TWiST Newsletter Issue No.189 is Out!

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Editor’s Note

This issue features two women from the medical profession discussing their work and personal lives: renowned obstetrician and gynecologist Professor Chiung-Hui Lai and neurologist Professor Yih-Ru Wu. Most importantly, we also commemorate Dr. Tsai Ah-hsin, Taiwan’s first woman physician and the “Mother of Taichung,” who pioneered the training of numerous midwives in the Taichung area. Women possess the unique ability to nurture and give birth to children. As we work and live, we should contribute our professional strengths, embrace each day with optimism, and remain connected with the international community.

Feature Report｜ Professor Chiung-Hui Lai, Vice Superintendent of Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and a distinguished obstetrician and gynecologist, is committed to strengthening international connections among women physicians. She shares an overview of the 2022 Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) Congress hosted in Taiwan. The event brought together women physicians and experts from various academic fields, showcasing Taiwan’s achievements in medicine and research while increasing its international visibility.

Because of COVID-19, the congress adopted a hybrid format that enabled domestic and international speakers to interact with online participants in real time. Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and conferences also demonstrated its public diplomacy, promoted cultural exchange, and introduced its achievements in medicine, science, and women’s rights to a global audience.

Spotlight｜ Born in 1899, Dr. Tsai Ah-hsin challenged traditional expectations, pioneered medical education for women, and helped society recognize that women could pursue diverse careers. At age 20, she entered Tokyo Women’s Medical College, now Tokyo Women’s Medical University, and returned to Taiwan after graduating in 1921.

In June 1926, she established Ching-Shin Hospital in Taichung. Her policy was to charge wealthy patients more, poorer patients less, and those in extreme poverty nothing. Guided by the belief that training others to deliver babies was more valuable than working alone, she established the Ching-Shin Midwifery School. Over ten years, the school trained approximately 500 midwives, creating employment opportunities for Taiwanese women, reducing language barriers in healthcare, and significantly lowering maternal and infant mortality.

Family｜ After decades of working in the demanding environment of a medical center, neurologist Dr. Yih-Ru Wu shares how she maintains a fulfilling career and happy family life. Her sources of happiness include finding meaning in her work, recording daily tasks, caring for pets, hiking, practicing yoga, and—most importantly—receiving support from her family.

For her, a happy life means remaining optimistic and letting go of unnecessary desires. After turning 55, she began embracing a simpler lifestyle: pursuing dreams with determination, maintaining a positive mindset, and treating every day as a sunny one.

Finally, the Post-Event Report covers the MIT Club of Taiwan’s forum commemorating the 150th anniversary of Ellen Swallow Richards becoming the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s first woman graduate. Four MIT alumnae were invited to share their personal journeys and valuable lessons.

The Recommended Article section brings together remarks by former Australian Representative to Taiwan Jenny Bloomfield from the 2022 Forum on Developing Talent for the Next Generation and International Women’s Day 2023. A longtime advocate for women’s education, Bloomfield encouraged more women to pursue STEM and help build a sustainable and equitable future.

Original Articles in Issue 189

• Feature Report: “My Journey with the Taiwan Medical Women’s Association (TMWA) and the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA)” — Chiung-Hui Lai

• Family: “Balancing Work and Life” — Yih-Ru Wu

• Post-Event Report: “Taiwan’s First MIT Women’s Forum: MIT Women—Walking the STEM Path to Leadership” — Shun-Min Lee

• Recommended Article: “The Potential of Gender Equality for a Sustainable Future—Highlights from Australian Diplomat Jenny Bloomfield’s Speeches” — Compiled by Chia-Te Cheng and edited by Ming-Hsiu Chen

  
  

For more content, please visit the newsletter: http://www.twepress.net/resources/tfst/item/1439-tfst189