On Friday, 13 February 2026, we gathered for the Cynthia Goh Distinguished Lectureship 2026, honouring the enduring legacy of Professor Cynthia Goh — a pioneer and visionary of palliative care in Singapore and across the Asia-Pacific.
This year’s distinguished speaker, Dr Rosalie Shaw, delivered a deeply moving lecture titled “The Power of Presence: Bringing the Person Back into Focus.”
Dr Shaw challenged us to reflect honestly on modern healthcare. In systems that proudly proclaim “person-centred care,” why do so many patients still feel lonely, invisible, or “like a number in the room”? In an age of extraordinary treatments, technology, and protocols, are we in danger of losing sight of the human being in the bed?
Through powerful clinical stories, she reminded us that serious illness is not only a medical condition — it is an existential crisis. Patients face fear, uncertainty, and the loss of hopes and dreams. Yet too often, conversations focus on tests, scans, and forms rather than on the person’s suffering, questions, and meaning.
Dr Shaw spoke candidly about our discomfort with dying, our tendency to “fix” rather than listen, and the subtle ways technology can distance us from touch and connection. She reminded us that there are no perfect words when patients ask, “How long do I have?” — but there is something we can always offer: presence.
To stop.
To sit.
To ask, “Would you like to talk about it?”
To listen without interruption.
To witness suffering without trying to solve it.
Presence does not necessarily take more time — but it builds trust, restores dignity, and allows patients to feel seen, heard, and valued.
In honouring Professor Goh’s legacy, this year’s lectureship was a powerful reminder of who we are called to be in palliative care: not only clinicians, but companions in some of life’s most vulnerable moments.