UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, joined other UNMC representatives to welcome leaders and faculty from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University earlier this month.
NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin, MD, PhD, spoke at a gift exchange event on Aug. 11 before a group that included the chancellor, interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jane Meza, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research Ken Bayles, PhD, and College of Medicine Dean Bradley Britigan, MD, as well as Howard Liu, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Psychiatry and other psychiatry faculty.
Dr. Lin, who was making his first visit to Omaha, spoke about the evolution of NYCU since its creation in 2021 with the merger of the National Chiao Tung University and National Yang-Ming University.
“We have to generate new knowledge,” he said, adding that it was important that the university’s teaching and research reflect the real world, including enterprise and economic development. “We have that spirit right now at NYCU … the marriage between engineering and medicine has been really inspiring.”
In welcoming the visitors, Dr. Davies said that the collaboration with NYCU is an example of the kind of partnerships UNMC values.
“What began as a collaboration in physical therapy has expanded into a broader relationship, now encompassing research, education and clinical training,” the chancellor said. “This summer, we’re seeing one of the most meaningful results of that growing relationship, as we’re welcoming our first medical students from NYCU for clinical rotations here.
“What makes this partnership particularly exciting is how closely our aspirations align,” Dr. Davies said. “NYCU was created by bringing together strengths in medicine, engineering and technology, an interdisciplinary approach that is increasingly essential to the future of healthcare. At UNMC, we share that belief that the most difficult health challenges cannot be solved within the boundaries of a single discipline.”
Joining Dr. Lin on the visit were Yueh-Hsin Ping, PhD, deputy vice president for international affairs, Albert Yang, MD, PhD, chair of the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Medicine, and Li-Wei Chou, PhD, director of the science and technology division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles.
The visit was hosted by the UNMC East Asia Accelerator; the UNMC Office of Global Engagement; the UNMC College of Medicine; and the UNMC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.
“As the director of the UNMC East Asia Accelerator, we are building strong academic, clinical and entrepreneurial partnerships in Taiwan, South Korea and other countries. I have been so impressed by the spirit of collaboration we’ve experienced from NYCU and UNMC/NM leaders, and we have so much to learn from each other. From hospital design to cutting-edge research to educational exchange, I am excited to see this partnership continue to thrive!”
In addition to meeting with UNMC leaders, the visitors toured iEXCEL, the National Quarantine Unit, the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, and the Innovation Design Unit (IDU).