage their emotions over time.
Joey recalls struggling to suppress her feelings when elderly patients with kindly demeanours received devastating diagnoses. Wei Zhou admits that he has learned to ‘feel less’ over time—he rarely lets emotions surface in his work, choosing instead to focus on performing his duties with precision.
After all, a radiographer’s expertise can mean the difference between life and death.
Human Insights
Through his work, Wei Zhou has gained firsthand insight into the effects of Singapore’s ageing population.
“I’ve noticed more elderly patients coming to the hospital alone. When I ask about their children, many say their children are busy working and that they have no domestic helper.”
A naturally empathetic person, Wei Zhou cannot help but feel for elderly patients who navigate illness alone, with no one to lean on.
Though his time with each patient is brief, he strives to make their experience as comforting as possible. A warm exchange, a reassuring word—small gestures that may seem insignificant but offer solace to those facing hardship in solitude.
Joey notes that older patients often receive heavy news with remarkable composure. She’s learned that, in these moments, maintaining a composed demeanor can be just as important as the scan results themselves.
“If a patient is anxious, I use calming language, such as ‘We haven’t found any danger that requires immediate action,’” she explains.
And it’s not just the elderly who face unexpected health challenges. Based on their experiences, both radiographers stress the importance of regular health check-ups for everyone, regardless of age.
“I can’t emphasise enough the importance of regular checkups and early detection! In today’s fast-paced society, many people neglect their health,” Joey remarks.
More Than Meets the Scan
From the outside, radiographers might seem like medical technicians simply operating machinery. The tact, perceptiveness and sagacity their job requires aren’t always apparent.
“Passion and resilience are essential.”
It’s easy to understand why. Radiographers, often the first to confront grim discoveries, bear the weight of seeing life’s fragility daily. Each scan isn’t just an image—it’s a reflection of someone’s pain or mortality.
Healthy coping mechanisms are essential. Wei Zhou’s closest confidantes are his colleagues, and from their shared experience, strong friendships have blossomed—they hang out on their off days, too.
For Joey, her family, including her pharmacist brother, provides a vital sounding board.
On her days off, whether hiking or travelling abroad, unsettling medical cases from the past still cross her mind. Yet, Joey believes she enjoys a healthier work-life balance than most Singaporeans.
“One great thing about clinical work is that once I’m off duty, I’m truly off—I don’t have to take work home with me,” she shares.
Still, her passion for radiography keeps her engaged beyond the clinic. She finds it exciting to witness how advancements in the field revolutionise patient care.
“Radiography technology is evolving rapidly. Artificial intelligence is being integrated to improve image quality, and new ambulances equipped with CT scanners allow remote scans to provide doctors with vital images, even before patients reach the hospital,” she explains.
The stories of Joey and Wei Zhou reveal the delicate balance radiographers must strike between professionalism and compassion. In the quiet glow of scanning rooms, they are the first to uncover unnerving maladies, yet they cannot speak their minds.
Their work demands empathy—they offer comfort in uncertainty, reassurance in fear.
For those standing at the crossroads of life and death, a radiographer’s steady hands make all the difference. Rarely do we appreciate the complexity of a radiographer’s role—until the moment we find ourselves under their gaze, anxiously relying on their skills to bring the unseen to light.
