To the outsider, the life of a surgeon does not appear to be enviable. He must be on call all the time and constantly make life and death decisions for which he alone may be answerable later. But many surgeons are in fact inspired by their work. They regard themselves as artists dealing in the ultimate "sculpture"--that of the human body. They can stand back and look with pride at their handwork after it is completed successfully.
Undoubtedly taking this broader view is Dr. Lin Cheng-yun, the Republic of China's first female surgeon, who has won a reputation for her tireless efforts and outstanding achievements. Her dedication to her work at the Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei has earned her the nickname of "superwoman" among her fellow surgeons. A specialist in microsurgery, Dr. Lin performs 2-3 operations a week in addition to her general duties. She is on call 24 hours a day, and may have to drive for an hour from her suburban home at a moment's notice, perhaps in the middle of the night, to perform emergency surgery. Even when she has to work all night, she never complains. And in seven years of practicing surgery, she has only been absent once--to take maternity leave.
Her colleagues in a male-dominated field are amazed at her talent and energy. But Dr. Lin shrugs off their plaudits. "Only if you respect yourself will others respect you. Every woman has to overcome the barriers of sex discrimination. If she asks for special treatment, she is only perpetuating such discrimination."
Dr. Lin grew up in family of doctors. As a child, she spent long periods in her father's operating and examination rooms when Taiwan's medical facilities were in their infancy, performing such routine tasks as taking pulses and reading blood pressures. Because of early exposure to medicine, her heart was set on becoming a doctor at a time when her playmates' main interest lay in making mud pies.
After graduating from the National Taiwan University Hospital, the top Taiwan medical institution, in 1975, Dr. Lin went on to specialize in plastic surgery. Her job started after facial surgery had been completed by another surgeon. Then, she would graft skin implants over the stitched wounds so that the patient's physical appearance would not be impaired.
Over the past six months, Dr. Lin has successfully treated patients with such complaints as cleft palates, broken jaws and facial injuries suffered in accidents. Dr. Lin's work shows amply that plastic surgery is not just concerned with cosmetic effects.
After undergoing extensive advanced training in Japan and the U.S. last year, she temporarily joined the Chinese-Saudi medical team at the Jeddah General Hospital in Saudi Arabia. At first, patients in Saudi Arabia were suspicious over the idea of a woman performing such important work. But her reputation soon spread through the kingdom and her name appeared in the headlines of local papers.
Dr. Lin's example has inspired many other women to enter the surgeon's profession, and they have not been slow to acknowledge her role in changing the medical landscape in Taiwan.
[Picture Caption]
Left: "Superdoctor" Lin Cheng-yun. Right: Dr. Lin examining a patient.
1. Dr. Lin and family. 2. Two of this young patient's fingers were severed in a factory accident. Dr. Lin expects the patient to be as "good as new" after a microsurgery operation. 3.4. Before and after pictures of a patient with a severe lip deformity.
When she is not working, Dr. Lin spends as much time with her children as possible.
Dr. Lin examining a patient.
Two of this young patient's fingers were severed in a factory accident. Dr. Lin expects the patient to be as "good as new" after a microsurgery operation.
Before and after pictures of a patient with a severe lip deformity.
Before and after pictures of a patient with a severe lip deformity.
When she is not working, Dr. Lin spends as much time with her children as possible.
@List.jpg?w=522&h=410&mode=crop&format=webp&quality=80)
@List.jpg?w=522&h=410&mode=crop&format=webp&quality=80)
