The Department of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology was founded on September 22, 1990. Lead by Director He-Hsiung Cheng, the team of Dr. Chi-Cheng Chuang and Dr. Ling-Ying Lu started their patient care services for rheumatoid patients in the Kaohsiung and Pingdong areas. With the three founding doctors who attended their patients with dedication and compassion, as well as their persistence on self-improvement, the number of patients grew each day, and the doctors were well received amongst the community. Doctors including Chi-Hong Chen, Jui-Cheng Tseng, Jui-Chieh Hu, Chi-Kai Chang, Jei-Fu Yang, Chun-Ming Sun, Li-Rue Chen,Chien-Kai Kau, Li-Fong Wang,Ling-Rong Yan joined the medical team subsequently. Together, they transformed the division of allergy-immunology-rheumatology at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital into a renowned medical centre in treating patients with related diseases.

After the training by outstanding instructor and comprehensive training program, our department's Doctor Chi-Cheng Chuang has been recruited as Director of Rheumatology at Taipei Shinkong Memorial Hospital, Doctor Chun-Hong Chen is currently the Director of Rheumatology at Taichung China Medical University, and Doctor Chi-Kai Chang, Dr. Jie-Fu Yang, and Dr. Chun-Ming Sun have become important pillars of the medical society.

Department Staff Introduction

Director of Rheumatology and Immunology - Dr. Jui-Cheng Tseng: Specialized in the research of the immuno-pathogenesis of SLE. Visiting Staffs: Dr. Ling-Ying Lu, Dr. Jui-Chieh Hu, Dr.Li-Fong Wang Chief of Residents: Dr. Ling-Rong Yan Technicians: Chzng-Cheng Chiu, Chieh-Mei Hsu, Hsiu-Man Keng, Xin-Tian Lin

Field of Services

Allergic diseases: Asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria and drug or food allergy. Rheumatic and Immunologic diseases: Systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, scleroderma, ankylosing spondylitis, vasculitis, relapsing polychondritis, rheumatic fever, Sjögren's syndrome, gouty arthritis, degenerative arthritis and various kinds of arthropathy.

Research achievements

The Department Head Director He-Hsiung Cheng specializes in the research of the treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and is very well renowned in Southern Taiwan. Director Ling-Ying Lu is specialized in the study of the immuno-pathogenesis of SLE. Her research findings were published in the international medical journal "Arthritis & Rheumatism."

Future prospects

In the future, aside from providing excellent patient care and clinical training, our aim is to enforce the training of clinical physicians, and enhance the community's awareness and medical quality for rheumatic diseases. We encourage our clinical staff to become more involved in clinical research studies, hopeful of finding more advanced treatment of disease for our patients.