Polly GH Tan, RN Soared to New Heights in Nursing and Music

    ROYAL OAK, MI, February 28, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Polly GH Tan, RN has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

A respected registered nurse and talented pianist, Polly GH Tan, RN found the perfect formula to enjoy fruitful careers within her two passions, health care and music.

Ms. Tan's interest in medicine began while caring for her mother as she fought cancer. After receiving a misdiagnosis that delayed her treatment, Ms. Tan's mother required significant assistance managing her pain at home. While Ms. Tan's sister was studying medicine at the time, she was too far away to help, and Ms. Tan naturally took on the role of her caretaker. Unexpectedly, she found a sense of validation in helping her, and after a friend suggested that she pursue a career in nursing, she applied for nursing school in the United Kingdom. When her application was approved, she relocated from her native Malaysia to the UK to begin her studies, recalling that the curriculum was largely based on practical and clinical experience. She earned a registered nurse certification in 1970 in England and the following year, she studied to become a midwife in Scotland.

In 1972, Ms. Tan moved further west to the United States and settled in Michigan, restarting her nursing career. Although trained in midwifery, she could not practice her specialty in Michigan as those positions were not available there at the time. However, she excelled as a nurse in the Maternity Department at a Detroit hospital for two years. Subsequently, she found work in the suburb of Royal Oak, Michigan as a registered nurse, where she remained for 29 and a half years until commencing her retirement in 2003. Notably, throughout her nursing career, Ms. Tan received a very high approval rating from her patients.

Upon retiring from nursing, Ms. Tan continued her pursue her lifelong passion for music. To attest to her musical prowess, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from Oakland University from 1995 and spent a fall semester studying musical coursework abroad in Vienna, Austria. Likewise, she is a member of the Tuesday Musicale in Detroit and the Birmingham Musicale, a patron of the Detroit Symphony and a former member of the Music Teachers National Association. Ms. Tan presently works as a piano teacher and has been invited to perform at church services, special occasions and other events.

Making music a larger part of her daily life, Ms. Tan garnered additional experience through private lessons for her former patients, educating children and adults alike on how to play piano. She fondly recalls that a young piano student of hers was selected among 10 boys to sing a solo in the locally filmed silent movie "Armed Man." Additionally, she considers it a gift to have been able to get to know and develop relationships with her patients both inside and outside the hospital setting, as she was invited to perform piano at the wedding of a woman whom she cared for as an infant.

Upon reflection, Ms. Tan attributes the success of her two career paths to always putting forth her best effort. In nursing, she found a wonderful group of nurses to learn and grow with, which made her love for health care even stronger. Similarly, she credits her family for opening her mind to the world of music, as her siblings took singing lessons at the music school nearby and her mother exposed her to the beauty of Chinese music. Ms. Tan also recognizes the influence of her own piano teachers, Joyce Adelson and Pauline Martin.

Among her vast career achievements, Ms. Tan notes that she feels grateful to have fulfilled her childhood dream of seeing the Seven Wonders of the World, which she was able to do after having traveled to more than 60 countries. Looking ahead, she aspires to become more involved in the musical sphere, as she is already a consistent musician for four churches. She also focuses her time on volunteer efforts, as she is currently involved with Friends of Four Hands and is a former member of ArtSoul.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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