Dr.
Hsu Ming-chang
The Pillar of the United States Tzu Chi Free Clinic |
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By Su Yi-wen
Translated by Teresa Chang
Photographs courtesy of Tzu Chi Southern California Branch
Dr.
Hsu Ming-chang, born and raised in Taiwan, immigrated to the United
States twenty-six years ago. He started his own clinic six years
later as a family doctor. "Dr. Hsu is the pillar of the US
Tzu Chi Free Clinic," said Stephen Huang, then CEO of the
US Tzu Chi chapter.
Eight years ago, the Tzu Chi branch office
in the United States was about to open a free clinic for people
who had no access to medical resources. Medical costs in the United
States are very high. The fee for visit to a family doctor is
around fifty or sixty dollars. Specialized doctors charge over
one hundred dollars. Another fifty to sixty dollars might be spent
for a prescription. For some, such as those without medical insurance,
such costs are too high and they cannot afford to get sick.
The government only provides medical insurance for low-income
families who are US citizens but have no bank deposits, cars or
houses. "Many illegal immigrants do not qualify, yet they
are the most impoverished members of society," Dr. Hsu observed.
"Many Chinese work and receive a mediocre income. Once they
pay off the rent and the car loan, they have no extra cash to
pay for doctors. They don't qualify as low-income families. It
is such people that the free clinic aims to serve."
Opening a free clinic is not easy. The law
of the state of California stipulates that at least one resident
doctor licensed in Western medicine is required in order to set
up a free clinic. However, it is not easy to find a doctor who
is willing to sacrifice his time to work in a free clinic. Doctors
in the United States can easily earn a lot of money, so most of
them keep themselves busy in order to earn as much as possible.
However, Dr. Hsu is different. Since the Tzu
Chi Free Clinic opened seven years ago, he has worked there in
the afternoons from Tuesday to Friday. He even sets aside time
on Sundays to treat Tzu Chi members. Sometimes he travels to different
parts of the world to help with free clinics in other countries.
"In the beginning, Dr. Hsu was the only
doctor who served regularly at the free clinic," said Stephen
Huang, then CEO of the Tzu Chi Southern California office. "Many
times when we failed to find help from other doctors, we would
call him. He never hesitated to close his own clinic and come
to our rescue."
Timely appearance
Eight years ago, Dr. Hsu met Huang at a Tzu
Chi gathering in Southern California. Huang told him that the
branch office was planning to set up a free clinic and was hoping
doctors would volunteer their time. This was good news to Dr.
Hsu, whose original plan was to join a Christian hospital after
he retired and to help out Chinese doctors in the United States
who were interested in returning to Taiwan to serve the people.
When he heard about the Tzu Chi free clinic, he was very happy
that he could offer his services in the States and did not need
to travel all the way back to Taiwan. He immediately wrote a letter
to the Tzu Chi Southern California branch conveying his eagerness
to serve at the free clinic. Days went by, but he received no
reply. He thought his help was probably not needed.
The
day before the opening of the free clinic, he saw another doctor
who was helping with the planning for the free clinic. Dr. Hsu
congratulated the doctor on the opening of the new venture. Surprisingly,
the doctor said, "The clinic is scheduled to open tomorrow,
but there are no doctors available to help!"
A Dr. Yang, who had promised to be the resident
doctor at the free clinic, had suddenly withdrawn a couple of
days earlier. The unexpected announcement took everyone by surprise.
Everyone was very worried, because without a resident doctor the
free clinic could not open. Upon hearing the story, Dr. Hsu called
Huang at once and offered to help. That was a big relief for Huang.
Dr. Hsu has been looking after the free clinic
from the day of the grand opening until now. In the blink of an
eye, seven years have gone by. His devotion to the clinic has
greatly affected his own business. "The busier the free clinic
gets, the fewer patients I can see in my own clinic," Dr.
Hsu proudly smiled, with no hint of regret. He is like a father
in the golden years of his life giving his son the best he can.
Eventually the son will grow up and be successful, while his own
hair will have thinned and grayed.
Doctors
Dr. Hsu explained that in the States, many
different ethnic groups throughout the country have set up small-scale
free clinics. The Tzu Chi Free Clinic is the first of its kind
to be established by Chinese, who form only a small part of America's
mainstream society. "Moreover, in just a matter of seven
years, we have developed into a large-scale free clinic. Each
year we serve tens of thousands of patients and spend roughly
$800,000. All the expenses are covered by donations from local
Chinese individuals or companies."
In the first few years, the majority of patients
visiting the Tzu Chi Free Clinic were either Chinese or other
Asians. Over the years, the number of non-Asians has grown. Currently
only thirty-five percent of the patients are Chinese. The ethnicity
of the patients dictates the background of the doctors who come
to help. Due to language barriers, American doctors do not often
volunteer.
In
the beginning, the free clinic could not find doctors. But as
its reputation spreads, more doctors are offering their services
and consequently more services are being offered. At present,
the clinic's services include herbal medicine, general family
medicine, gynecology, dental service, etc. The clinic has five
resident doctors, ten doctors of Western medicine and over ten
dentists. "Among our doctors, we have one father and daughter
and three married couples. Two couples met here and then got married."
Besides offering medical services, the free clinic has also unexpectedly
acted as a matchmaker!
The clinic has a group of nearly forty Tzu
Chi medical doctors. In the States, doctors are very busy. Although
many want to serve at the free clinic, they cannot make the time.
Some patients need services that free clinics cannot provide,
so the clinic refers them to outside doctors who either treat
patients for free or charge the free clinic rates. This way busy
doctors can do volunteer work as well.
Persistence
"After I joined the free clinic, I realized
that there are still many kind people in the world," said
Dr. Hsu. "All they need is a place for them to give their
love. For instance, we have an old volunteer who often brings
us food. There is another volunteer who owns a vegetarian restaurant;
he has been providing us free lunch every Saturday for the past
seven years. People like these touch the hearts of the medical
staff working at the free clinic."
Master Cheng Yen said, "It's easy to be
enthusiastic, but difficult to be persistent." What has motivated
Dr. Hsu to serve enthusiastically for the past seven years? "By
working either in my own clinic or in the free clinic, I am offering
my medical knowledge. But in my own clinic, there's the issue
of personal financial interest. Working in the free clinic is
a form of giving without asking for anything in return. Even though
I see fewer patients in my own clinic, I've met a lot of good
people at Tzu Chi."
"Seven years ago my children were only
in elementary school, and now they're in college," he continued.
"Through the years I realized the importance of seizing the
day and making the most of the present. Many people put off the
things they want to do until a more suitable time. But will we
ever have enough time to do all we want to do? When I joined Tzu
Chi, I had the same thoughts as I did when I married my wife:
I was very confused as to how I could love her for the rest of
my life. Later I realized that I have to remind myself every day
that the choice I made is the right one. I participate in Tzu
Chi activities with the same attitude, for I know I made the right
choice."
Outreach programs
In addition to regular free clinics, there
are also outreach programs in San Bernardino, El Monte, City of
Ten Thousand Buddhas, Las Vegas, and even Mexico and Peru. "We
have been holding free clinics in San Bernardino for five years.
It all began with a Chinese gentleman there wanting to repay society
by donating money to the Tzu Chi Free Clinic. Later he offered
to let us use his farm to hold free clinics. Dr. Saint Chases,
who lives near the farm, always comes to help when we hold free
clinics there. Because he can speak Spanish, his assistance means
a lot to us. Now whenever he has time, he comes to the free clinic
to help."
"We
started free clinics in Tijuana and Mexicali in Mexico, because
Tzu Chi members in Mexico wanted to help the impoverished people
there. Up till now, we have held nine free clinics in Mexico.
On average we treat two or three hundred people each time.* Holding
outreach programs in faraway regions is a laborious task. Take
Mexico as an example: driving from Los Angeles to the Mexican
border takes two and a half hours. Moreover, staff members frequently
have to carry equipment up and down. Some equipment has to be
taken apart before it can be transported and reassembled upon
reaching the place where the free clinic is to be held. When they
head back home, staff members have to repeat the whole process.
To simplify the task, the free clinic purchased a mobile dental
van worth US$300,000. Inside the vehicle are two dental chairs,
two x-ray machines for dental use, sterilizing apparatus, a digital
camera, etc. Simple surgery can also be performed in the vehicle.
Cancer Patient Association
Last April, the Tzu Chi Free Clinic set up
a cancer support group. Although there is a similar association
in Southern California, it does not function as expected because
of financial and interpersonal problems. The free clinic has treated
many cancer patients, and they asked Tzu Chi members to set up
an association for them. Most cancer patients tend to lose the
will to live when they find out they are afflicted with the fatal
illness. The association aims at providing a forum where those
patients can exchange experiences on spiritual, financial and
medical matters. "Ultimately, we hope they can help each
other and climb out of the abyss of self-pity," said Dr.
Hsu.
Visit to Dalin Hospital
Dr. Hsu's trip to the new Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital
was a rewarding experience for him. Twenty years ago, when he
was serving his compulsory military service in Dalin, there was
nothing in the little town but sugarcane fields. Now a magnificent
hospital is standing in what used to be a sugarcane field. "Sometimes,
I think there's an invisible link between me and Tzu Chi. Tzu
Chi's first hospital is in Hualien County, where my wife was born.
The foundation then built a hospital in Dalin, where I served
before. In both cases, I found hospitals built in places that
originally had nothing."
When asked whether he would return to
Taiwan after his retirement to serve the people, he replied, "Maybe
I will, but I won't serve in Dalin because there are even more
remote regions. If I do return, I think I'll go to mountainous
areas that are off the beaten track. I'm sure many more people
need my service out there.
