Through exchanges with the Japan Association for Development of Community Medicine (JADECOM) and Kobe University, she gained in-depth insight into Japan’s rural healthcare manpower system of “education–dispatch–return” and its “six-year longitudinal community medicine education” model. She realized that rural healthcare is not only a service but also a cultural mission. The key to sustainable rural healthcare is not merely “sending people there,” but “making people willing to stay.”
Professor Lien also observed the “D to P with N (Doctor to Patient with Nurse)” online care model, which showcases the potential of technology–nursing collaboration in rural healthcare. Upon returning to Taiwan, she plans to transform her learning into the Chang Gung University USR course “Two-Day-One-Night Mountain Service” through action-based learning, guiding students to experience rural healthcare firsthand. The inspiration from this international exchange also extends to her long-term “Jiaoban Dawn” Project in Fuxing District, which promotes indigenous health and culturally oriented care through two main initiatives: 1) “Heart and Liver Treasures Project” – addressing childhood obesity and fatty liver among indigenous children and adolescents by combining nutrition education and parent–child exercise to build healthy lifestyles. 2) “Atayal Hunter’s Footsteps Project” – focusing on diabetic neuropathy and foot wound care, integrating culturally informed health education to enhance self-health management. Through these experiential learning opportunities, students observe tribal lifestyles and learn about Cultural Safety, understanding that medicine is not only about treatment but also about coexisting and growing with the community.
Inspired by Japan’s systems and culture, Professor Lien emphasizes: “Rural areas are not someone else’s story—they are the responsibility that medical education must answer to.” This belief is the driving force behind the sustainability of rural healthcare. The journey concluded perfectly with a presentation of the training outcomes at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University on October 26.