The NTU Museum of Medical Humanities, located on the campus where the medical faculty of Taihoku Imperial University was based during the Japanese colonial era, stands as a testament to history. Construction of the museum’s earliest structure, designed by Japanese architect Juro Kondo, began in 1907, and the main building was completed in 1913, exemplifying a late Renaissance architectural style. Despite numerous restorations, many of the original architectural features have been preserved. Over time, the building’s functions have evolved, serving as classrooms, an administrative hub, a center for medical academic activities in Taiwan, a base for medical education reform, and a venue for medical humanities education. In November 2008, as part of the NTU museum group, it was transformed into the NTU Museum of Medical Humanities and opened its doors to the public.
The museum’s collections and exhibits focus on the history of medicine in Taiwan, highlighting the medical school’s contributions to modern medical practices and education. Its aim is to guide visitors toward a comprehensive understanding of humanity, fostering a sense of compassion and a patient-centered approach to medicine.
A key exhibit in the museum is “The Statue of a Doctor.” The statue depicts a rural doctor attending a sick child in the patient’s home. The little patient lies weakly on the chairs laid with blankets, and the doctor gazes at his patient with one hand supporting his chin. Sitting by the temporarily set up bed, the doctor lowers his head and focuses intently on the sick child. The doctor’s care and affection for the child are beyond words.
The statue was created by Doctor Wen-Hsuing Chiu, who graduated in 1945 from Taipei Medical Professional School, Taihoku (Taipei) Imperial University. Doctor Chiu completed the statue in 1969, inspired by the painting “The Doctor” by a late 19th- century English painter, Sir Luke Fildes (1843 – 1927). The statue was a gift to commemorate the 20th graduation anniversary of Professor Bo-Chao Huang, former Dean of the College of Medicine and a graduate of School of Medicine’s third class (1949), and his classmates. It symbolizes their gratitude to NTU School of Medicine, while encouraging its students to become doctors with empathy and compassion.
Figure 1. Full view of “The Statue of a Doctor.”
Figure 2. Close-up of “The Statue of a Doctor.”
Figure 3. Exterior of the NTU Museum of Medical Humanities.