Are you the next Dr. MacKay?
Who was the first to introduce modern medicine into the northern part of Taiwan more than 130 years ago and became the origin of modern medical education?
Who left his hometown, loved Taiwan for his entire life, and cared for the weak with medical care?
Who had traveled throughout the poor countryside area in northern Taiwan, and had never changed his mind after being infected with malaria for several times which almost took his own life?
Yes, he is Dr. George Leslie MacKay.
On March 9th, 1872, when the boat carrying Dr. MacKay drove into the estuary of Tamsui, he wrote it down in his diary: "I raised my gaze to look north and south, and then the verdant mountains of the inland. I was spiritually quite satisfied, calm, and tranquil. I knew this was the place to reside. Such a clear and calm voice told me: 'This is the land'". With the guidance of such a firm voice, Dr. MacKay devoted all his life to his beloved Taiwan. He was even buried here. Some years before his passing away, he expressed his infinite love for Taiwan with the following poetry:
“Taiwan my love, the place so dear to me,
Let me offer my youth, my life to Thee;
Taiwan my love, the place so dear to me,
Here are my joys, each day and every day.
Look up the mountain through misty clouds,
Look down the island from high above;
Majestic waves from far far away,
Let me watch over you, Taiwan my love.
Taiwan my home, the place so hard to leave,
Taiwan my home, the place so hard to leave;
I devote my life until I die;
The rolling thunder from rocky shore,
The shadows wavering in bamboo forest,
I am glad to find my rest, Taiwan my home.
For Formosa is dear to my heart.
On that island the best of my years have been spent.
There the interest of my life has been centered.
I have to look up its lofty peaks,
down into its yawning chasms,
and away out on its surging sea……
And when my day of service is over
I should like to find a resting place within sound of its surf,
and under the shade of its waving bamboo.”
MacKay Memorial Hospital (MMH)
In order to pass on Dr.MacKay's love to serve the people with the salvation spirit of Jesus Christ, his spirit of "rather burn out, than rust out" has expanded into the different levels and quality of medical services for more than a centenary.
The spirit of MacKay can indeed be exhibited in the care for the holistic person, from the heart to spirit, as well as the cohesion of the staff. In 2003 during the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) crisis, staff resignation was quite a trend in several medical centers, but not in MMH. The MMH staff insisted to be in their job positions in order to take care of the SARS patients.
Now, the Ministry of Education approved the MacKay system to establish its own Medical College. We will continue upholding Dr. MacKay's spirit of "rather burn out, than rust out" integrated with MMH's clinical medicine and the existing research foundation. Based on our faith in Jesus Christ, we provide the students with the training of "holistic medicine of body, mind, and spirit". Are you looking forward to becoming the future Dr. MacKay to contribute to mankind?
Join MacKay Medical College (MMC) and be the next Dr. MacKay!
