Experienced Surgeon from Taiwan Returns for Second Training Session

Dr. Chao Tzu Chen, an international surgeon from Taiwan, first visited Japan in September 2023 to participate in our hospital’s Clinical Trainee Program. She began her second training period this November. Dr. Chao’s initial decision to train at our hospital stemmed from being deeply impressed by a lecture given by Dr. Masami Takeyama, Director of our Urogynecology Center, at the International College of Surgeons (ICS) conference.

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“My Challenges Became Clear”: Dr. Chao’s Second Training Session, Approached from Attending Surgeon’s Perspective

We interviewed Dr. Chao about this second training session.

Q. After completing your training as part of the first cohort of clinical trainees at Daiichi Towakai Hospital in September 2023, how have you been since then?

A. After returning to Taiwan, I began treating my own patients at a hospital. However, since Urogynecology has not yet been established as an independent specialty in Taiwan, gaining experience in this field has been inevitably slow.

Q. This is your second training period at Daiichi Towa Hospital. What are your primary objectives for this second training session?

A. Performing surgeries in Taiwan has made my technical challenges much clearer.
Since Taiwanese patients differ from Japanese patients in living environments, even the same surgical procedure requires adaptation and cannot always be applied directly. When I discussed this with Dr. Takeyama, he said, “Come back and observe again. I’ll arrange an opportunity for you to focus on learning LSC (laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy).” This time, my primary goal is to improve my LSC surgical technique.

Q. Have you noticed any changes in your mindset since you visited Japan for training two years ago?

A. This time, I’m observing the surgery from the perspective of “what I would do if I were the Attending Surgeon.” I have gained experience in surgery, which has clarified my challenges. Compared to the previous training, my observation points are now much more specific.

Q. How do you plan to apply what you learned in this training program after returning home?

A. I aim to gradually incorporate the knowledge and refined techniques gained during my training into my daily practice and surgeries. The meticulous approach to surgery I observed in Japan, along with the team’s collaborative spirit in supporting patients, left a profound impression on me. Upon returning home, I intend to carry that mindset forward and integrate it into my own practice.