Photo: Dean Chen (College of Medicine, NYCU); Dean Cohen (UIUC CICOM)
Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CICOM), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) led a delegation to College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) for a four-day visit (3/13 – 3/16). The primary goal of the visit was to strengthen the collaboration and partnerships between the two medical colleges on medical education, research and industrial internships.
The Carle Illinois College of Medicine in Urbana-Champaign (CICOM) is the world’s first engineering-oriented medical school. NYCU college of medicine has established the first medical-engineer MD program in Asia three years ago. We share the same vision in transforming our medical education through integrating multiple disciplines and innovations. NYCU College of Medicine had previously visited UIUC campus last September, hence this trip made by CICOM was a return visit to deepen the partnership.
On the first day of visit to Taiwan, Dr. Janet Jokela, Executive Associate Dean of Carl Illinois College of Medicine, and three delegates made their first stop at Digital Medicine Center in Boai Campus. Dr. Albert Yang, Chairperson of Institute of Brain Science from College of Medicine, NYCU introduced to the guests for the hands-on experience of operation.
Photo: Digital Medicine Center (Left: Exoskeleton robot, Right: Prof. Yang demonstrates to CICOM delegates)
After visiting Digital Medicine Center, NYCU College of Electrical and Computing Engineering welcomed the delegates. In the afternoon, delegations visited our industrial partners, Gandau Hospital and ASUSTek Computer Inc.
Photo (Left): Superintendent Chen welcomes CICOM delegates to Gandau Hospital; Photo (Right): Visiting ASUSTek Computer Inc
The College of Medicine Leadership Meeting took place on the 14 th of March with four group discussions: Neuroscience, Smart Healthcare, Education, and Infectious Disease. The meeting was highlighted with the participation of more than 20 chairs and professors of NYCU College of Medicine. Most importantly Dr. Mark Cohen, Dean of Carle Illinois College of Medicine and Dr. Chen-Huan Chen, Dean of College of Medicine, NYCU exchanged remarks. The meeting not only discussed emerging health care issues, but further strengthened both sides’ will of collaborations. This meeting concluded that start working together on curriculum innovation, student exchange and research immersion programs. In terms of research, neuroscience, cardiovascular, smart hospital and cancer are four priority areas for collaboration. Through this collaboration platform, we hope to introduce new research collaboration ideas and/or introducing faculties with common interests.
Photo (Left): Education group discussion; Photo (Right): Leadership from College of Medicine
After this important meeting, delegation also visited Taipei Veterans General Hospital(VGH).
On March 15 th and 16 th , the delegation members met potential collaborations for discussing details in neuroscience research projects and met with the students of our MD-engineer and MD-scientist programs. Prof. Jiing-Feng Lirng, Vice Dean for Education, and faculties of both MD-engineer and scientist programs had a in-depth discussion with the CICOM delegates on topics such as PBL case building and experience sharing.
Photo (Left): Dr. Albert Yang and Dr. Paul Arnold at Taipei Veterans General Hospital;
Photo (Right): Prof. Jiing-Feng Lirng with faculties from School of Medicine meeting with Prof. Olivia Campos-Coiado
The members of the delegation all expressed that they were deeply impressed by this visit, especially with the innovative engineering and medical collaboration between the institutions, which further coincides with and promotes the goal of integrating engineering and medicine in the future.
