Saw Swee Hock Scholar Ms Mak Ying Yuan's public health journey has led to the advancement of food safety and dietary research to build a healthier Singapore.

When Ms Mak Ying Yuan (Science ’19) learnt that both her parents were grappling with the “three highs”— high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar—she decided to take a closer look at their eating habits. From there, what began as a daughter’s concern for her parent’s health sparked a deeper curiosity about how diet could prevent and manage chronic diseases.

That personal mission eventually led her to the Health Promotion Board, where she played a key role in promoting the now-ubiquitous Healthier Choice Symbol seen on food products, transforming how Singaporeans make food choices. 

“Working at the Health Promotion Board made me realise how vast and interconnected the field of public health was,” she explained. “While I was trained in food science, I recognised that addressing population-level health challenges required a broader, more systemic understanding.

Ms Mak Ying Yuan envisions a healthier Singapore, shaping the nation's well-being through her work at the Health Promotion Board and now at the Singapore Food Agency. (Image Credits: Jacq & The Camera Photography)

This realisation inspired her to pursue a Master of Public Health at NUS, supported by the Saw Swee Hock Scholarship. With financial support removing a key barrier, she took the leap of faith to pursue her Master’s full-time. This allowed her to deepen her knowledge in areas such as research methods and data analysis. 

“Being a Saw Swee Hock Scholar reinforced my belief in the transformative power of education and collaboration in shaping healthier communities,” she shared.

“Through my time at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, I learnt about the importance of community engagement, involvement and empowerment, to design interventions that could bring about positive change in the communities.

Ms Mak graduated in 2025 as valedictorian for the Master of Public Health.

Her excellence did not go unrewarded. Ms Mak graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 2025, cheering on her peers with a heartfelt address: “Let us remember that our work is beyond the data, policy or programmes that we implement. It is ultimately about the people and lives that we are able to positively influence and impact.”

Ms Mak (fourth from left) with her peers from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

Building a Healthier Singapore 

Now, as a Senior Scientist at the Singapore Food Agency, Ms Mak works at the intersection of food science and public health. She conducts research on food safety, dietary behaviours and public health: crucial research that shapes Singapore’s strategies for a safer food supply safe and a healthier population.

For Ms Mak, her work is one small step towards the healthier Singapore she dreams of.

“I envision a future Singapore where healthier living becomes second nature rather than an afterthought; a Singapore where healthy living is integrated seamlessly into our daily life, where the environment we live in supports healthy living.”