“We’ve turned one!” On May 8, the Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital (KMUGH) celebrated its vibrant first anniversary. The event was attended by over a hundred distinguished guests from various sectors, leaders of the KMU healthcare system, local dignitaries, borough chiefs, and community members. Together, they witnessed the ceremonial launch of the “Tree of Life,” symbolizing the hospital’s growth from a small seed into a robust tree, nurtured by the support of the local community and heading toward excellence.

KMUGH Director Dr. Hsuan-Ti Huang expressed heartfelt gratitude in his speech, reflecting on the ten-year journey of founding the hospital from the ground up. He thanked the KMU Board of Directors and university leadership for their support, acknowledging the key contributions of former executive directors including Professors Shang-Chih Huang, Yin-Chih Fu, and current KMU President Ming-Long Yu, as well as founding hospital director Professor Teng-Chiang Wu. Despite facing numerous challenges during construction, the team overcame them with strong leadership and determination. Dr. Huang extended his deepest appreciation to all colleagues who contributed during the planning and construction phases.

Since its soft opening last year, the hospital has worked diligently to deepen healthcare services in the Greater Gangshan area. Now celebrating its first official year, KMUGH has launched outpatient, emergency, inpatient, surgical, and dialysis services—just like a seed sprouting and growing into a strong “Tree of Life,” becoming a reliable and trusted healthcare stronghold for the local community.

To mark the joyous occasion, the event opened with a dynamic dance performance, “Gangshan Shines,” by the award-winning Gangshan Elementary School dance team. The hospital lobby featured a “Time Corridor” exhibition showcasing the challenging journey from land transfer, contract signing, and beam-raising ceremony to construction and trial operations. It also presented the hospital’s key milestones and achievements over the past year. Additionally, a heartwarming gratitude market was held on the second-floor skybridge connecting to the MRT station, embodying the hospital’s spirit of walking hand in hand with the community.

The “Tree of Life Launch Ceremony” featured a large custom-designed inflatable tree symbolizing vitality and hope. KMU healthcare system leaders and guests jointly poured water into the tree to symbolize collective efforts in nurturing the hospital's growth, bringing robust medical vitality to the Gangshan area.

Distinguished guests included former Legislative Yuan President Jin-Pyng Wang, Shu-Hua Lin (Director of the Southern Branch, National Health Insurance Administration), KMU Board Chairman Chien-Chih Chen, Vice President Chih-Long Lin, and heads of KMU’s affiliated hospitals. Also in attendance were local borough chiefs and community leaders who have supported the hospital since its early planning stages, witnessing the steady enrichment of its resources.

Since opening, KMUGH has aimed to create an accessible medical environment. A skybridge connects directly to the MRT, enhancing convenience. From trial operations to March 2025, outpatient visits totaled 193,188, with current daily visits exceeding 1,000—90% of which come from northern Kaohsiung.

Furthermore, KMUGH offers a safe and comfortable birthing environment for local mothers. The SDR (Sensory Delivery Rooms) allow for a more personalized birth experience, with 130 babies born at the hospital so far. A 24-hour pediatric service ensures that parents no longer need to rush to city hospitals in the middle of the night. Currently, both the obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics departments each serve over 2,000 patients per month.

KMU Gangshan Hospital designed a special “Tree of Life Launch Ceremony,” where honored guests poured water onto a large inflatable tree, symbolizing the hospital’s steady growth and its commitment to providing comprehensive medical care for the Gangshan community.

Remarks by Dr. Hsuan-Ti Huang, Director of KMU Gangshan Hospital.

Numerous distinguished guests were invited to the anniversary celebration to jointly witness the important journey of the hospital’s gradual development and the steady enrichment of its resources since its founding.

KMU Gangshan Hospital showcased a “Time Corridor” during its anniversary celebration, highlighting the key milestones and cherished moments since its founding.