NCKU Hospital Transitions Leadership, Signals New Era of Innovation Prof. Jing-Wei Lee Steps Down; Prof. Keng-Fu Hsu Takes the Helm
Written by Amy Lin. Image credit to NCKU Innovation Headquarters.
On May 1, 2026, National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKU Hospital) held an inauguration and handover ceremony at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), marking the transition from outgoing to incoming leadership. NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen (沈孟儒) officiated the ceremony, overseeing both the handover and the oath of office. Professor Keng-Fu Hsu (許耿福) officially assumed the role of NCKU Hospital Superintendent, receiving the official seal from his predecessor, Professor Jing-Wei Lee (李經維), before taking his oath. The ceremony marked a new chapter for both NCKU and NCKU Hospital as the institution’s leadership passed smoothly to a new generation.
The official seal handover: NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen (center), outgoing NCKU Hospital Superintendent Jing-Wei Lee (left), and incoming Superintendent Keng-Fu Hsu (right).
The incoming Superintendent Prof. Keng-Fu Hsu holds professorial appointments in both the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Institute of Clinical Medicine at NCKU College of Medicine. He previously served as Deputy Superintendent of NCKU Hospital and concurrently as Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, developing deep familiarity with hospital operations and administration. Beyond the hospital, he has served as a board director of the Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology and as an executive director of the Taiwan Association of Gynecologic Oncologists. Prof. Hsu earned his medical degree from Chung Shan Medical University and his Ph.D. in Clinical Medicine from NCKU. His clinical specialties include laparoscopic surgery, colposcopy, gynecologic oncology surgery, and gynecologic cancer treatment, and he brings substantial clinical and research expertise in women’s oncology.
Prof. Keng-Fu Hsu is sworn in as the new NCKU Hospital Superintende
Prof. Hsu has long been dedicated to research in obstetrics and gynecology, gynecologic oncology trials, and translational medicine, leading multiple international multicenter clinical trials and building a strong record in both teaching and research. Under his leadership, NCKU Hospital will continue to grow steadily, advancing clinical innovation guided by a patient-centered philosophy, and driving the hospital to new heights in healthcare and academic excellence.
During his tenure, outgoing Superintendent Prof. Jing-Wei Lee championed smart healthcare and clinical innovation, expanded international medical partnerships, and fostered a strong sense of shared purpose within the hospital. Under his leadership, NCKU Hospital successfully achieved medical center accreditation, reinforcing its core strengths and completing a significant transformation toward smart healthcare. The hospital’s achievements in digital innovation and clinical application earned it the distinction of being named among the “World’s Best Smart Hospitals.” In the area of healthcare quality, the hospital also received 36 major awards from the Joint Commission of Taiwan, including the National Healthcare Quality Award’s “Outstanding Institution Award” and the “20-Year Continuous Quality Improvement Award.”
Prof. Lee spearheaded the construction of Taiwan’s first geriatric hospital under NCKU and advanced planning for the Shalun Hospital, further expanding the NCKU healthcare system. He also led NCKU Hospital’s ESG and sustainability initiatives, promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction while fostering an employee-friendly workplace, and oversaw significant investments in facility infrastructure and medical capacity. Under his leadership, NCKU Hospital sustained continuous improvements in care quality, deepened the integration of teaching and research with clinical services, and firmly cemented its standing as the leading medical center in southern Taiwan.
Prof. Lee spearheaded the construction of Taiwan’s first geriatric hospital under NCKU and advanced planning for the Shalun Hospital, further expanding the NCKU healthcare system. He also led NCKU Hospital’s ESG and sustainability initiatives, promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction while fostering an employee-friendly workplace, and oversaw significant investments in facility infrastructure and medical capacity. Under his leadership, NCKU Hospital sustained continuous improvements in care quality, deepened the integration of teaching and research with clinical services, and firmly cemented its standing as the leading medical center in southern Taiwan.
President Meng-Ru Shen addresses the ceremony, expressing gratitude to outgoing Superintendent Jing-Wei Lee and high hopes for incoming Superintendent Keng-Fu Hsu.
At the handover ceremony, NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen remarked that witnessing this significant moment of succession at NCKU Hospital left him feeling deeply grateful, hopeful, and moved. A great hospital, he said, is defined not by its buildings or equipment, but by generations of leaders willing to dedicate themselves to serving others — and today’s ceremony is a continuation of exactly that spirit.
In recognition of outgoing Prof. Lee, President Shen noted that over the course of his three years and nine months in office, Prof. Lee navigated dramatic shifts in the external environment and significant internal pressures, shouldering not only administrative responsibilities but also the trust of the institution and the wellbeing of its patients. Guided by a commitment to stability, he resolved conflicts through open communication and endured challenges with patience and composure, leading his team to hold firm through challenging times. President Shen emphasized that true leadership is not measured by how one performs in favorable conditions, but by the ability to stay true to one’s values when faced with adversity. He then offered a deep, heartfelt bow to Prof. Lee in a spontaneous gesture of gratitude.
President Shen noted that incoming Superintendent Prof. Hsu is a homegrown talent nurtured by NCKU, deeply rooted in the local community and entrusted with even greater expectations. The role of superintendent, he said, is not merely a title — it carries the faith of the staff, the trust of patients, and the university’s responsibility to society. He offered three points of guidance: first, to embrace responsibility and make decisive judgments, neither shying away from difficulties nor buckling under pressure; second, to work in close partnership with the university, strengthening hospital-university collaboration built on mutual trust to jointly advance medical education and healthcare quality; and third, to keep patients and staff at the heart of every decision, steadfastly upholding patient safety and staff well-being regardless of the changes that lie ahead.
President Shen also drew on a recent lecture delivered at NCKU by former President Ing-wen Tsai, encouraging the new leadership team to ground its decisions in “rationality, empathy, and accountability,” and to lead with a human touch. He observed that perspective and vision naturally broaden as one takes on greater responsibility, and expressed his confidence that the new team will meet challenges with courage, press forward, and ultimately deliver results. In closing, President Shen extended his heartfelt appreciation to all NCKU Hospital staff, emphasizing that they are the true soul of the hospital. It is the daily, unwavering dedication of its healthcare professionals to patient care that gives the hospital its humanity. He thanked them for bringing something extraordinary to what might otherwise seem ordinary work, and expressed his hope that they will continue to hold fast to that founding commitment — the most enduring foundation the hospital has.
Outgoing Superintendent Jing-Wei Lee speaks with a visibly relaxed air, freed from the weight of office.
In his remarks, outgoing Prof. Lee expressed deep gratitude to the university, the College of Medicine, all hospital staff, and representatives from all sectors for their steadfast support over the past three-plus years. He spoke with evident emotion, saying that he had never walked this path alone — he had been accompanied every step of the way — and that only by giving his absolute best, without complaint or regret, could he truly honor the trust placed in him. He also shared that people would often spot him at the hospital on weekend evenings and ask why he was still there, to which he would reply, “Honestly, I have never really been off duty.” The remark drew warm laughter from the audience.
Prof. Lee closed by thanking everyone for sharing this journey with him. He outlined a number of initiatives and future plans for the hospital, spanning energy-based therapies, cell therapy, genetic diagnostics, precision medicine, and minimally invasive surgery. Among recent milestones, the new Clinical Innovation Research Center has been completed and is now operational, and renovation of the medical staff dormitories is already underway. Looking ahead, the hospital will work to address nursing staffing needs and actively pursue partnerships with international pharmaceutical companies. Construction of both the new Geriatric Hospital and the Shalun Hospital is progressing on schedule, and a dedicated digital medicine department has been formally established. He ended with his best wishes to incoming Superintendent Prof. Hsu for a seamless transition and every success in leading the team to new heights.
Incoming Superintendent Keng-Fu Hsu takes the baton, shouldering the great responsibility of leading NCKU Hospital.
In his remarks, incoming Superintendent Prof. Hsu called it a tremendous honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading NCKU Hospital. He expressed gratitude to all staff for their years of dedication, which have built a stable and excellent foundation across the hospital’s three core missions of clinical care, teaching, and research. On this foundation, he aims to develop an administrative team defined by cohesion and effectiveness to drive the hospital’s continued growth. Looking ahead, he pledged to work in closer partnership with the university and the College of Medicine, steering NCKU Hospital toward greater specialization, smart healthcare innovation, and international engagement.
From left to right: Distinguished Professor Jang-Yang Chang, outgoing Superintendent Jing-Wei Lee, NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen, College of Medicine Dean Hsiu-Chi Cheng, and incoming Superintendent Keng-Fu Hsu.
Prof. Hsu acknowledged that NCKU Hospital stands at a critical juncture, facing both significant opportunities and pressing challenges. He outlined five core priorities for his administration: first, to advance the Geriatric Hospital and Shalun Health Park projects, addressing the needs of an aging society and promoting community health; second, to improve working conditions for nursing staff and retain skilled professionals, including the active deployment of smart healthcare tools to reduce non-core workloads; third, to invest in developing talent at every stage of their careers, building the human capital needed to sustain the hospital’s long-term growth; fourth, to maintain strong commitment to academic research — noting that the hospital has invested over NT$100 million annually in research in recent years — with plans to increase that investment further; and fifth, to strengthen operational management by striking the right balance among healthcare quality, patient safety, and financial sustainability, ensuring NCKU Hospital continues to fulfill its social mission and uphold its core values.
The ceremony drew to a close in a warm yet formal atmosphere, with all those in attendance bearing witness to this significant moment in the hospital’s leadership history.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2026-05-04
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