The National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch held the inauguration ceremony for its Organ Transplantation Medical Center on October 8, marking a significant milestone in the region’s healthcare development. With the completion of its five major medical pillars, the Yunlin Branch now possesses medical center-level care capabilities, underscoring its commitment to serving the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan communities and strengthening healthcare in rural areas.

Distinguished guests attended the ceremony, including Yunlin County Deputy Magistrate HSIEH, SHU-YA, Ministry of Health and Welfare Medical Affairs Department Senior Specialist Kuo Wei-chung, National Taiwan University Vice President Shan-Chwen Chang, Chairman of the Taiwan Organ Donation, Transplantation, and Patient Autonomy Promotion Center Ming-Che Lee, Fung-Rong Hu, Director of the National Eye Bank of Taiwan, and NTU Hospital Organ Procurement and Transplantation Center Director Yih-Shurng Chen. Together, they witnessed this pivotal moment in local medical advancement.

Five Medical Pillars Completed

NTU Yunlin Branch Superintendent Huei-Ming Ma stated that since its establishment, the hospital has adhered to a patient-centered philosophy. Following its reorganization, the branch planned five major medical pillars based on local healthcare needs: the Cardiovascular Medicine Center, Acute and Critical Care Center, Hepatobiliary Medicine Center, Oncology Medicine Center, and Organ Transplantation Medical Center. With the first four centers already established, the hospital has significantly enhanced its capacity and quality in managing acute, severe, and rare diseases.

Beginning in 2025, NTU Yunlin Branch will be officially upgraded to a “quasi-medical center.” The establishment of the Organ Transplantation Medical Center represents the full realization of medical center-level service capacity and signifies another milestone in the hospital’s continual progression.

During the ceremony, NTU Vice President Shan-Chwen Chang commended the founding of the new center. Having attended the unveiling of the hospital’s Organ Donation Memorial Wall in 2023, he noted that the official establishment of this center reflects both medical professionalism and the collective support of the local community. He expressed hope that the center will continue to benefit more patients through its organ donation and transplant programs.

Superintendent Huei-Ming Ma emphasized that successful organ transplantation depends on the collaboration of multidisciplinary teams, refined surgical expertise, comprehensive critical care, and broad public understanding and support. He extended gratitude to NTU Hospital’s main campus for laying the foundation, and to Yih-Shurng Chen and his team for their continuous guidance that has allowed Yunlin Branch to expand its transplant capacity.

Ma also highlighted that renowned liver transplant expert Rey-Heng Hu joined the Yunlin Branch in 2023 as a distinguished professor, followed by heart transplant specialist and Deputy Superintendent Chih-Hsien Wang this year—both significantly strengthening the hospital’s professional capabilities and fortifying the foundation for the Organ Transplantation Medical Center.

First Local Organ Donation: A Testament to Love and Legacy

On the eve of the inauguration, NTU Yunlin Branch successfully completed its first locally conducted organ donation, marking a new milestone where transplants no longer require transfer to other counties. The donor was a 34-year-old man who suffered a spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage leading to brainstem failure. Despite immense grief, the family, guided with empathy and patience by transplant coordinator Liu Hsing-I, chose to proceed with organ donation, transforming their loss into a legacy of hope and love.

Fulfilling the mother’s wish for her son to depart with his familiar shaved-head appearance, the medical team carefully respected this final request, ensuring the donor’s dignity and individuality. Following thorough medical evaluation, the donor’s liver, pancreas, and corneas were deemed suitable for donation, and successful procurement was completed in collaboration with Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The process demonstrated efficient cross-hospital cooperation and the professionalism and compassion of the Yunlin Branch team.

A commemorative video recounting this touching journey was presented during the ceremony, followed by a tribute in which the family hung a memorial plaque bearing the donor’s name on the remembrance wall. The donor’s brother expressed heartfelt gratitude and symbolically signed an organ donation card, continuing the cycle of love and hope. The ceremony’s atmosphere was both solemn and deeply moving.

Steady Progress Lays a Strong Foundation

Deputy Superintendent Chih-Hsien Wang noted that NTU Yunlin Branch completed its first organ donation advocacy in 2004 and began collaboration with Taichung Veterans General Hospital in 2012. Since then, 22 patients have realized the gift of life through organ donation. Despite cultural barriers and limited local resources, the hospital has steadily accumulated success. Even amid the severe COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, six organ and tissue donations were completed—a record high for a single year. In early 2023, the hospital performed a multi-organ, multi-tissue donation benefiting 20 patients, earning wide recognition.

Over the years, the hospital has facilitated donations of the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, corneas, skin, and bones, helping dozens of patients regain health and laying the groundwork for today’s center.

Continuing the Relay of Life—Nurturing the Seeds of Love

The hospital emphasized that organ donation and transplantation are like a relay of life, requiring the joint efforts of donors, families, medical teams, and society. With guidance from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and local health authorities, public awareness and acceptance of organ donation in Yunlin have significantly increased, with more than half of all cases occurring within the past three years.

Looking ahead, NTU Yunlin Branch will continue to advance cutting-edge medical care, cultivate professional talent, and strengthen community engagement—allowing the seeds of love to take root locally and illuminate more lives. The establishment of the Organ Transplantation Medical Center marks the beginning of a new chapter for healthcare in the Yunlin-Chiayi region, paving the way for a medical beacon across the Chianan Plain.

Resource: 臺大雲林分院「器官移植醫學中心」揭牌　邁向醫學中心級照護能量