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.

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."