Plastic surgeon releases book on years in Taiwan

The story of an American missionary who devoted 40 years of his life to providing medical care in Taiwan was officially released yesterday.

Mend the rift of life with love (愛,補人間殘缺) is the life story of Dr Samuel Noordhoff, now 71. An American native, Noordhoff lived in Taiwan between 1959 and 1999, treating countless patients during that time -- in particular, those who suffered from craniofacial abnormalities.

"For my 40 years in Taiwan, I feel I've gained more than I've given -- especially, I've gained the most from the people I have helped," Noordhoff said in fluent Hokkien. "I want to thank God for sending me to Taiwan so I could do a little work to help the people in this country.

"I consider Taiwan to be my home country. I am happy and proud of being Taiwanese, and so is my family."

Noordhoff said that being technically proficient at medicine wasn't the only skill that made a good physician. "What's more vital is having a loving and caring heart to assist patients who are going through hardships," he said.

Noordhoff, who moved to the US after retiring last year, is back in Taiwan to promote his new book, which is being published by Commonwealth Publishing Co Ltd.

Noordhoff set sail for Taiwan in 1959 -- along with his wife and children -- at the request of Dr Clarence Holleman, the retiring superintendent of Mackay Memorial Hospital at the time, who had asked Noordhoff to preside over the hospital.

Not knowing anything about the "remote" island, the doctor and his wife headed to an unknown future when they landed in Taiwan, forsaking the stability and wealth he could have easily obtained in the US.

Using his medical expertise in plastic surgery, Noordhoff helped a considerable number of patients afflicted with cleft lip and palate anomalies, giving patients new lives.

Chen Yu-ray (陳昱瑞), superintendent of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, said that more than half of Taiwan's 300 surgeons had directly or indirectly learned from Noordhoff.

The doctor's contribution to Taiwan was not limited to his medical expertise. Noordhoff has won the public's admiration for establishing various organizations and medical firsts in Taiwan.

In 1967, he set up the first intensive care unit in Taiwan; the first ward for burn patients in 1968; and in 1969 the first station to offer emergency counselling for people who have attempted suicide.

Noordhoff also imported the Salk vaccine to Taiwan -- the medicine to fight against poliomyelitis.

For his service as a superintendent at Mackay Memorial Hospital and then later at Cheng Gung Memorial Hospital, the doctor was granted the Maliniac Award by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 1994 -- the supreme honor for plastic surgeons.

Brought up in a Christian family, the doctor said he has learned that he had been "blessed to be a blessing" to other people.

"Because of God's love for me, I must reach in love to others," he said. "I hope those who have learned medicine from me can reach out to offer their assistance to others in need."