Mr. Sudev Suthendran

Q: Could you please introduce yourself and what you did when you were at CPH?

Hi! I’m Sudev, a clinical psychologist. I was one of the first few members in the Psychological Services team. I conducted child custody evaluations for the courts, and provided psychological services to the MSF Adult Protective Service, partner Family Violence Specialist Centres and Family Service Centres. It involved working directly with vulnerable adults and families, as well as providing consultation and training to social work practitioners in these centres.

Q: Can you share a bit of your journey since leaving CPH to where you are now?

I left CPH for my current role as a Senior Clinical Psychologist in Changi General Hospital, where I’ve been practising for about 6 years providing assessments and therapy to older adolescents and adults.

My role in CPH was my first since completing my postgraduate training. As an early-career psychologist, I was curious to explore how it was like practising in a range of sectors, which led me to the public healthcare setting. I have since found that I enjoy working with minoritised communities and in the area of clinical-health psychology and behavioural health.

I’m involved in several multi-disciplinary care teams such as bariatric surgery, weight management, psychodermatology, and gender, dysphoria/ transgender care, where I provide psychological services to patient and consultation/ training to other healthcare professionals. I’m also involved in developing new psychological services and in interprofessional education, as a faculty member for our national psychiatry residency program.

Q: What are some things about CPH that you have kept with you?

I remember CPH fondly for its culture (and nom nom sessions!). The camaraderie and inclusivity played a formative role in shaping my views on healthy workplace culture – feeling valued, respected and cared for.

I’m also still in touch with several ex-colleagues – for which I’m grateful to have crossed paths with in CPH. I wished I had spent more time with Meowvis too (though admittedly I still had a slight phobia of cats back then..)!

Q: Any advice or words of encouragement for CPH colleagues ?

Doing what you do in the community, supporting not just the vulnerable amongst us but also enabling our care systems is such important work and it can never be underestimated. The work can be emotionally demanding; so as you tear barriers down and build others up out there in the community, I hope you do the same for yourselves, with the same serious affection.