Surgeon sisters ‘feel privileged to make a difference’

Every month, sisters Suat Li and Suat Chin Ng spend the day together catching up, bonding, and discussing work.

Not at a café or at home - but in an operating theatre.

The sisters are both surgeons at Epworth Eastern in Box Hill. Suat Li is a breast, endocrine, and general surgeon, and Suat Chin is one of the state’s few female colorectal surgeons and a general surgeon.

Once a month, Suat Chin joins her older sister in theatre, assisting as part of the surgical team. She describes it as one of her favourite parts of her work schedule.

“It is a chance to work alongside my sister and contribute to patient care,” Suat Chin said.

“Her skill and genuine care for her patients is inspiring to me. It reminds me why I love surgery in the first place.”

While Suat Li is sometimes surprised that her younger sister still joins her - “she is a full colorectal surgeon herself!” – she values the quality time together too.

“It is nice having her in theatre, she talks to me and asks questions. The one day we work together does not really feel like work,” she said.

Same career, different paths

The sisters do not have a family legacy in the medical field and were the first in their immediate family to attend university. While they share much in common, their individual paths to becoming surgeons were starkly different.

Older sister Suat Li grew up with ambitions of becoming a doctor, describing it as a calling in life, whereas Suat Chin took time to discover her passion.

“I always thought my sister had it all figured out,” Suat Chin laughs. “She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a doctor.”

Initially awarded a scholarship to study chemical engineering in the UK, Suat Chin spent a gap year volunteering in healthcare and visiting Australia, when she realised a career in medicine could “combine purpose, skill, and compassion.” She’s never looked back.

‘Every patient matters’

Early volunteering experiences, including working on burns victims in Nepal with Open Heart International, were formative experiences early in the sisters’ career. Suat Chin said they reinforced the importance of teamwork, adaptability, and compassion.

“It was a very important experience. It reinforces the values we share as Buddhists, which is putting others before ourselves. We aim to show empathy and compassion for all patients we care for,” she said.

“Now, my sister and I work with a lot of cancer patients, and we feel privileged to make a difference in people’s lives. Being able to share our work and what we love is very special, which is why I insist on keeping our day of theatre time together.”

Addressing language and cultural needs

The sisters’ empathy and compassion extend to ensuring patients feel informed, supported, and confident in their healthcare. They provide care in multiple languages – Mandarin, Cantonese, Malaysian, and English - helping patients understand their treatment and feel comfortable throughout the process.

“Being able to speak fluently with patients in their mother tongue helps to build trust and ease anxiety. Otherwise, they might just nod politely or defer decisions to family members,” Suat Chin said.

“I also create documents in the patient’s preferred language and share them before surgery so patients can read and reflect at their own pace. Thoughtful communication makes a real difference.”

Suat Li acknowledges that the healthcare system can feel overwhelming, particularly for patients who are unfamiliar with its processes. In cancer care, she takes time to understand each person’s situation and circumstances, ensuring they feel informed, empowered, and cared for at every step.

“Healthcare can be confusing, especially if it’s your first time navigating the system,” she said.

“We focus on providing clear guidance and support so patients can feel confident and comfortable with their treatment. Helping people understand each step of their care makes a real difference to their experience.”

A message for future surgeons

The sisters are grateful to the network of surgeons and mentors who have inspired them. They acknowledge that surgery can be demanding, but it is also deeply rewarding.

“I get inspired by surgeons who have been doing this for a long time, and I see the reason and purpose of why they do it. They are in this field just to help people,” Suat Li said.

“Sometimes young people can be discouraged from medicine, and we want to give them hope – you can be great at this. You must want to continuously be better, whether it’s skill-wise or as a person, and to trust that you are doing a good thing.”