University formalizes partnership with Taiwan hospital during visit
A delegation from Taichung Veterans General Hospital concluded their visit to UTHealth Houston Jan. 20 by participating in a joint memorandum of understanding signing between the hospital and the university.
The agreement aims to formalize collaboration and facilitate future exchanges among health care professionals with both institutions, including faculty members, educators, and nurses. The goal of the partnership is to strengthen academic and professional ties, promote knowledge sharing, and enhance the development of nursing and health care education.
This university-wide umbrella agreement, requested by Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston, enables all UTHealth Houston schools to partner with Taichung Veterans General Hospital without the need to repeat the agreement process.
“We are excited to enter into this agreement with TVGH — they are a premier health care facility in Taiwan, serving patients across Eastern and South Asia," said Kevin Morano, PhD, senior vice president of Academic and Faculty Affairs and the Roger J. Bulger, MD, Distinguished Professor at UTHealth Houston. "They too are experiencing critical shortages of providers, especially nurses, and this formal collaboration should result in innovative approaches to enhance nursing recruitment, education, and training, built on the foundation of excellence we have at the Cizik School of Nursing.”
Erica Yu, PhD, RN, FNAP, associate dean and department chair of undergraduate studies at Cizik School of Nursing, spearheaded the partnership during a 2024 visit to Taiwan. Since October 2024, several nurses from Taichung Veterans General Hospital have visited the school.
"Global partnerships such as this provide our nursing students and educators with invaluable exposure to different health care systems and perspectives,” said Yu, who is the Margaret A. Barnett/PARTNERS Professor in Nursing at the nursing school. “These collaborations enrich learning, strengthen clinical and educational innovation, and better prepare nurses to practice effectively in an increasingly interconnected world."
Through the partnership, carefully selected nurses whose clinical expertise aligns with program objectives will participate in exchange programs organized by the nursing school’s faculty. These programs emphasize collaborative learning through both clinical and simulation-based teaching approaches.
Participants will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of advanced teaching techniques, refine their pedagogical skills, and explore innovative strategies in nursing education. The collaboration also offers participants valuable opportunities to observe clinical practices and nursing professional development models within the Texas Medical Center.
This exposure offers valuable insight into best practices in clinical care, leadership development, and professional growth, enabling participants to bring new ideas and approaches back to their home institutions.
“Formalizing this relationship with Taichung Veterans General Hospital will enrich opportunities for faculty and students across UT Health Houston,” said Diane Santa Maria, DrPH, MSN, ACRN, PHNA-BC, FAAN, dean of Cizik School of Nursing. “Dr. Yu’s work in establishing ties with our Taiwanese colleagues will benefit the university for years to come.”
The partnership between the hospital and the nursing school exemplifies a commitment to creating a dynamic learning environment and fostering global standards of excellence in nursing education and practice.
The Office of Global Health Initiatives hosted the delegation — which was led by Yuan-Hwa Chou, deputy superintendent at Taichung Veterans General Hospital headquarters, and Wan-Yun Hsu, division director of the hospital’s International Medical Service Center — and facilitated the memorandum of understanding signing. The office advises on international partnership agreements and processes faculty requests for new partnerships.
Established in 1982, Taichung Veterans General Hospital is recognized as one of the leading and most highly respected health care institutions in Taiwan. As the only public medical center in central Taiwan, Taichung Veterans General Hospital is a trusted tertiary health care provider with over 1,600 beds and 6,000 employees, handling over 9,000 outpatient visits daily. It has built a reputation for excellence in quality care by providing a comprehensive range of medical services in a variety of specialized fields.
Lisa Raynor-Keck
