Chuang Gung Medical Foundation, Division of Pediatric Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology - UNREGISTERED VERSION

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History

About Us

Our story

by Yu-Ling Tu, M.D.

    Since Chang Gung Children's Hospital has been established, the Division of Pediatric Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology has always played an important role in the Department of Pediatrics. Former President of Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Professor Kue-Hsiung Hsieh (who served as the President from 1996 to 1997), led us to write a new page in children's health care history. With extraordinary vision and outstanding clinical and research achievements, he laid a solid foundation for children's health care in Taiwan: the development of Chang Gung Children's Medical Center in Linkou, as well as various studies in the field of pediatric allergy and asthma. Furthermore, Professor Jing-long Huang has created new treatment opportunities for the vulnerable population of patients with pediatric rheumatologic diseases. Despite it being an unfavorable time for pediatrics, Professor Huang has shown strong leadership to find new prospects for the Division of Pediatric Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology. Not only do we dedicate ourselves to the health of our country's future adults, but we also encourage young doctors to pursue the truth of medicine to solve child health issues through research and education. We can now proudly assert that we have established an important place for academic achievement and clinical performance and have furthermore become a benchmark for other hospitals in Taiwan to learn from.
    

         With the collaborative effort from all the house staff in the division, Jing-Long Huang, MD , Syh-Jae Lin, MD, Li-Chen  Chen, MD have led our division successively for the past few years. Now, Kuo-Wei Yeh, MD leads us to become excelsior. Most doctors stayed on at the medical center after completing their training in our division, while some others have chosen to work  as general practitioners in local medical clinics. Together, we have established a health care network that provides medical services to children in every part of Taiwan. With the full support of the Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, R.O.C.  (Taiwan), we have personally visited different islands and remote townships, providing education programs such as the "National Asthma Health Education", "National Primary and Secondary School Nurses Asthma Health Education"  (2000 - 2002),  and "Public  Health Nurses, Kindergarten Teachers Asthma Health Education"  (2003 -2005). We have also produced high quality booklets and informative materials for parents. Despite having already achieved widespread recognition for our efforts, we continue to carry  out scientific research with vigilant hearts, so as to find better medical technologies.

Our story is unfinished – we have many more chapters to write.

Our achievements
    Children with allergic diseases, asthma, or rheumatologic diseases usually require long-term care. The physical  and psychological stress of the children, the impact on school performance, and the worry of parents – it is impossible to calculate the costs of these damaging factors. As physicians, our task is not just attempting to temporarily solve patients’ problems, but also provide health education of these diseases to the general public.  

       Therefore, we have established the “Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Center”, the “Pediatric Rheumatology  Center” , the “Primary Immunodeficiency Care and Research (PICAR) Institute”, and the “Atopic Dermatitis Center”. Professional physicians who have been trained overseas run these centers. We not only  provide quality  medical services and educational information to the general public, but also train newly recruited doctors. Furthermore, we conduct a full range of basic and clinical medical research.

    In 2002, we first published a large-scale epidemiology report for allergic diseases in Taipei. Another multifaceted project in the Keelung area is ongoing. Professor Jing-long Huang  has considerable experience with regards to the treatment of pediatric  patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. In recent years, he has focused on the study of “the complication of infections stemming from systemic lupus erythematosus” and the “long-term follow-up of patients with pediatric systemic  lupus erythematosus with atherosclerosis”. Associate Professor Tsung-Chieh Yao obtained outstanding results in studies in the field of the pathogenesis and genetics  of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Under the leadership of Professor Huang,  we have provided hope to more than 400 children with rheumatologic diseases.

    Associate Professors Wen-I Lee and Syh-Jae Lin worked together in their shared field of immunodeficiency.  They co-operated with the Department of Hematology/Oncology and successfully treated patients through bone marrow transplantation,  relieving them from the suffering caused by their debilitating diseases. Their illuminating research results were published  in many well-known international periodicals.
   Recently, we have established the world’s first all-in-one health care system, integrating “medical services”, “allergy and immunology examination ”, “asthma health education”,  “scientific research”, “asthma education training”, and “environmental management”. Monthly, we also produce the only “asthma  center newsletter”, an e-paper answering  questions from the general public and clinicians.
   Our effort was rewarded with the “National Quality Certification” in 2008-2011.

Our future
   Even with all these exceptional accomplishments, we are always ready to face challenge. In recent years, pediatric practitioners have become relatively small in number. Nevertheless, we maintain optimism for the future. We believe that taking care  of the health of children is mandatory, necessary, and urgent. For this reason, we are prepared to deal with any challenge.

   We are implementing a long-term follow-up project to study children with allergic diseases in the Keelung area. We will focus on the impact of immigrant brides, as well as the effect of various factors on allergic disease for children in Taiwan, in  order to steer the “Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Center” closer to the ideal for a treatment facility. We are also committed to applying new treatment strategies – such as “target therapy for rheumatologic diseases –thereby  conducting invaluable clinical and basic research. Through the “Primary Immunodeficiency Care and Research (PICAR) Institute”, we will develop state-of-the-art treatment and diagnostic techniques to help those children who have rare diseases,  as well as supply a consultation resource for both the families of sufferers and physicians.

   With the establishment of the “Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Center”, we are confident that our efforts can significantly improve the health of children by providing them and their parents with reliable support. The Department of Pediatric  Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology boasts a remarkable history, presently maintains a steady pace forward, and possesses limitless potential for the future. We welcome your visit and look forward to your suggestions and encouragement. Let us all dedicate  ourselves to creating a better health care environment for all children.

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