Introduction
Department Introduction
The Department of Health Management, the first of its kind in the country, was established in 2004. It admits one class each year for a four-year undergraduate program in the day division. Currently, there is one class per grade from freshmen to seniors. The department has seven full-time faculty members, all holding doctoral degrees in public health or management. Located in the College of Medicine in Yanchao District, Kaohsiung City, the department is adjacent to E-DA Hospital, established by the same group. The hospital and the university maintain a close partnership in academia and practice, providing excellent internship opportunities and resources for the department's faculty and students.
Background of Establishment
With societal progress and advancements in medicine, birth and death rates have been declining year by year, resulting in a significant increase in the proportion of elderly people in Taiwan. An aging society has become a major issue, and chronic diseases have emerged as the greatest health concern for modern individuals. Whether in families, communities, workplaces, or schools, assisting the public in cultivating positive health awareness and developing good health behaviors has become an indispensable profession in modern society.
Department Mission
With the growing trend of health promotion, not only is the health industry thriving in the private sector, but government agencies are also making significant efforts to plan and implement various health and long-term care policies. As a result, organizations dedicated to promoting health require talent that possesses health literacy and is proficient in planning health-related initiatives, as well as skilled in managing and executing these plans.
Under the high demand in this market, the mission of our department is to cultivate health management professionals who possess both health and management skills, aligned with contemporary market needs.
Curriculum Planning
Our department's curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary integration, focusing on two main pillars: 'Health Promotion' and 'Health Industry Management.' It stresses the integration and application of theory and practice through the design of four major thematic courses: Fundamentals of Health and Medicine, Health Policy and Regulations, Health Promotion Skills, and Management and Business Techniques. This approach aims to help students build a solid foundation in health management and become competent health management professionals.
Diverse Internships
Our department places great emphasis on the arrangement of diverse internship opportunities, allowing students to gain a comprehensive understanding of health professional roles in the workplace before graduation. This also expands their opportunities for employment after completing their internships.
Internship units include:
- Government agencies include: the National Health Insurance Administration, health bureaus, health centers, etc.
- Healthcare institutions include: hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care centers, etc.
- Non-profit organizations include: the Dong Hsi Foundation, the Red Ribbon Foundation, the Community Hospital Association, etc.
- Private health industry includes: private health management centers, fitness centers, etc.
Future Development
The global trend in healthcare has shifted from treatment to proactive prevention, with a growing emphasis on health promotion. Both government and private sectors are investing resources to develop and invigorate the health industry. Across the country and internationally, the health needs of various populations and age groups in areas such as nutrition, exercise, mental well-being, and tobacco and alcohol control represent significant business opportunities for health management in the future. We welcome young individuals who are passionate about and care for human health to join us in pursuing careers related to health management!