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Chen Wei-jao

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Chen Wei-jao
陳維昭
President of National Taiwan University
In office
22 June 1993 – June 2005
Preceded byKuo Kuang-hsiung [zh]
Succeeded byLee Si-chen
Personal details
Born (1939-11-15) 15 November 1939 (age 84)
Taichū Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan
NationalityEmpire of Japan (1939–1945)
Republic of China (since 1945)
Alma materNational Taiwan University
Chen Wei-jao
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese陳維昭
Hanyu PinyinChén Wéizhāo
Hokkien POJTân Ûi-chiau
Tâi-lôTân Uî-tsiau

Chen Wei-jao (Chinese: 陳維昭; pinyin: Chén Wéizhāo; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Ûi-chiau; born 15 November 1939) is a Taiwanese surgeon and academic administrator.

Early life and career

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Chen was born in Taichū Prefecture on 15 November 1939. He studied medicine at National Taiwan University (NTU) and completed his residency at National Taiwan University Hospital. He became a lecturer at NTU and continued postgraduate study. Chen earned a DMS in 1973 at Tohoku University in Japan before completing a master's in public health at Johns Hopkins University in 1989.[1][2] Chen was the lead surgeon in a groundbreaking September 1979 operation to separate conjoined twins. The twins were born with three legs between them and joined at the hip. The surgery was broadcast live on television.[3] It was also the fourth successful separation of conjoined twins ever performed.[4][5] Chen was named deputy director of the NTU Hospital in 1987 and became dean of the NTU college of medicine in 1991.[1]

National Taiwan University presidency and subsequent career

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Chen was the first elected president of National Taiwan University,[2][6] and took office on 22 June 1993.[7] As university president, Chen issued formal apologies for NTU's role in White Terror political persecution, namely the 6 April incident [zh] of 1949 that led to the arrests of several student dissidents (in 2001),[8] and the 1974 National Taiwan University Philosophy Department incident [zh], which resulted in the dismissal of several faculty members accused of communist leanings (in 2003).[9] Due to the 2003 SARS outbreak, Chen presided over NTU's first online commencement ceremony that year.[10] In May 2004, Chen announced that the Gallery of University History was to be established in the old university library.[11] He attended its dedication in June 2005 before stepping down as president.[12] The Ministry of Education named Lee Si-chen Chen's successor as university president in June 2005.[13] Chen was considered a candidate for vice president of the Republic of China in Ma Ying-jeou's 2008 presidential campaign.[14] The Kuomintang confirmed Ma and Vincent Siew as its ticket. Chen later led the Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry.[15] Chen was convener of the presidential selection committee that named Kuan Chung-ming as NTU president in January 2018.[16] Despite alleged conflicts of interest between committee members and Kuan,[17] Chen supported Kuan selection on grounds of university autonomy,[18] and the Ministry of Education confirmed Kaun's appointment in December 2018.

References

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  1. ^ a b Republic of China Yearbook 2010. Government Information Office. 2010. p. 363. ISBN 9789860252781.
  2. ^ a b "History of the Presidency". National Taiwan University. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  3. ^ Hsu, Brian (11 September 1999). "Siamese twins mark 20 years apart". Taipei Times. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  4. ^ Liang, Pei-chi; Kao, Evelyn (19 February 2019). "Memorial service held for former conjoined twin". Central News Agency. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Separated twin Chang Chung-jen remembered". Taipei Times. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  6. ^ Jang, Show-ling (13 December 2018). "Faculty cliques bar talent retention". Taipei Times. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  7. ^ NTU at 80 ; Going for the Top 100. National Taiwan University. 2008. p. 35. ISBN 9789860156225.
  8. ^ "Minister apologizes to April 6 Incident victims". Taipei Times. 12 January 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  9. ^ Huang, Jewel (25 December 2003). "NTU to apologize for 1974 crackdown on professors". Taipei Times. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  10. ^ "NTU holds online ceremony". Taipei Times. 8 June 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  11. ^ NTU at 80 ; Going for the Top 100. National Taiwan University. 2008. p. 174. ISBN 9789860156225.
  12. ^ NTU at 80 ; Going for the Top 100. National Taiwan University. 2008. p. 165. ISBN 9789860156225.
  13. ^ Mo, Yan-chih (12 June 2005). "NTU president pick criticized". Taipei Times. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  14. ^ Mo, Yan-chih (23 June 2007). "Speculation mounts that Ma will choose academic". Taipei Times. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Former premier to head IBMI". Taipei Times. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  16. ^ Maxon, Ann (23 February 2018). "Ex-NTU presidents blast government interference". Taipei Times. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  17. ^ Hsiao, Yu-hsin; Chung, Jake (1 February 2018). "Kuan approved as NTU president". Taipei Times. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  18. ^ Maxon, Ann (23 July 2018). "Kuan Chung-ming vows not to waver". Taipei Times. Retrieved 5 January 2019.