Dr. Huang Chien-Jung Donates Entire NT$1 Million Award to Rural Healthcare After Receiving Baosheng Medical Contribution Award

TAIPEI (Central News Agency, reporter Yang Shu-Min, June 14) — Taipei Baoan Temple held the 9th Baosheng Medical Contribution Award ceremony today, honoring the Taiwan National Eye Bank for advancing corneal donation quality and quantity, Dr. Tien Hui-Fen for her contributions to leukemia medicine, and Dr. Huang Chien-Jung for 30 years of service in rural healthcare. Dr. Huang announced he will donate the entire NT$1 million prize to his hospital.

To honor the spirit of Baosheng Dadi — healing and compassion — the Taipei Baoan Temple Foundation hosted today’s award ceremony. The event opened with a classical music performance by the Medical Voice Chamber Ensemble and featured guests including Administrative Yuan Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-Chung, Ministry of the Interior Deputy Minister Wu Tang-An, and Professor Li Yuan-De, Honorary Professor at National Taiwan University Hospital and member of the award’s review committee.

The award carries a prize of NT$1 million, drawing significant attention. This year, two individuals and one organization were honored. Dr. Huang Chien-Jung, President of Hengchun Christian Hospital, expressed deep gratitude, stating, "I’m truly moved and thankful. Unlike other awards, the Baosheng Medical Contribution Award offers tangible support. After 30 years in rural healthcare, I understand how vital resources are. I will donate the entire amount to the hospital."

Born in Hong Kong and a graduate of Taipei Medical University, Dr. Huang once gave up a family immigration plan to Canada to continue serving remote communities. Now serving his third term as hospital president, he said, "As a Christian, I received church aid as a child and deeply believe ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’ While I dedicate myself fully to rural medicine, my family bears the greatest burden. I will use this award to support low-income families, the elderly, and children in our community."

The other individual awardee is Dr. Tien Hui-Fen, Honorary Professor at National Taiwan University College of Medicine. She has served on the WHO’s Clinical Advisory Committee for Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissue Malignancies. Her team at NTU Hospital has achieved international standards in researching genetic abnormalities in blood cancers and their clinical applications.

As Dr. Tien was overseas, Professor Chou Wen-Chien of NTU Hospital’s Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology, accepted the award on her behalf. He said, "This is the result of team effort, but it’s concerning that no new doctors joined our hematology-oncology division this year. We hope the next generation will inherit this spirit of service."

The organizational award went to the Taiwan National Eye Bank, established in 2013. Professor Hu Fang-Jung, Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at NTU College of Medicine, recalled that in the past, whole-eye enucleation was required for corneal donation, affecting donors’ appearance and limiting supply, forcing reliance on foreign sources. Since 2014, the Eye Bank has adopted partial corneal harvesting, easing families’ concerns. With a 24/7 service meeting international standards, donations have more than tripled, providing over 6,000 corneal grafts to date. (Edited by Chen Jen-Hua) 1150614