Taipei Medical University

History

Dr. Shui-Wang Hu and Dr. Chien-Tien Hsu founded Taipei Medical College on June 1, 1960. The college started as three buildings. Dr. Shui-Wang Hu and Dr. Chien-Tien Hsu, together with other medical professionals and educators, ran the school, using their own personal books as textbooks. With the help of private donations, the school flourished.

In 2000 the school was renamed Taipei Medical University.

Academics

TMU is composed of seven colleges:

There are three affiliated hospitals throughout southern Taipei.

The university also has 12 undergraduate schools and 14 graduate institutes.

Research

TMU research focuses on traumatic brain injury, regenerative medicine, cancer, reproductive medicine, biomedical materials, and dental research. The annual funding TMU receives for research exceeds NT$600 million. In 2009, a Ministry of Education incentive program promoting university-industry cooperation selected the university to receive more than NT$50 million in grants over three years.

Campus

Taipei Medical University is located on Wuxing Street, a few blocks away from one of the tallest buildings in the world, Taipei 101. The campus is made up of 10 school buildings, each equipped with instructional rooms as well as research facilities. Adjacent to the campus is the Taipei Medical University Hospital, one of the university's three affiliated hospitals. The TMU website provides an online campus map.

Transportation

The hospital runs a free shuttle bus to and from the Taipei City Hall MRT stop every 15 minutes. There is also a shuttle bus to and from the Liuzhangli MRT station, running every half hour. Other public transport to TMU are the public buses that stop near the university.

Green University

The university turned to international environmental diplomacy scholars, the former Director of Environmental Protection, Professor Chen Zhongxin, now the Chair Professor of International Health at Taipei Medical University. He and ten other environmental health professors help the university participate in carbon reduction as well as sustainable management. Taipei Medical University received the Taipei City "Green Procurement" and the Ministry of the Interior's "Green Building Award".

Attractions

Located within a ten-minute bus ride from the university are some of Taipei's cultural centers. Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are down the street from the MRT station. A little further and there is Taipei World Trade Center. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is also located near Taipei 101. Close by are shopping centers as well as a Warner Village Cinema and an ESLite.

Residential life

There is one dormitory on campus and three international dormitories off campus, all within walking distance or reachable by bus. The Liuzhangli dormitories feature furnished, 2-bed rooms. The Wuxing Street dorms are available on four floors. All rooms are furnished. It is located near a traditional market and convenience store. The last dorm, located on Fuyang Street, is on the fourth and fifth floor of an apartment building, located near the Liuzhangli MRT station.

Dining

The university offers a food court in the basement of the United Medical Building. In the center of campus is a 7-Eleven as well as a French-Italian restaurant called Mr. J. The hospital contains a cafeteria that makes MSG-free food. In the streets near the campus are small restaurants, shops, and vendors for a quick meal or a sit-down meal.

Library

The library, located in the United Medical Building's second to fourth floor, contains 150,000 volumes as well as DVDs and movies. Printed and electronic books are available in Chinese, English, Japanese, and other languages. There are spaces for students to study or to hang out with friends.

Clubs and facilities

TMU contains a computer lab, meeting rooms, and offices for its 80 student clubs.

Sports facilities include an indoor pool, aerobics room, gym, baseball field, basketball court, and tennis courts.

International missions

Taipei Medical University is involved in the International Cooporation and Development Fund. It helps organize and manage the medical mission to Sao Tome and Principe, a Western Africa island. The project develops diplomatic relationships for the government of Taiwan. TMU sends medical personnel to the area, and provides medical services to its citizens, screens for parasites, and investigates water quality.

Affiliated hospitals

TMU has three affiliated hospitals, all located within Taipei.

Taipei Medical University Hospital, established in 1976, is the oldest of TMU's three affiliated hospitals. It is located next to the university and is composed of three buildings. The hospital researches In vitro fertilisation (IVF) as well as minimally invasive surgery.

Wan Fang Medical Center is the first privately owned and publicly run hospital in Taipei. It is located in the Wenshan District of Taipei, near its own MRT station. Some of its departments are the Cyberknife, reproductive medicine center, stem cell research, and joint replacement center.

Shuang Ho Hospital is the newest of the three, opened in 2008. It is the largest hospital in New Taipei City. The hospital has a helicopter landing pad, allowing for 24-hour air emergency medical services to patients throughout Taiwan and to Taiwan's offshore islands. The hospital has the only Disabled Patient Oral Health Care Center in Taipei.

Awards and accreditations

Taipei Medical University has earned the National Quality Award and has been accredited by the World Health Organization as an International Safe School. The school is listed as one of the top 100 medical universities in QS Asia University Rankings 2011. All three of its affiliated hospitals have earned Joint Commission International status.

Sister Schools

Taipei Medical University has 105 international sister schools.

Notable alumni