Mackay Memorial Hospital

History

The original Mackay Hospital — named Mackay Clinic — was built by Mackay in Tamsui in 1880 and named to commemorate George Leslie Mackay, whose widow donated the funds. At that time, the Mackay Clinic was the first western medical institution in northern Taiwan. It was temporarily closed in 1901 at the death of Mackay.

Mackay Hospital was reopened in 1906. In 1912, it was relocated from Tamsui to Taipei and renamed Mackay Memorial Hospital. Its logo bears the date of the original foundation: 1880.

Clarence Holleman ran the financially struggling hospital from 1957 to 1960, and during his tenure, corresponded with , who became Holleman's successor. In 1967, the hospital built the first intensive care unit in Taiwan. Chang Chin-wen, a colleague of Noordhoff's, derived the term's Chinese translation. Two years later, Mackay Memorial Hospital began offering services as the first suicide prevention center in Southeast Asia. Chang, who had watched The Slender Thread, advocated for a suicide hotline as well, which became operational in July 1969. Nordhoff later sent Chang to study medical management in the United States, while Nordhoff himself returned to the US to be trained in cleft lip and palate surgery. After their return to Taiwan, Mackay Memorial Hospital built the first specialized cleft lip and palate center in Taiwan. In 1994, it established the first demonstration burn ward in Taiwan. In 2025, the hospital was a victim of a Chinese hacker who exfiltrated over 16 million patient records.

Notable births

• Tsai Ing-wen, President of Taiwan

References

References

1. Mackay, George L.. (1896). "From Far Formosa: the island, its people and missions". F. H. Revell Co..
2. (25 December 2016). "Taiwan in Time: Healing and preaching". Taipei Times.
3. "A Chronicle of Events". Mackay Memorial Hospital.
4. "W95-1196. Holleman, Clarence H. (1890-1973). Papers, 1929-1971. 0.25 linear ft.". Hope College.
5. (1 May 2005). "Surgeons for Smiles". Taiwan Today.
6. (27 November 2022). "Taiwan in Time: Saving Mackay Hospital". Taipei Times.
7. Mendelson, Allegra. (2025-06-22). "China increases cyber attacks on hospitals to 'humiliate' Taiwan". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
8. (29 April 2011). "感謝支持 蔡現身長老教會年會 - 焦點". 自由時報電子報.