Why do you want to become a doctor?
The reason is quite simple. I loved biology class in high school and thought it would be very cool to perform surgery. That's when I decided to study hard to get into medical school.
After I got into medical school, I discovered that it's much more than just being a cool surgeon. There are departments such as internal medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, etc.
Ultimately, I chose to become a general practitioner, a department where I feel I can have a close relationship with all my patients.
What do you find most rewarding as a doctor?
I find the most rewarding when I feel like I am simply doing the right thing.
It can be as simple as helping the patient understand why they need to take their medicine to control the disease; for example, maintaining cholesterol levels with medication will reduce the trend of cardiovascular disease in the future.
I also find it very rewarding to use an easier way to explain to patients about their medical conditions. It means a lot when I see patients start to take better care of themselves, for example, when they begin to quit smoking, exercise more, and pay more attention to their diet.
Can you share with us some interesting stories at the workplace?
I can share some silly superstitions. In Taiwan, medical staff is afraid to see mango, pineapple, and duck breast in the hospital. (due to the way we pronounce it in Chinese.)
Mango pineapple is very straightforward. It sounds like "busy" in Chinese. You will get yelled at if the medical staff find out you are eating mango pineapple on duty.
I also hear from my colleagues that they will eat strawberries and apples for breakfast on duty. (It sounds like nothing and peace in Chinese..) 😆 Just little silly things we do at work.
As a female physician, have you encountered any obstacles in this job?
When I first started practicing, some patients or their family members would occasionally call me miss, even when I specifically told them that I was the resident doctor. Over the past few years, people have become increasingly aware that occupation has nothing to do with gender.
What is the most memorable case you have encountered?
There are many cases. However, there are a few recent terminal cancer cases that I remember the most. Some terminal cancer patients told me they weren't afraid of the pain and death. They were more fearful that their family members couldn't handle it when they were gone. That's why they continued to accept treatments, not for themselves but for the family.
Every time I hear things like this reminds me how important our close ones are to us!
How do you deal with stress?
Exercising, eating yummy food, and going shopping all work for me 😆
I also dump my feelings with my girlfriends over a glass of wine.
Have you worn our bodysuit to work yet? How do you like it?
I just received HÁI's Bodysuit recently, so I haven't had the chance to wear it to work. However, the material is so comfortable and skin-friendly; that I think I might start wearing it to work!
What advice would you give to young women who also want to become a doctor?
It's important to do something that interests you and gives you a sense of accomplishment no matter your career path.
To become a doctor, first of all, it is a bit of a cliché that you must be interested in medical treatment, and you do need to be physically fit for the job. Sometimes we are on duty for more than 24 hours and night shifts are a must. Start working out! That's my #1 piece of advice.
It's also a very stressful occupation; therefore, you will need to find your stress relief outlet to balance the pressure from work.