Taipei Veterans General Hospital OB-GYN Department Shifts from 80% Male to 80% Female; New On-Call Room Renovation Symbolizes Rise of Women in Medicine

(CNA reporter Shen Pei-yao, Taipei, June 17) Childbirth is a battle against death, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Taipei Veterans General Hospital shoulders the critical mission of safeguarding maternal and infant health. The department has undergone a remarkable transformation in its physician composition—from 80% male to 80% female. Yesterday, the newly renovated on-call room was officially launched, not only improving rest conditions but also symbolizing the rising influence of women in medicine.

Entering the newly opened on-call room for resident physicians in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, one is greeted by soft lighting, clean and efficient layout, and the addition of two new bathroom facilities. This vital support space for life-saving work has been thoughtfully upgraded.

"The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology carries the crucial responsibility of protecting maternal and infant health. The obstetric environment is dynamic and ever-changing, requiring physicians and nursing staff to remain on constant standby," said Dr. Chen Wei-ming,院长 of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, during yesterday's inauguration ceremony. He especially thanked Mr. and Mrs. Tsai Chieh-jen—the son of Mr. Tsai Chi-neng, chairman of Pou Chen Corporation and founder of Yue Yuen Group—for their generous donation toward the renovation, which has created a safer, more comfortable, and modern rest space tailored to the needs of young physicians.

Behind this spatial transformation lies a deeper story of generational change in medical workforce structure. Dr. Chen Yi-jen, Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, shared that in 1997 (Minguo Year 86), over 80% of OB-GYN residents were male. At that time, the on-call room was naturally designed with male needs in mind, leaving female physicians to share a single bathroom in a cramped space. However, as times have changed, today over 80% of OB-GYN residents at Taipei Veterans General Hospital are female.

To respond to this wave of "rising female power," the renovation completely reconfigured the space. The formerly spacious male on-call room has been converted into a female-exclusive area, with multiple new bathroom facilities added. This resolves the long-standing issue of female doctors queuing for showers and improves sound insulation and lighting quality.

Dr. Chen Yi-jen emotionally stated that this is not merely a renovation project, but a symbol of the full emergence of female professionals in women's healthcare. It allows physicians—rushing between delivery rooms, operating theaters, and wards—to fully recover during limited rest periods, contributing vital strength toward building a higher-quality, more supportive medical environment. (Edited by Lung Po-an) 1150617

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