Educational Mission

• Cultivate professionals in teaching and research within the fields of cellular biology and anatomy to enhance the quality of anatomy and cellular biology educators domestically and advance the standard of medical education in our country.
• Expand research in anatomy, cellular biology, and neuroscience to elevate our nation's research standards and international standing in cellular biology and anatomy.
• Supply specialized talent required by educational and research institutions related to medicine, nursing, pharmacy, agriculture, and the biotechnology industry.
• Provide ongoing professional development channels for current educators and technical personnel.

Department Features

• We focus on training specialized professionals with teaching skills in anatomy. Students have the opportunity to learn and practice cadaver perfusion and preservation techniques, as well as serve as teaching assistants to gain hands-on experience in laboratory teaching. Graduates contribute as a vital resource to the nation’s pool of anatomy educators.
• Emphasizing continuous improvement in teaching quality, the department has, with strong support from the university and medical school, recently enhanced teaching facilities. Upgrades include the establishment of an innovative Surgical Skills Development Center, an artificial intelligence-driven virtual reality classroom, a virtual dissection table, and the digitalization of histological slides, all serving to support teaching and research in anatomy.
• The university’s proximity to the National Health Research Institutes, the Southern Taiwan Cancer Center, and the National Laboratory Animal Center facilitate research collaborations. Additionally, a wide range of departments within the university increases opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation.
• Over the past five years, the program has actively invited domestic experts and scholars for lectures, significantly broadening the perspectives of researchers and students alike.

Development Directions and Focus

Aligned with the development goals of the College of Medicine and Medical Center, our program aims to train specialized talent in cell biology and anatomy, thereby elevating the standards of basic medical research in the southern region of Taiwan to support national advancements in technology and the modernization of healthcare. Since 2015, faculty members have collaborated with other departments on group-based projects, securing funding for interdisciplinary and cross-college initiatives, which have helped shape the future research directions and objectives for our program.

Our faculty includes nine professors who, in addition to teaching specialized courses in anatomy, histology, and cellular biology, are dedicated to both basic and clinical medical research. Research topics cover a range of fields, including neuroscience (neuroregeneration, neurodegenerative diseases, brain function, cerebrovascular pathology), cardiovascular science (vascular disease models, pathological mechanisms, and stem cell repair), and stem cell differentiation and cancer pathogenesis. Beyond individual research projects, faculty members actively collaborate within and outside the program to advance integrative projects, significantly enhancing our program’s research capacity and impact.

Curriculum Planning

Our curriculum is designed around core competencies, with the following key outcomes:

1. High Pass Rates on National Medical Exams: Medical students have consistently achieved high pass rates in the first stage of the national examination. Graduates report that the curriculum aligns well with the foundational knowledge required for the national exams and residency training.

2. Specialized Knowledge and Problem-Solving Skills: Graduate students acquire specialized expertise in cellular biology and anatomy, in line with the program’s learning objectives. The curriculum encourages innovative thinking and problem-solving skills, preparing graduates to confidently meet professional and career planning challenges. Alumni are well-regarded by supervisors and mentors in academia, industry, and in further advanced studies abroad.

3. Focus on Practical Training and Medical Humanities: Our curriculum emphasizes hands-on training and a strong foundation in medical humanities. This approach nurtures the development of future physicians, as well as educators and researchers in cellular biology and anatomy, and has proven effective in achieving our educational goals.

4. Master’s Program Requirements: Master’s students must complete 24 course credits, which include core courses such as Human Anatomy (8 credits) and Seminar (4 credits), along with an elective in Cell Biology (2 credits). In addition, they are required to independently complete a 6-credit master’s thesis.