Page 9 - CUHK MEDICAL ALUMNI Newsletter Issue 2 Vol 6 2017

CHARITABLE HEART
08

After graduating, Dr Ching interned surgeon, there was great rapport ”She was a professor, she didn’t have
as a general surgeon for half a year. between doctors and patients. But to do it,” Dr Ching says, ”but she did
”During the six months, I felt very at A&E, I would only see patients for it because she was really concerned.
satisfied. I really liked the rapport around 10 to 20 minutes and then A lot of people would have found the
with the patients and their families.” they would be sent to the wards. procedure disgusting.
They didn’t even know who I was.”
But she realised one thing - she was ”I was really impressed with the
too empathetic to be a surgeon. She finally decided to be an eye professor’s attitude,” she adds. ”It
surgeon. Dr Ching explains that taught me that no matter how high
”I would be ver y upset when as an eye doctor, there are hardly your position is, your patient’s health
patients died. I became too involved any life-threatening situations…an must always be your first priority.”
and emotional. I was afraid that occupation she felt she could handle.
this would affect my decisions in She is advising students who want
life-and-death situations.” to become doctors to have the heart
and passion for it. ”Don’t take up
Dr Ching has this theory. She believes medicine for the glory and money.
that certain specialities are meant for You have to ask yourself why do you
certain personalities… and she certainly really want to be a doctor.
didn’t have the personality to become
a surgeon. ”I realised that because of ”I came from a poor family but I was
my strong empathy with patients, I may very fortunate compared with many
not become an exceptional surgeon. others. The society gave me a lot of
I think if I worked in Oncology, I might chances to improve myself over the
cry the whole day.” years. For example, I went to a band
one secondary school. CUHK took
So she discussed her conflicting me in and gave me the chance to
emotions with senior doctors who grow and learn and Tung Wah Eastern
advised her to think really hard about it. Dr Ching says she will be forever Hospital - where I received my eye
grateful to the Faculty of Medicine of training - supported me tremendously.
She then decided to join the Accident The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
and Emergency Department. She ”I wasn’t really an outstanding student. ”Now, I want to give something
admitted she was drawn to A&E after My HKCEE results weren’t that good back to society…that’s why I am
watching the popular US television but at the same time, they weren’t that volunteering my services to helping
series, ER. ”I was fascinated with the bad either. But CUHK gave me the the underprivileged in Hong Kong
series because they were so exciting.” chance to study medicine.” with their eye-sight.”
However, after nine months with the Dr Ching also remembers the Faculty
A&E department, Dr Ching began teachers as being ”really nice”. She
to feel restless. ”I received a lot of recounts an experience involving a
training at the A&E department and professor that left an indelible imprint
that was very satisfying. I learnt how on her. The professor was attending
to handle a patient. When they came to an elderly patient who
in, we had to examine every inch of was suffering from severe
their body, from head to toe.” constipation. Without much
ado, she rolled up her
Despite all that training, she still felt sleeves, put on some
something was missing…and that gloves and performed
something was ”rapport” with patients.
digital evacuation on
”During my internship as a general the patient.