STORY: American doctor pursues dreams in China's Hainan
SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage
DATELINE: April 10, 2024
LENGTH: 00:04:08
LOCATION: HAIKOU, China
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TIMOTHY STEPHENS, Doctor, Haikou People's Hospital
2. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): TIMOTHY STEPHENS, Doctor, Haikou People's Hospital
2. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): TIMOTHY STEPHENS, Doctor, Haikou People's Hospital

STORYLINE:

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TIMOTHY STEPHENS, Doctor, Haikou People's Hospital
"My name is Timothy Stephens. I'm an American family physician. I'm 43 years old. I came to Hainan 11 years ago with my wife and children from Boston in the U.S.
For the last 11 years, I've been working here at the Haikou People's Hospital. 
Once we came here, we found that people were very welcoming to us. Strangers and colleagues and friends were very willing to help us a lot. So we really felt that kind of warm welcome from the Chinese people.
We found here the natural environment was very clean and healthy, so that was very good for us and our children's health. And then the atmosphere in terms of a welcoming toward outsiders to come in and contribute, that made us feel like this was a really good place where we could make an impact and make a difference, but also be welcomed and have mutual respect and friendship. So I think it was surprising because before coming here, we didn't really know very much about Hainan. But after being here for a while, we found it became like our second home."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): TIMOTHY STEPHENS, Doctor, Haikou People's Hospital
"In terms of professionally, I've had a lot of opportunities for developing my career, because Hainan is really trying to advance its medical system, to improve the quality of care, and also to meet international standards.
There's been a lot of changes over the years because I've seen in terms of the infrastructure, the hospitals, the local clinics, the equipment that's being brought in. Sometimes now some of the diagnostic equipment is newer than what I had in the U.S. from my hospital.
The expertise has also been increasing, especially bringing in some top doctors from other provinces. They've come from other top universities and big hospitals where they already have a lot of experience. So they've been able to bring in their own technical skills and professional judgment, and that really raises the level.
And overall, the system, I see that there's an emphasis on trying to standardize care.
With the help of resources and with this kind of strategic planning, Hainan can reach an international level for healthcare."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): TIMOTHY STEPHENS, Doctor, Haikou People's Hospital
"Personally, for my wife, she's not a medical professional, so she does business. So for her, her dream was to open her own business, and to train her employees, to make a new business model and be an entrepreneur. 
We found actually with Hainan making its new policies of the free trade port. There was an emphasis on making it easier for people to open their own businesses, to invest as foreigners, to invest here locally.
When my wife opened her business, the process was very smooth. It was all handled in one place. For her, it was basically like a one-stop service and very smooth, very quick. 
And then there's also tax benefits in terms of lower income tax which we've benefited from. It gives people, I think, an attractive place to come in. 
So that's actually been great because I've been able to fulfill my dreams in terms of my medical work, but she's also been able to pursue her dreams in business.
If the policies are going to help people from other countries to engage with China through Hainan, this really changes Hainan's place, right? Because it goes from being a small place to kind of a gateway to China. Not only in terms of the market, but also people meeting together and communicating."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Haikou, China.
(XHTV)