“You are the light of the world. … Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14, 16)
In February this year, I received an email from Dr. Walter, who works in the Department of Otolaryngology at Duke University. He had found my contact information through the website of the JAMES Fellowship, a group for young healthcare professionals. In his email, he introduced a leadership development workshop he was promoting and shared his plans to visit Taiwan in October.
After receiving his email, I promptly forwarded the information to the leadership teams of TCMA and CCMM to seek their input and explore possible ways to collaborate. We subsequently held several online meetings with Dr. Walter and colleagues at China Medical University. Yesterday, the first experiential taster workshop was successfully completed. I would like to record some of what I learned and gained from this experience so that colleagues who were unable to attend can also gain an understanding of the workshop and that these reflections may serve as a reference for future collaboration.
On the evening of October 16, we enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at the former residence of General Sun Li-jen. The dishes included fluffy baked flatbread stuffed with Dongpo pork, crispy lemon shrimp, fragrant pork ribs, steamed fresh fish, pork trotter soup rich in collagen, and desserts crafted to resemble apples, among other delicacies. During the meal, members of TCMA shared their personal journeys of faith with Walter and invited him to speak at our joint retreat in September next year.
Early the following morning, October 17, I took the train to Taichung to attend a workshop jointly organized by China Medical University and the International Phronesis Institute (IPI), where Walter is affiliated. Director Lin Chia-Der and his team at China Medical University thoughtfully arranged the venue, meals, course materials, and AI-powered online translation, ensuring that everything ran smoothly. Walter also gave a clear and accessible introduction to the overall workshop framework.
The following is my brief summary of the course content.
🙏 The Vision of THRIVE: Moving Beyond Survival to Making a Lasting Impact
As healthcare professionals progress through their training, is it possible that they gradually lose sight of the convictions that first inspired them, eventually becoming people they never intended to be? This phenomenon is known as professional deformation.
Beyond professional competence, character matters just as much, because it is through character that we earn the trust of our colleagues and patients. Rather than focusing solely on how to survive in the high-pressure environment of healthcare, we must also learn how to become a light within our hospitals and society, bringing warmth and hope to those around us.
💓 Lesson One: Understanding Ourselves and Finding Our Foundation
We need to continually reflect on whether our heart (emotions), spirit (character), mind (cognition), and strength (leadership) are aligned and working in harmony.
Our identity and worth are not built on our performance, nor are they determined by the praise of others. They rest on a foundation that has been given to us and remains secure. When we experience intense emotions, these moments can become opportunities to discover what we truly value deep within ourselves.
Through this process, we can come to know ourselves more deeply, identify the obstacles that prevent us from aligning our beliefs with our actions, and gain a clearer understanding of the underlying issues so that we can address them effectively.
⛳ Lesson Two: Discovering Our Direction and Understanding Our Context
We need to discover our lifelong calling. A calling is not simply a position that may change over time, but a mission that endures throughout our lives. We develop a deep understanding of and passion for this mission, and we are willing to take action to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
How, then, can we discern our calling?
When we encounter our calling, we feel a desire to engage without insisting on a particular outcome. Although the journey may not be easy, we can still experience joy along the way. We also prepare ourselves by continually developing the necessary abilities, so that when the right time comes, we can accept responsibility and make a meaningful impact.
Yet the pursuit of our calling inevitably brings challenges. These difficulties not only cultivate our patience and character but also teach us how to work with others and walk together through difficult seasons.
💞 Lesson Three: Connecting with Others and Making an Impact
How can we become leaders who truly make a difference?
Servant leadership reminds us that before we focus on getting things done, we must first care for people. When we invest in the growth of others and offer comfort, compassion, and kindness when needed, we gradually build trust and, in turn, gain the opportunity to make a genuine difference in their lives.
In our conversations with others, we must learn to ask first, listen next, and speak only afterward, rather than simply issuing instructions. When others make mistakes, we must allow truth and grace to go hand in hand. We should neither compromise our principles in an attempt to please everyone nor become so harsh that we overlook the circumstances others face.
Good leaders always begin by leading themselves. They are willing to acknowledge their emotions without being controlled by them. Rather than allowing a moment of anger to dictate their responses, they learn to treat others with integrity and love.
📈 Lesson Four: Life Transformation and Embracing Our Mission
The cultivation of character is a lifelong journey. We continually experience calling, trials, and transformation, and with each refining experience, we set out again with fresh understanding and a renewed sense of mission.
Through this process, our leadership gradually shifts from being centered on ourselves to becoming a form of servant leadership that seeks to serve others. In the past, we may have relied on our talents and positions to lead. Now, we learn to set aside our egos and become leaders who are willing to invest in the growth and well-being of others.
Even the suffering we have experienced can become a source of blessing to others. It can deepen our understanding of their pain and teach us how to offer comfort, encouragement, and companionship.
From Learning Leadership to Bearing Witness Through Our Lives
I believe that many of you reading this article will find at least some of the ideas in these four lessons familiar. For those of us who have been born again in Christ, the guidance of the Holy Spirit enables us to experience transformation even in the midst of hardship, gradually becoming a light that brings blessing to others.
This is precisely what Walter hopes to accomplish through this course: to give more people who do not yet share our faith the opportunity to encounter ideas and values that differ from those commonly embraced by the world. Through repeated conversations and interactions, they may gradually begin to see how Christ can bring genuine and profound transformation to human lives.
May they see in us a different way of living. And when they feel empty within or find themselves searching for direction in life, may they come to realize that a door to abundant life stands open before them, waiting for them to knock.
May we continue to grow not only in our professional competence but also in the way we live, reflecting the character of Christ and becoming a light and a blessing in our healthcare workplaces.
David Chen 2026/10/19
