We are delighted to welcome Dr Shivani Paliwal to the IMC Children’s team.
Q. Welcome to IMC. Where were you based before?
Thanks a lot. We moved from New York City, where we lived for more than 15 years. I did my residency in paediatrics in NYC, and have worked in the paediatric emergency room of Tertiary Trauma Centers for the past 10 years.
Q. What motivated you to leave NYC and come to live in Singapore?
NYC was home for us, and we were pretty well settled in our community. We had visited Singapore on vacation a few years ago, and we loved it. We found it bustling but still tranquil, fast paced but yet relaxed. An ideal place to live.
So when we got a chance to move to Singapore through my husband’s job last year, we were thrilled about the opportunity. Singapore held a lot of allure for us – it is a lovely place, and a great place to live as a family and to raise children. Our two boys, who are 12 and 10, are super excited to be in Singapore.
Q. What will you miss most about America?
I lived in the US for a long time, and have a lot of friends and extended family in the NYC area. Although Singapore has started to feel like home to all of us, I miss my family and friends a lot. My boys miss their little cousin a lot. But if you ask my boys, they will say, “Yes Mom misses family and friends but what she misses most is Trader Joes.” :). [Just FYI, that’s a specialty grocery store in the US that we absolutely love!]
Q. What have you enjoyed most about living in Singapore so far?
Our experience in Singapore has been absolutely wonderful so far. It’s an exciting place, but yet everything seems within reach. Such amazing food, such diverse population. It is a wonderful place for my kids to experience many cultures, and to grow up in this environment. We also like the proximity to India, so that we can visit our extended family and explore India together.
Q. You have a lot of experience in paediatric emergencies. Do you enjoy working under pressure?
Yes, I have worked in Paediatric emergency rooms for a long time, both in NYC and in NJ. I find it very rewarding to be able to take care of children in emergencies, and guiding their families in the most difficult moments of their lives. After years of working in trauma centers and treating some really sick patients – although it can get highly stressful at times – It has taught me how to stay calm under pressure.
Q. You moved here with your family. Have you lived abroad before or is this your first international adventure?
I grew up in India, and moved to the US in 2003. As a family, we’ve only ever lived in the US. We are very excited to be living in Singapore. My family and I are looking forward to our Asian adventure!
Q. What is your favourite part of being a paediatric doctor?
My absolute favourite parts of being a paediatrician are interactions with my little patients and discovering their different personalities. It is fascinating to watch energetic little babies, explorative toddlers, the curious children, and learn about life perspectives of teenagers. The bond that you form along the journey with the families is the most fulfilling part of being a paediatrician.
