Top doctor dedicates himself to serving rural communities of Taitung

2022-08-02

You might have heard of patients coming to Taipei to consult a top doctor, or even going abroad for a rare treatment. But have you heard of Taipei residents heading to Taitung for the best medical care? If you have an ear, nose or throat issue, you might consider it. Thirteen years ago, Dr. Chen Lukedaw left a prestigious post in the capital to serve the people of Taitung. Now he’s attracting patients into the county. Now in his 70s, he’s determined to keep on giving his best to the rural communities of the east coast as long as he can.

Mr. Hsu
Patient
He’s the best doctor I’ve ever had.

This patient has a frog in his throat describing the impact of Dr. Chen Lukedaw’s care. The ear, nose and throat specialist at Taitung Christian Hospital has many patients come to him all the way from Taipei, for his heartfelt and conscientious treatment.

Relative of patient
Dr. Chen’s medical skills and his attitude are wonderful. We still live in Taipei, and we come here on the train just to see him.

Dr. Chen conducts a careful examination, not letting a single detail escape his notice. He’s been working here in Taitung for 13 years, serving communities with relatively underdeveloped medical services, and attracting countless grateful patients.

Dr. Chen Lukedaw
Taitung Christian Hospital
The foreign missionaries would say that the U.S. was just over the road, but the top of the mountain was a world away. It seemed rather tragic to me, that they came all the way from over the ocean, with their whole family in tow, still young, to help folks in Taitung. But our own Taiwanese neighbors wouldn’t do anything to help.

That thought inspired Dr. Chen to retire from National Taiwan University Hospital at the age of just 58. He moved 300 kilometers away to Taitung, and became the ear, nose and throat expert at Taitung Christian Hospital. Although it was tough for his family, they supported his vision.

Son of Dr. Chen Lukedaw
That year when he was officially going to move to Taitung, we bought a new car, and we all went for a family trip to Sun Moon Lake. Then we drove home, and he stayed here. Usually it’s the children who eventually leave home, but for us it was our dad who left home.

Now he’s also branched out into education, paying for a “Classroom of Hope” where children from rural villages can receive free tutoring.

Dr. Chen Lukedaw
Taitung Christian Hospital
I had a fall one year, when I had a stroke. But God brought me back to life, giving me a new life. My doctor said that my work here wasn’t complete yet, and that I had to keep on going.

Now 70 years old, Dr. Chen has had seven stents put in his heart, but he’s still full of enthusiasm for his work, determined to keep on serving the people of Taitung for as long as he can.

台東仁醫陳玉祥行醫13年守護當地健康

2022-08-02

民眾北上找名醫很常見，但有聽過北部病患專程到台東找醫生看診嗎。從台大醫院科退休後，陳玉祥醫師成為台東基督教醫院第一位耳鼻喉科醫生，一轉眼已經13個年頭，雖然曾心肌梗塞倒下，裝了7根支架，但他仍持續守護當地居民健康，不少病患提到他，都是滿心的感謝。

[[門診病人許先生 ]]
“是我目前為止，見過最好的醫生”

講到哽咽，病人口中最好的醫生，就是他，台東基督教醫院的耳鼻喉科醫師"陳玉祥"，他不只醫病，也醫心，就算到台東行醫，還是有人專程從台北坐火車來找他。

[[門診病人家屬]]
“陳醫師的醫療技術還有態度很好，我們現在還住台北，就為了看醫生，坐火車下來(台東)”

仔細檢查，專注的看診，不放過任一處小細節。陳玉祥醫師到醫療資源相對弱勢的台東，照顧當地居民的健康，已經超過13年，治療過的病人更是不計其數。

[[台東基督教醫院陳玉祥醫師]]
“外國宣教士，他們就是說，美國很近，後山很遠，我有一點感慨說，人家可以遠渡重洋，全家大小年紀輕輕，來到我們台東幫忙，可是我們自己人為什麼不去幫忙”

宣教士的一席話，觸動陳玉祥醫師的內心，五十八歲時，提前從臺大醫院退休，帶著「一卡皮箱」，到三百多公里外的台東，成為東基醫院第一位耳鼻喉科醫師，家人雖然心疼，但還是全力支持。

[[陳玉祥醫師兒子]]
“他當年正式要下台東的時候，買了一台新車，然後全家一起開車先去日月潭玩玩，再一路開下來，然後他就留在這了，通常都是小孩離家，結果是爸爸離家這一次”

如今，他還把照顧病人的這份心，延伸到部落孩童身上，自掏腰包成立「希望教室」，免費為他們輔導課業。

[[台東基督教醫院陳玉祥醫師]]
“有一年就因為心肌梗塞，倒了下去，可是神又讓我復活了過來，祂又賜給我一條生命，醫師就表示說，我在這裡工作還沒有完成，我還要繼續努力下去”

儘管已經70幾歲，儘管心臟裝了7根支架，陳玉祥仍滿懷豪情壯志，要繼續為偏鄉醫療付出。