2023.07.31

The second cohort of the Post-baccalaureate Program in Medicine at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan started their classes on July 31st. The new students come from different fields, which include medical-related disciplines such as pharmacy, nursing, and anatomy, as well as unrelated disciplines such as electrical engineering, music, architecture, and textiles, demonstrating the university's commitment to selecting candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds.
 
On this very special day, NTHU officially announced that its College of Life Science has undergone a name change and is now known as the “College of Life Sciences and Medicine.”
 
As approved by the Ministry of Education, on August 1st NTHU's “College of Life Science” will officially be renamed the “College of Life Sciences and Medicine.” Furthermore, the former bachelor's program in the “College of Life Science” will simultaneously be renamed the bachelor's program in the “College of Life Sciences and Medicine."
 
Dean Ruey-ho Kao (高瑞和) of the College of Life Sciences and Medicine pointed out that NTHU has been a trailblazer in the field of life sciences since the establishment of the nation's first College of Life Science in 1992. The university has laid a solid academic foundation in areas such as biotechnology, bioinformatics, molecular biology, molecular medicine, and medical science.
 
With the establishment of the Post-baccalaureate Program in Medicine in 2022, NTHU has expanded its scope to include research and teaching in clinical medicine. And the College of Life Sciences and Medicine aims to further integrate life sciences and medical research, fostering the development of biomedical studies.
 
Dean Kao emphasized that this will be the first "College of Life Sciences and Medicine" among universities in Taiwan, making it an unprecedented initiative for both NTHU and Taiwan. The College will leverage NTHU's strengths in science, electrical engineering, and information technology. It will also incorporate innovative research and development in AI, information and communication technology, and even humanities education, creating new frontiers in biomedical research.
 
Dean Kao stated that NTHU's College of Life Sciences and Medicine is currently planning to establish new departments in public health, nursing, and medical informatics. Furthermore, the College is strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations with various departments within the university to expand the research scope of the College.
 
This year, the Post-baccalaureate Program in Medicine also welcomed its second cohort of 24 new students. During their undergraduate years, the students specialized in various fields, including biology, chemistry, and psychology. Among them, one student has even obtained a qualification to practice traditional Chinese medicine, while two others graduated from renowned universities in the United States and Canada. With a strong aspiration to dedicate themselves to frontline medical practice, they have decided to join the Program.
 
One of the new students in the Program is Cheng-you Luo (羅丞佑). Last year, he obtained his bachelor's degree in biology with excellent grades from Pennsylvania State University in the United States. After graduation, he worked as a research assistant at Smith College in Massachusetts, where he focused on studying the physiological clock of peripheral tissues such as the skin and liver. He also assisted professors in designing experimental projects.
 
Throughout his academic and professional journey, Luo came to realize that, in addition to basic medical research, he has a strong desire to be directly involved in frontline clinical treatment. Therefore, he decided to return to Taiwan to study medicine and realize his dream of helping patients.
 
Shuang-lin Cai (蔡雙璘), also a new student, obtained her bachelor's degree from the Department of Architecture at National Cheng Kung University before working as an architect at a firm in Kyoto, Japan. However, she constantly thought of her service as a hospital volunteer when she participated in a hospital camp during high school. The rewarding experience deeply moved her. In addition to observing how people behave, she has become even more interested in people's underlying psychological and physiological mechanisms. As a result, she made the decision to return to school and continue her studies in the medical field.
 
NTHU President W. John Kao (高為元) stated that he is delighted to see the second cohort of students entering the Post-baccalaureate Program in Medicine. Just like the pre-med system in the United States, the students of the Program at NTHU also come from all corners of the world, each possessing their unique expertise. He expressed hope that the campus' rich cultural and academic environment will help them become well-rounded physicians who not only possess exceptional clinical skills but also embody empathy, kindness, and a profound sense of social responsibility.