Pioneer in Medical Research

An old, red-brick building facing Taipei New Park is one of many similar structures that make up the world-famous National Taiwan University Hospital. With its medical, teaching and research responsibilities, the hospital is always busy. At 7:30 a.m., chief surgeons take interns on their rounds of the wards. At 8 a.m. each department holds a meeting to review the previous day's work. By 9 a.m., doctors have taken up their posts in the outpatients' department, in lecture rooms, operating theaters, and research laboratories.

Originally attached to the Taipei Imperial University, the hospital was established more than 80 years ago during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. As the oldest teaching hospital in Taiwan, it has been responsible for training many of Taiwan's outstanding surgeons, and has always played a leading role in Taiwan's medical world. Perhaps the most notable difference between the NTU Hospital and other hospitals in Taiwan is its long tradition of being a teaching hospital proud of its scholastic excellence. White-haired professors walk the ancient corridors side-by-side with enthusiastic young medical students who are being trained to employ the most up-to-date equipment and medical techniques in the world.

At the time of its founding, the hospital was meant to be mainly a place for NTU Medical School interns to gain practical experience before they graduated. Today, although many graduates go overseas for further studies, or to work, some stay at the NTU Hospital, often until they retire.

The complexity of modern medicine requires that doctors undergo seven years of academic training, but even after that further specialist training is usually required. Fifth-year students are required to help treat patients in each of the hospital's departments. In their final year, interns also rotate through each department to ensure they are familiar with all medical problems.

Graduates can either seek employment in established hospitals or open their own clinics. But medical circles are beginning to realize that the seven-year academic course is not enough to enable a doctor to practice alone, and on-the-job training in a hospital is considered necessary. Most NTU Medical School graduates opt to stay on at the hospital to specialize under the guidance of experienced doctors. This often leads to promotions and teaching positions.

While both medical and teaching skills are required of the senior staff at the NTU Hospital, great importance is also attached to research. In fact, research work is a prerequisite for promotion, though most doctors do it for its own sake.

An example is Dr. Sung Jui-lou. For his outstanding work on hepatitis during his more than 30 years at the NTU Hospital, Dr. Sung, was elected a member of the Academia Sinica, the most prestigious institution of learning in the Republic of China. "In the past our understanding of hepatitis was extremely limited," said Prof. Sung. "Now there are several diagnostic tests which can be used and great advances have been made in treatment. Soon vaccinations will be developed as a result of our research work," Prof. Sung said.

In order to serve the public better, the NTU Hospital has continuously upgraded its inpatient and outpatient facilities. This has meant, however, that the workload has increased faster than wage levels. As it is a public hospital, medical fees cannot reflect costs as closely as they do at private hospitals.

In view of this, hospital director Yang Sze-piao has no objection to doctors "moonlighting" or occasionally accepting gifts from patients. He pointed out that in the past, doctors at the NTU Hospital were relatively highly paid, had a high social standing and the workload was nowhere near as heavy as it is today. But with the high standards of living in Taiwan, it is clear that staff is underpaid today, he said.

Some observers think that the standard of research at the hospital has declined in recent years. But Prof. Sung, points out that this may stem from the fact that there are now several other outstanding medical research centers in Taiwan. "Because the hospital no longer has a monopoly on medical research, it has been stimulated to produce even more impressive results," Prof. Sung said. But he hoped more funds could be allocated to research.

Last year, the long-awaited plan to expand the hospital was approved by the government. The plan calls for the doubling of the number of beds from 1,000 to 2,000 and the number of outpatients treated daily from 2,000 to 4,000. Improved training programs and the construction of new facilities are also included in the plan. Teaching staff will be increased by 25 percent and 100 chief surgeons and 130 resident surgeons will be added under the program.

Prof. Shen Chih-jen, head of the computer department, said that computerization in hospitals is a worldwide trend leading to numerous benefits. At the NTU Hospital, computerization will be implemented in three stages to raise the quality of service and administrative efficiency, and assist teaching and research.

A four-story building up to international standards has alleviated the shortage of operating theaters. The ground floor is a supply store for the 15 theaters on third and fourth floors and the emergency theaters and convalescent ward on the second floor.

A particular source of pride is the recent successful separation of Siamese twins performed at the hospital. Dr. Chen Wei-chao, who presided over the team of surgeons, said it was significant because it was the first time that both twins survived this type of operation. The ability of more than 30 practitioners to cooperate harmoniously, has set a good example to the medical profession in Taiwan. The public's concern for the welfare of the twins, and the moral and material support received as a result, had been encouraging, Dr. Chen said.

While the National Taiwan University Hospital is no longer alone in pioneering medical progress in the Republic of China, its traditions of excellence and the unending pursuit of raising medical standards has won the loyalty of many of Taiwan's best doctors, and the trust of hundreds of thousands of patients.

[Picture Caption]

1. The main entrance to the National Taiwan University Hospital is always busy with arrivals and departures. 2. Because of its excellent facilities, many emergency cases are sent to the NTU Hospital. 3. Green courtyards in the hospital provide a peaceful atmosphere. 4. Apparatus once used in medical research has been resurrected for other purposes. 5. Soft light filters through the skylight above the two-story lobby of the hospital.

1. A patient at the National Taiwan University Hospital dental clinic proudly inspects his set of new false teeth for the first time. 2. The supply center at the newly-built operating theater center. 3. In the hospital's new operating theaters, the most up-to-date equipment is used. 4. National Taiwan University Hospital director Yang Sze-piao oversees the modernization of the oldest teaching hospital in Taiwan. 5. Chief surgeon Hung Chi-jen supervising interns.

1. Dr. Chen Wei-chao presided over the team of surgeons who successfully separated a pair of Siamese twins recently. 2. Head of the emergency room, Dr. Lee Chih-hsueh, hopes that the public will learn to trust doctors while not expecting too much of them. 3. Chief dental surgeon, Dr. Chen Kun-chih, said that modern dental surgery can be completely painless. 4. Chief neurologist, Dr. Hung Chu-pei, pointed out that interns do not have the opportunity to see all kinds of problems personally. For this reason audio-visual presentations play an important role in medical education at the NTUH. 5. Surgeon, Dr. Sung Jui-lou, has made out-standing contributions to hepatitis research which resulted in his being elected to be a member of the Academia Sinica. 6. Dr. Hsieh Wei-chuan said, "A training program for general practitioners has already taken root at the NTUH." 7. Dr. Sung Wei-tsun is the director of the Youth Mental Hygiene Center of the NTUH. His good sense of humor is much appreciated by his students.

1. A National Taiwan University Hospital doctor and his mother look happily at his new-born child in the nursery of the hospital's maternity ward. 2. A baby in the nursery. 3. A staff member at the Youth Mental Hygiene Center teaching an autistic child to eat. 4. Autistic children are often talented. This child, for instance, is an excellent painter.

2. Because of its excellent facilities, many emergency cases are sent to the NTU Hospital.

3. Green courtyards in the hospital provide a peaceful atmosphere.

4. Apparatus once used in medical research has been resurrected for other purposes.

5. Soft light filters through the skylight above the two-story lobby of the hospital.

1. A patient at the National Taiwan University Hospital dental clinic proudly inspects his set of new false teeth for the first time.

2. The supply center at the newly-built operating theater center.

3. In the hospital's new operating theaters, the most up-to-date equipment is used.

4. National Taiwan University Hospital director Yang Sze-piao oversees the modernization of the oldest teaching hospital in Taiwan.

5. Chief surgeon Hung Chi-jen supervising interns.

1. Dr. Chen Wei-chao presided over the team of surgeons who successfully separated a pair of Siamese twins recently.

2. Head of the emergency room, Dr. Lee Chih-hsueh, hopes that the public will learn to trust doctors while not expecting too much of them.

3. Chief dental surgeon, Dr. Chen Kun-chih, said that modern dental surgery can be completely painless.

4. Chief neurologist, Dr. Hung Chu-pei, pointed out that interns do not have the opportunity to see all kinds of problems personally. For this reason audio-visual presentations play an important role in medical education at the NTUH.

5. Surgeon, Dr. Sung Jui-lou, has made out-standing contributions to hepatitis research which resulted in his being elected to be a member of the Academia Sinica.

6. Dr. Hsieh Wei-chuan said, "A training program for general practitioners has already taken root at the NTUH.".

7. Dr. Sung Wei-tsun is the director of the Youth Mental Hygiene Center of the NTUH. His good sense of humor is much appreciated by his students.

3. A staff member at the Youth Mental Hygiene Center teaching an autistic child to eat.

1. A National Taiwan University Hospital doctor and his mother look happily at his new-born child in the nursery of the hospital's maternity ward.

2. A baby in the nursery.

4. Autistic children are often talented. This child, for instance, is an excellent painter.