Unable to practise medicine in Singapore, Taiwanese doctor finds purpose as stay-at-home dad, volunteer因无法在新加坡行医，台湾医生找到了新的生活意义，成为全职奶爸和志愿者。
He used to be an attending physician in a Taiwan hospital before moving to Singapore to reunite with his wife and their two children after the Covid-19 pandemic.Unable to practise medicine in Singapore, Hsu Cheng-yuan has taken on a new role as a stay-at-home dad, he shared in a YouTube video published by Glimmer of Life, managed by the Tzu...
He used to be an attending physician in a Taiwan hospital before moving to Singapore to reunite with his wife and their two children after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Unable to practise medicine in Singapore, Hsu Cheng-yuan has taken on a new role as a stay-at-home dad, he shared in a YouTube video published by Glimmer of Life, managed by the Tzu Chi Foundation, on Wednesday (Oct 21).
Hsu, 48, is also a volunteer with the organisation.
Every fortnight, he visits Yishun Community Hospital.
"Apart from chatting, I sometimes ask patients if there's anything I can do for them, such as making them a cup of Milo," Hsu says in the video.
He is not a registered doctor in Singapore — but it is not for lack of trying.
He explains to Tzu Chi that he has twice registered to take the qualifying exam here, but his applications were not accepted, perhaps due to quota issues.
According to him, local regulations give him two more years to sit for and pass this exam.
Giving up his job and accomplishments he achieved as a doctor in Taiwan to join his family in Singapore comes with "a very complex mix of emotions", said Hsu.
His wife, Dr Maeda Momoe, empathises with him: "It's as if he can't quite find that sense of purpose."
Volunteering at the hospital appears to have helped somewhat.
"I'm very grateful that through my volunteering experience, I've been able to let go of much of the sense of self that I had built up in the past," he reflects.
"Sometimes, helping a grandma with her meals or giving her a little massage...little things like that. As long as I've been of some help, I feel really happy."
[embed]https://youtu.be/5SlTbbSB1U8?si=8KDXyLmIFXr2pPRE[/embed]
When the opportunity comes, Hsu gives free preventive health talks to the elderly, which do not involve the practice of medicine.
"I may not be using my skills as a doctor to make money, but I'm delighted to have this opportunity to put my expertise to good use and help people," he tells Tzu Chi.
Hsu's family also keeps him going.
In the video, his son praises him as a brilliant person and a great cook, while Hsu sheepishly remarks that he is "just okay".
Thinking of his children also dispels any thoughts he might have of giving up in his pursuit to become a certified practitioner here and returning to Taiwan.
"It's difficult to prepare for exams at my age...mentally and physically, I can't keep up like I did when I was younger," he admits.
"Of course it is my children who make me want to keep trying my best. I simply hope to be able to spend more time with them."
lim.kewei@asiaone.com
在新冠疫情爆发后，他搬到新加坡与妻子和两个孩子团聚，此前他曾是台湾一家医院的主治医师。
由于无法在新加坡行医，许正元在慈济基金会旗下的“生命之光”YouTube频道于周三（10月21日）发布的一段视频中分享了他作为全职爸爸的新角色。
48岁的许女士也是该组织的志愿者。
他每两周都会去义顺社区医院探望病人。
“除了聊天，我有时还会问病人有没有什么我可以为他们做的，比如给他们泡杯美禄，”许在视频中说道。
他虽然不是新加坡的注册医生，但他一直在努力争取。
他向慈济解释说，他曾两次报名参加这里的资格考试，但他的申请都没有被接受，可能是因为名额限制。
据他所说，当地法规允许他再有两年时间参加并通过这项考试。
许医生表示，放弃在台湾作为医生的工作和取得的成就，前往新加坡与家人团聚，对他来说是“非常复杂的情感”。
他的妻子前田桃江博士很能理解他：“他好像找不到人生的意义。”
在医院做义工似乎起到了一定的作用。
“我非常感激，通过我的志愿服务经历，我得以放下过去建立起来的许多自我意识，”他反思道。
“有时候，帮老奶奶准备饭菜，或者给她按摩一下……诸如此类的小事。只要我能帮上忙，我就觉得很开心。”
[embed]https://youtu.be/5SlTbbSB1U8?si=8KDXyLmIFXr2pPRE[/embed]
有机会的时候，许先生会给老年人提供免费的预防保健讲座，这些讲座不涉及医疗实践。
“我可能没有利用我的医生技能来赚钱，但我很高兴有机会发挥我的专长来帮助人们，”他告诉慈济。
许的家人也给了他继续前进的动力。
视频中，他的儿子称赞他是一个才华横溢的人，厨艺精湛，而许则不好意思地表示自己“还行”。
想到自己的孩子，他也打消了任何放弃成为美国注册执业医师并返回台湾的念头。
“我这个年纪准备考试很困难……无论从精神上还是身体上，我都无法像年轻时那样跟上进度了，”他坦言。
“当然，是我的孩子们让我想要继续努力。我只希望能够多花些时间陪伴他们。”
lim.kewei@asiaone.com