
Doctor Frank Dennis urges medics from Taiwan to consider service abroad
An American doctor who founded Taitung’s first hospital is urging medics from Taiwan to consider service abroad. Frank Dennis founded Taitung Christian Hospital in 1969, after coming to Taiwan in 1961. He dedicated himself particularly to surgery and to serving rural communities in Taitung. The doctor’s contributions to reducing the harm of polio were particularly outstanding. Now, the nonagenarian wants to inspire other medical professionals to also go abroad and support others who may be in need of medical expertise.
Frank Dennis
Doctor and US immigrant
I am a general practitioner of medicine. What I loved the most is when a child had been delivered and I got to place it onto its mother’s belly.
The founding superintendent of Taitung Christian Hospital, Frank Dennis, widely known as Father Dennis, is now 95. In 1961, he and his family moved to Taiwan and Dennis began working in surgery at Pingtung Christian Hospital. In 1965, they moved to Taitung where he opened “Baosang Clinic” in Taitung City.
Frank Dennis
Doctor and U.S. immigrant
Once, it was Lunar New Year, and a patient came to me with a very serious illness, which was jaundice. He had a liver pustule, a lot of belly pain, weak breathing. He obviously needed surgery. The doctors weren’t willing to do it, so I said, “Okay, then I’ll do it.”
That event inspired Dennis to have a new prayer: for a hospital in Taitung. In 1969, Taitung Christian Hospital was built. It was, at the time, cutting-edge. Over 33 years of practice, Dennis was dedicated to medicine in Taitung’s rural villages. In the ’60s, polio was common. In two years, Dennis operated on almost 300 children who had caught the disease. Only in 1994, when he contracted arthritis in both wrists and could no longer perform surgery, did he announce his retirement. Still hale and hearty, he often challenges his son to a game of ping pong. His greatest joys in life are diving and Taiwanese snacks, but above all, his belief in serving all people.
Frank Dennis
Doctor and US immigrant
I hope that Taiwanese doctors and nurses will go abroad and help in places that are lagging, no matter what the possibilities are, using every means to go and help.
Dennis once took his family to the other side of the world, in his quest to spread medical expertise. Now he wants to inspire others to take up that spirit of service and go wherever they are needed.
This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund
For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53
2023-10-19