Dr. Jean Phillip launched the next phase of her medical profession at the end of August with the start of her four-year residency training program at Shuang Ho Hospital in Taipei.
A special ceremony was held at Shuang Ho Hospital to mark the occasion.
Marshall Islands Ambassador Anjanette Kattil joined the event and congratulated Dr. Phillip on her induction into the residency training program. She expressed her appreciation to the Taiwan government and the hospital for their partnership with the Marshall Islands.
In addition to training Marshallese medical doctors, Shuang Ho has a multi-level partnership program with the Ministry of Health and Human Services in the Marshall Islands. It regularly dispatches specialist doctors to work in Majuro and Ebeye hospitals, provides support for upgrading systems and equipment at Majuro hospital, and provides medical referral services for Marshallese patients.
The special Shuang Ho Residency Training Program Welcoming Ceremony was held August 28 and involved numerous administrative and medical staff from the hospital in Taipei, along with the Marshall Islands Embassy to Taiwan.
The RMI Embassy said it was a momentous occasion as Dr. Phillip received her white coat, symbolizing the commencement of her four-year residency training program at Shuang Ho Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. She is the sixth doctor from the RMI to enter the Shuang Ho residency training program since its inception.
The Taiwan government of established the Taiwan Health Center in the RMI in 2007 as part of its commitment to providing medical care and public health education to the Marshallese. The Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital and the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare undertook the cooperation project in 2013. “Since then, we’ve witnessed several advancements in healthcare programs aligned with the Marshall Islands’ top health priorities, including the Residency Training Program,” said the embassy.
The August 28 event was well attended by representatives from the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Shuang Ho Hospital, and current Marshallese residents and students.
Health Minister Ota Kisino delivered remarks at the ceremony via a pre-recorded video message.
In addition to congratulating Dr. Phillip and recognizing Shuang Ho Hospital, Ambassador Kattil reaffirmed the RMI’s support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations and its specialized agencies, noting Taiwan’s willingness and ability to help, particularly given its exceptional reputation and depth of knowledge in medicine and public health.