Ulai Otobed facts for kids

Ulai Trudy Otobed, born on December 31, 1941, is a doctor from Palau. She made history in 1965 by becoming the first woman from Micronesia to become a qualified doctor. Besides her medical career, she is also a talented table tennis player. She won a gold medal in table tennis at the 1963 South Pacific Games and was a national champion in Fiji in three different categories.

Meet Ulai Trudy Otobed

Her Early Life and School Days

Ulai Trudy Otobed was born in Aimeliik on the Palauan island of Babeldaob. She was the second of six children. Her brother, Rechiuang Demai Otobed, later became the first Palauan to get a degree in studying insects.

Ulai started school in Ngeremlengui when she was six years old. From 1953 to 1956, she attended Palau Intermediate School. After that, she went to Pacific Islands Central School from 1956 to 1959.

Becoming a Doctor

After high school, Ulai was accepted into the Central Medical School in Fiji. Before starting her medical course in 1960, she attended the Trust Territory School of Nursing.

She graduated from the Central Medical School in 1965. She received many awards, including the top award for the best female student. She also won the British Medical Association gold medal for being excellent in surgery.

After graduating, she worked for two years at McDonald Memorial Hospital. In 1968, she passed her medical exams.

Further Medical Training

In 1968, Ulai spent six months training in New Zealand. She passed an important hospital exam and received a special diploma in obstetrics (care for pregnant women) in 1969.

She returned to New Zealand from 1970 to 1973 to study at the University of Auckland. During this time, she also worked as a surgeon at the National Women's Hospital. She earned another diploma, this time in obstetrics and gynaecology (women's health).

In 1973, she came back to Koror in Palau to work at McDonald Memorial Hospital. From 1974 to 1976, she studied in India at Mysore Medical College. There, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in medicine and surgery. In 1977, she passed an important American exam for doctors trained outside the U.S.

Her Work as a Doctor

After all her training, Ulai Trudy Otobed returned to Palau. She worked as a doctor in women's health and family planning at McDonald Memorial Hospital. Later, she became the Head of Clinical Services at the national hospital. She also helped decide who would receive scholarships from the Palau National Scholarship Board.

A Champion in Sports

While studying in Fiji, Ulai was also a talented table tennis player. She was part of the Fiji table tennis team that won a gold medal at the 1963 South Pacific Games. The next year, she became the national champion of Fiji in three categories: women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles.