In Their Eyes, What is A Doctor Like?
江明修 / Medical Student
Gaoping medical mission was my first time participating in a volunteer clinic. I initially had many doubts and concerns, but by Friday midnight when we were on the road with Annie Liu, my perception of Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps (TRMPC) and volunteering had completely changed. In three days, we visited six different tribal villages and a children’s home; each day was simply amazing.
Annie was like an older sister who cared for us, and with whom we could easily converse. Because of her vibrant personality, all of us, including myself, the pharmacist Wei-Ting Wang, and the medical examiner Jia-Lin Zhou, were never bored for the whole car ride from Taipei to Pingtung. Our conversations brought us closer to one another, and by the last day we felt like old friends.
TRMPC is like one big family. To accomplish the shared goal of providing health care for those in need, everyone diligently worked together as a team, fully utilizing their professional skill set. Volunteering at the medical clinic allowed me to gain hands-on experience treating patients and learn what I could not have found by just reading textbooks. Under the tutelage of three physicians, I became more aware of my own incompetence and need to put more effort to fill in those gaps.
Doctor Chen, especially, would often push me and another fifth-year medical student, Kevin, to come up with questions about the whole clinical process from diagnosing a patient's illness to prescribing appropriate drugs. He even asked us, newcomers, to brainstorm what was the significance of volunteer organizations like TRMPC.
After discussing with Doctor Chen, I started to realize that the duty of newcomers is to contemplate and to question: with inquisitive and observant mindsets, we are to identify the shortcomings of the organization’s system and to act in attempt to mitigate those flaws.
During the medical mission, I visited other professionals including the pharmacist, medical examiner, and nurse, because I was curious about their profession and livelihood. I also wanted to know what they wanted to see in a physician. Luckily during the medical mission trip, I had the chance to just talk with all the other volunteers. Every profession has its respectful and honorable side: medical examiners are dexterous with their hands when drawing blood; pharmacists exercise a refined and precise management over all the pharmaceutical drugs’ placement and amount; nurses are talented in interacting with patients. Without their help, even the most talented and knowledgable doctor will be helpless and lost walking in circles.
I am very grateful for this medical mission, as it has allowed me to witness and understand what I would not have experienced in a hospital.
I like the TRMPC organizational model, because it is like a round table without any hierarchy, and everybody is respected and viewed as valuable no matter their position or profession. Outside of the health team members, the volunteer driving crew and cooking crew members were approachable and friendly. I’m also grateful for them for waking up early in the morning everyday to prepare all the meals and for giving the health team unwavering support.
As a group of lovable people happily working together to better the lives of others, TRMPC is an incredible organization. I want to thank TRMPC for giving me, a noname medical student, an opportunity to grow exponentially.
