醫學院歷史沿革
馬偕醫學大學（MacKay Medical University，以下簡稱本校）之成立與發展，深植於台灣基督長老教會百年以來於醫療與教育的志業傳統之中，承襲並弘揚加拿大傳教士 George Leslie MacKay（馬偕博士） 的醫療傳教精神與人文關懷理想。
一、歷史淵源與創立背景
19世紀末，馬偕博士自1871年抵台開始拓展醫療與教育工作，1860–70年代先後在淡水及台北建立西式醫療機構與教學設施，標誌著台灣現代醫學教育的萌芽。這一傳統由後來成立的「馬偕紀念醫院」延續其精神，在台灣社會醫療與公益服務長期耕耘。基於對培育具馬偕精神與特質之醫療人才的迫切需求，於21世紀初開始策劃籌設馬偕醫學院，旨在結合現代醫學教育與基督愛人精神，培育具全人關懷與全球視野的醫療專業人才。
二、創校籌備與成立階段（1995–2009）
本校的籌設可追溯至 1995年，當時即組成醫學院籌備小組，開始進行辦學構想與申請規劃。1997年向教育部提出申請，並於1999年在淡水馬偕紀念醫院設立籌備辦公室，積極整合教學、臨床與校務規劃資源。經過多年的準備與行政審查，2009年3月30日，教育部核發本校設立許可，成為台灣第12所醫學教育機構，也是重要的醫學教育新興力量。同年7月，正式招生第一屆醫學系學生40名，並在9月舉行開學典禮，標誌著本校醫學院教育使命的正式啟動。
三、系所拓展與學術發展（2009–2025）
2011年，教育部核准設立「生物醫學研究所」，進一步拓展研究與碩士級教育層級。2012年9月，醫學院首度招收研究生。由於招生穩定與辦學成效優良，於2019年獲准開始招收博士班學生。為因應社會變遷與人口老化衍生之相關疾病，醫學院將發展特色定位於「老化」、「再生」、與「全人」醫療的推動。由於自創校以來辦學成果受各界肯定，雖面臨少子化衝擊，教育部仍於2022年及2023年，分別核准設立「視光學系」與「醫事檢驗暨再生醫療學系」。為使具研究特質之大學部學生能適性發展，以更有效率方式銜接碩博士教育，醫學院推動「預研生」制度。學生可藉此制度直接攻讀「生物醫學研究所」碩博士班。2025年醫學系也獲准設立「臨床醫學碩士班」，供具臨床醫師背景學生可以進一步朝醫師科學家生涯發展。至此，醫學院已發展至三系兩所之規模。
四、組織調整與榮譽提升（2025–至今）
從創校至今，醫學系持續與馬偕紀念醫院密切整合臨床實習教學，強化全人醫學理念與醫療實務能力的培育，逐年參與國家專業醫療考試均取得卓越成績，畢業生開枝散葉，所展現之馬偕特質，也獲得社會口碑與專業肯定。醫學系於創系9年後，2018年首次獲得「台灣醫學院評鑑委員會」（TMAC）教育品質認證通過，並於2022年再度獲得通過，得以順利與國際醫學教育品質接軌。「生物醫學研究所」亦於2016及2020兩度獲得「高等教育評鑑中心」品質認證通過。
近年來，本校持續深耕醫學教育與研究，擴大與國內外高教與醫療機構合作，強化跨域、國際化課程與培育模式。同時隨著辦學規模與科研投入成長，醫學院在國內醫學教育領域逐漸建立自身特色。2025年，校方獲准正式將學制從原「馬偕醫學院」擴編為「馬偕醫學大學」整體架構的一部分，醫學院以三系兩所規模作為其中核心學院持續發展，成為學校全人醫療與特色醫學之標誌。
Historical Development of the College of Medicine
The establishment and development of MacKay Medical College (MMC) are deeply rooted in the century-long tradition of medical and educational ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. The MMC inherits and upholds the missionary spirit and humanistic ideals of Canadian missionary George Leslie MacKay (Dr. George Leslie MacKay), particularly his dedication to medical mission and compassionate care.
I. Historical Origins and Founding Background
In the late 19th century, Dr. MacKay arrived in Taiwan in 1871 and began expanding medical and educational work. During the 1860s–70s, he established Western-style medical institutions and educational facilities in Tamsui and Taipei, marking the emergence of modern medical education in Taiwan. This tradition was subsequently continued by MacKay Memorial Hospital, which has long been devoted to medical services and public welfare in Taiwanese society.
In response to the urgent need to cultivate healthcare professionals embodying the MacKay spirit and values, planning for the establishment of MMC began in the early 21st century. The goal was to integrate modern medical education with Christian love and compassion, nurturing medical professionals equipped with holistic care perspectives and global vision.
II. Preparatory Phase and Establishment (1995–2009)
Preparations for MMC can be traced back to 1995, when a preparatory committee for the medical college was formed to develop academic plans and initiate the application process. In 1997, an official application was submitted to the Ministry of Education. In 1999, a preparatory office was established at Tamsui MacKay Memorial Hospital to actively integrate academic, clinical, and administrative resources.
After years of preparation and governmental review, the Ministry of Education granted official approval for establishment on March 30, 2009. The MMC became the 12th medical education institution in Taiwan and an important emerging force in the field. In July of the same year, the Department of Medicine, MMC, enrolled its first cohort of 40 medical students, and in September held its inaugural ceremony, marking the formal launch of its educational mission.
III. Expansion of Departments and Academic Development (2009–2025)
In 2011, the Ministry of Education approved the establishment of the Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, further expanding the MMC’s research capacity and graduate-level education. The College admitted its first graduate students in September 2012. Owing to stable enrollment and outstanding educational performance, approval was granted in 2019 to recruit doctoral students.
In response to societal changes and diseases associated with population aging, the College positioned its distinctive development around “Aging,” “Regeneration,” and “Holistic Medicine.” Despite challenges posed by declining birth rates, the Ministry of Education approved the establishment of the Department of Optometry in 2022 and the Department of Medical Laboratory and Regenerative Medicine in 2023, recognizing the College’s sustained academic achievements.
To facilitate early integration of undergraduate students with research potential into graduate studies, the College implemented a “Pre-Graduate Student Program,” enabling qualified students to directly pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in Biomedical Sciences. In 2025, the Department of Medicine was also approved to establish a Graduate Institute in Clinical Medicine, providing physicians with a pathway toward becoming physician-scientists. At this stage, the College has expanded to encompass three departments and two graduate institutes.
IV. Organizational Development and Institutional Recognition (2025–Present)
Since its founding, the Department of Medicine has maintained close integration with MacKay Memorial Hospital in clinical clerkship and internship training, strengthening holistic medical philosophy and practical competencies. Students have consistently achieved excellent results in national professional licensing examinations, and graduates have earned widespread professional and societal recognition for exemplifying the MacKay spirit. Nine years after its establishment, the Department of Medicine received its first accreditation from the Taiwan Medical Accreditation Council (TMAC) in 2018, and successfully passed reaccreditation in 2022, aligning its educational quality with international standards. The Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences also passed accreditation by the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council in 2016 and 2020.
In recent years, MMC has continued to deepen its commitment to medical education and research, expanding collaboration with domestic and international higher education and healthcare institutions. Emphasis has been placed on interdisciplinary and internationalized curricula and training models. With growing academic scale and research investment, the College has gradually established its distinctive identity within Taiwan’s medical education landscape.
In 2025, official approval was granted to expand from the original “MacKay Medical College” framework into the broader structure of “MacKay Medical University.” As the core college within the University, the College of Medicine—now comprising three departments and two graduate institutes—continues to advance as the hallmark of the University’s commitment to holistic healthcare and distinctive medical education.
