Clerks
Surgical residents
Specialty surgeons (domestic/international)
Military trauma surgeons
Hualien/Taitung EMT paramedics
Tzu Chi University's Simulation Medicine Center combines the 'Silent Mentor' body donation program with comprehensive humanistic medical simulation training. Through named donors with biographical stories, integrated with humanistic ceremonies and complete life education, it establishes genuine interactive teaching environments. Accepting at least 76 body donations annually, it is the only Asian institution implementing humanitarian-integrated body donation teaching models beyond anonymity and free service.
Silent Mentor Program: Named body donors with complete biographical preservation
Humanistic Integration: Student-family interaction with complete life ceremony participation
Free Service: 24/7, 365-day unpaid institutional support
Asian Leading: Only institution implementing humanitarian-integrated body donation teaching
An internationally accredited training facility for the ASSET (Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma) course
Fire Department Training: Free simulation surgery training for Hualien and Taitung fire departments
International Recognition: Published in National Academies of Sciences journal, Wall Street Journal coverage
Body Donations: At least 76 body donations accepted annually
Hualien County Fire Department Training: 142 person-times from 2021.03-2024.03
March 2021: 22 people
September 2021: 20 people
March 2022: 38 people
September 2022: 28 people
March 2023: 14 people
September 2023: 12 people
March 2024: 8 people
Taitung County Fire Department Training: 49 person-times from 2022.09-2024.03
September 2022: 21 people
March 2023: 2 people
September 2023: 19 people
March 2024: 7 people
Number of participants in emergency trauma surgery training organized by the Military Medical Bureau, Ministry of National Defense
May 2023： 63 people
Aapril 2024：58 people
June 2024：54 people
Aapril 2025：55 people
June 2025：57 people
May 2026：61 people
In May 2023, the Military Medical Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense first dispatched personnel from military hospitals and fire departments to attend the Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET) course organized by the Taiwan Trauma Society. Since April 2025, the Bureau has officially applied for and conducted ASSET training courses for military physicians.
Holistic Operation Training: Complete torso and full-body cadaver teaching
Teaching Cadaver Quality: +++ grade, far superior to imported specimens
Improved Rescue Success Rate: Significant increase in endotracheal intubation rate after simulation surgery training
Year 110 (before 2021): No data
Year 111 (2022): 30.4%
Year 112 (2023): 37.9%
Year 113 (2024): 36.2%
Year 114 (2025): 46.7%
Pre-death blood draw screening: Eliminates infection risks
Clear standards and execution procedures
Exclusion of unsuitable bodies
Rescue Success Definition: Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) for 2+ hours indicates success
Regulatory Compliance: EMTP can perform endotracheal intubation and intraosseous needle insertion under advance directives (Hualien approved 2021.07)
Increasing annual fire department participation: First trial in 2021, confirmed feasible with excellent learner feedback
After initial training completion, adjusted to batch refresher training
From 2024, adjusted to conduct one session annually
In May 2023, the Military Medical Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense first sent personnel from military hospitals to participate in the internationally accredited Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET) hands-on training course organized by the Taiwan Trauma Society.
• To strengthen military physicians’ capabilities in managing severe and emergency trauma, the Military Medical Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense officially began applying for and conducting ASSET training courses in April 2025.
Wall Street Journal coverage (April 22, 2009): Altruism exemplar education - Silent Mentor Program
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine publication (Spring 2023): Issues in Science and Technology, pp.23-25
Publication: 'When Our Medical Students Learn Anatomy, They See a Person, Not a Specimen'
Asia Remote Minimally Invasive Surgery Center collaboration: IRCAD Taiwan Hsiu Chuan Asia Remote Microsurgery Center
International teaching collaboration: Chulalongkorn University and Chiang Mai University, Thailand
North America/Europe research collaboration
Established Asia's first humanitarian-integrated body donation teaching model
Enhanced medical students' humanistic care and empathy toward patients
Improved paramedic emergency rescue capabilities
Unprecedented training resources with this caliber nationwide
Significantly improved field rescue success rates
Endotracheal intubation rate increased from 30.4% to 46.7% under advance directives
International exemplar of altruism and holistic medical education
