Kaohsiung Medical University was founded as ‘Kaohsiung Medical College’ in 1954 by former Kaohsiung Mayor Frank C. Chuan, who donated land for the college site, and the first Doctor of Medical Science, Dr. Tu, Tsung-Ming. The College is located in Kaohsiung, the urban heartland of southern Taiwan. It was the first private institution of its kind in Taiwan.
At its beginning the college had only one department, Medicine. Presently it has been transformed into a university and includes 6 colleges, 21 departments and 5 independent graduate institutes. The university offers undergraduate , postgraduate study and research programmes ; many courses are available as both full-time and part-time modes. This change came about through strong, insightful, and dedicated leadership.

Responding to teachers and students’needs in clinical teaching, research and internship, and developing advanced medical science research, the Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital was thus established in 1957 as a teaching hospital, as well as a medical center for citizen’s health. In 1998, Kaohsiung Medical University was entrusted by the Kaohsiung City Government to manage Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, which combines medical treatment and concept of community health to develop as a regional teaching hospital. On the 6th of June in 2003, the opening of Frank C. Chen Memorial Building even set new milestone in Southern Taiwan as the hospital has the most advanced diagnostic equipment, along with the human-centered services. In addition, the respect for human life is another point that Kaohsiung Medical University emphasizes. On the 1st of January in 2010, Kaohsiung Medical University team greatly expanded its service territories as it officially took over the Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital. One year after Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital upgraded to a regional teaching hospital and it was highly recognized as a holistic-health-care community hospital. Kaohsiung Medical University has 4 tasks-education, research, health care and services for over 6 decades, which helped it to earn reputation being a top medical center for education and medical science in Southern Taiwan. Nevertheless, university was also approved by the Ministry of Education through overall Excellence Awards of Medium-term Development Plan.

Mr. Frank C. Chen was the 1st (1954-1966) and 3rd (1972-1993) Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Shou Nan Hung was the 2nd Chairman (1966-1972). The incumbent chairman Mr. James D. Chen has been our Chairman since 1993.

Prof. Tu, Tsung-Ming the college’s first president (1954-66), together with his equally high-minded and hard-working colleagues established the Kaohsiung Medical College in line with his philosophy of “Joyfully embracing learning, and prioritizing research”. Kaohsiung Medical College soon became known as southern Taiwan’s major center of medical science. In June of 1957 the college hospital was founded. The outpatient department was located on Liu He Road, and the wards and operating rooms were located in the second and third original buildings.

The second president, Dr. Wei, Huo-Yao (1966-67), established solid systems for education, personnel, finance, and management. Kaohsiung Medical College was thereby able to maintain stable growth.

The third president, Dr. Yang, Chen-Chung (1967-73), established the Center for Tropical Medicine and a 3-year nursing program and also planned the construction of the college hospital. When the hospital was completed in 1970 it was named Kaohsiung Medical College Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital.

The fourth president, Dr. Hsieh, Sian Chen (1973-91), expanded the college from 4 departments to 12 departments including 6 master’s programs and 3 PhD programs. During his terms, the General Technology Building, the student dormitories, an alumni house, as well as the Li-Shue and the Chi-Shih Buildings were constructed. In order to enhance international academic exchanges, he also established an affiliation between Kaohsiung Medical College and the University of Arkansas in the United States. Dr. Hsieh also established his philosophy that embodies the ideals of “resolutely striving for progress, encouraging learning, and benefiting the world”. This has laid the foundation for the future development of Kaohsiung Medical University.

The fifth president, Dr. Tsai, Jue-Hsiung (1991-2000), was the first alumnus to become the university president. During his term, the Medical Research Building and Underground Parking Lot were constructed. Furthermore, the university began operating the Hsiao Kang Hospital for the city. He relentlessly sought the continuous growth of the university and transformed Kaohsiung Medical College into Kaohsiung Medical University, which nowadays consists of six colleges. Based on his concept of “searching for the myth of life”, he was committed to crossing the boundaries of medicine and expanding related fields of science through increasing medical services as well as interactions between the society and those medical services.

The sixth president, Dr. Wang, Gwo-Jaw (2000-2006), continued the development of Kaohsiung Medical University by preserving, reforming, and innovating in order to “reshape ourselves into a first-rate university of international repute that is based on an enduring foundation that combines the best of the old and new“. He constructed the First Teaching Building, the student dormitories, as well as the library.

The fourth and fifth president, Dr. Yu, Hsin-Su, seeks to maintain the tradition of dedication to medical service, to give care and support to the underprivileged, to provide students with opportunities to participate in NGOs and other international humanitarian relief organizations, and to accomplish whole-person education. Furthermore, through restructuring and monitoring systems, he has established a core management unit and a core laboratory to manage diverse biological information and human resource data, proposed specific but comprehensive strategies for “Teaching Excellence, Innovative Research, Quality Humanism, and Social Caring” in order to lead Kaohsiung Medical University towards becoming Taiwan’s foremost medical center. He also started the construction of the 2nd Teaching and Research Building which was completed in 2012.

The incumbent president ,Dr. Liu Jing Kuang ,(July, 2012 to present) continues pursuing the value of life, that is to “maintain the human values of life, dignity, health, and welfare”. He sets the goal for the medical education and health care to pursue excellence, to continue the KMU spirit of helping people and contributing to the society. He promotes I Love KMU, which encompasses Innovation, Legislation, Knowledge, Mission and Universality. Based on the core values “respect life, pursue truth”, we further cultivate interdisciplinary health professionals who are able to integrate learning, knowledge, research and application into their specialty. Under Dr. Liu’s leadership, it is hoped that KMU moves towards becoming a globally competitive top university.

高雄醫學大學的前身係自西元1954年創校的高雄醫學院，由臺灣第一位醫學博士杜聰明教授創建全國第一所私立醫學院，為臺灣地區理念獨具，歷史最悠久的私立醫學院。創校以來，辦學宗旨是為致力於「醫學暨其相關醫療之教育、研究、服務」，迄今已培育3萬餘名醫事相關人才。

為因應全校師生臨床教學、研究和實習的需要，並發展醫學科學之高深研究，西元1957年成立「附設中和紀念醫院」，為一級教學醫院及醫學中心，並負有國民保健和醫療的重責。西元1998年，本校接受高雄市政府委託經營「高雄市立小港醫院」，結合醫療與社區健康營造並發展成為區域級教學醫院。西元2003年6月6日啟用的啟川大樓，為南臺灣醫學中心的新里程碑，院內有最新穎、最完善的診治儀器，以及人性化的服務品質，除提供優質的醫療外，更強調對生命的尊重。西元2010年1月1日高醫大團隊正式接手經營「高雄市立大同醫院」，再度擴大醫療服務領域，並於一年後即升格為區域教學醫院，成為社會高度認同的全人照護社區醫院。創校近一甲子，本校肩負教育、研究、醫療、服務等四大任務，已成為南臺灣首要的醫學科學教育及醫療重鎮，並屢獲教育部中程校務發展計畫各項指標全優的肯定。

草創初期，第一屆僅招收醫科一個學系。日升月恆，新世紀的高醫大在101學年度已擁有7個學院、21個學系、5個獨立研究所;包含20個學士班、3個二年制在職專班、1個學士後學位學程、27個碩士班、7個碩士在職專班、9個博士班及3個博士學位學程，於本校歷史傳承中創新發展，更層疊出新的歷史紀錄。

第一任暨第三任董事長陳啟川先生，任職期間為1954－1966、1972－1993。第二任董事長洪壽南先生，任職期間為1966－1972。第四任董事長陳田植先生，自1993年任職迄今。

首任院長杜聰明博士任職12年（1954－1966），從十一甲的水田中建設第一棟、第二棟、第三棟灰色牆瓦的校舍及美援的紅磚圖書館，提出「樂學至上、研究第一」的教育理念，設立醫科、牙科及藥科，創辦「山地醫師醫學專修科」培訓山地醫師。發行《南杏》、《坩堝》、《高醫青年》等學生刊物及報紙。於1957年開辦附設醫院，設置門診部於六合二路，第二棟及第三棟校舍暫設為住院病房、開刀房等。

第二任魏火曜院長（任職期間1966－1967），在教育、人事、財務及管理各方面建立健全制度，鞏固行政核心，使高醫從草創時期邁向穩定中求成長。

第三任楊振忠院長（任職期間1967－1973），設立熱帶醫學中心、三年制護專，籌建附設醫院，1970年落成時，為紀念陳啟川先生尊翁陳中和先生而定名為「高雄醫學院附設中和紀念醫院」，為南臺灣醫療重鎮。

第四任謝獻臣院長（任職期間1973－1991），將4個學系擴增為12個學系、6個碩士班、3個博士班。並積極建設擴展校園景觀，興建綜合實驗大樓、學生宿舍、校友會館（校友捐建）、勵學大樓、濟世大樓等。為加強國際學術交流，與美國阿肯色大學簽訂為姐妹校，謝院長「堅忍自強，勵學濟世」的治校理念，更使高醫長足進步。

第五任蔡瑞熊院長/第一任校長（任職期間1991－2000），為高醫畢業校友之首位校長，除了興建醫學研究大樓、地下停車場外，受高雄市政府委託經營高雄市立小港醫院。更費心穩健學校財務，達成學校改名為大學，下設6個學院。以「微觀的探討生命奧秘，經身心健康的醫療服務，至宏觀的醫學與社會互動」為辦學理念，超越醫學範疇，擴展相關科學領域。

第二、三任王國照校長（任職期間2000－2006），提出「在既有堅實的基礎上，融新匯舊，重新塑成一所著有名聲，領袖群倫的國際一流大學」，打造高醫成為前瞻、宏觀的新世紀進步校園。任期間興建了第一教學大樓、學生宿舍及圖書館等。

第四、五任余幸司校長（任職期間2006－2012），沿續高醫關懷弱勢、醫療奉獻的傳統精神，培養學生認識國際人道援救與國際非政府組織的社會關懷精神，落實全人教育，以組織再造與管考機制，設置各種生物資訊、人力資源等資料庫，形成核心實驗室及核心管理單位外，更具體提出「教學卓越、研究創新、優質人文、社會關懷」的全方位發展策略，期能帶領高醫大成為獨具特色的醫學翹楚。任期中籌建第二教學研究大樓，並於2012年完工。

現任劉景寬校長(任職期間2012－迄今)，持續為本校定位注入生命價值的思維－－「維護生命、尊嚴、健康、福祉之人類價值」，在醫學教育與醫療服務上追求卓越，傳承濟世救人的高醫精神；提出「我愛高醫（I Love KMU）」治校理念（Innovation創新研發、Legislation法紀制度、Knowledge知識傳承、Mission使命榮譽、Universality國際視野），以「尊重生命，追求真理」為核心價值，進一步深耕培養學用合一、研用合一之跨領域健康專業人才，期能帶領本校成為具國際競爭力之頂尖醫學大學。

南椰之風、杏林大道，Dr. Patrick Manson的理想、史懷哲的典範。高醫半世紀的成長茁壯，匯聚歷年來師生員工之智慧與貢獻；58年之悠遠傳承，成為高醫創新卓越、永續發展的基業磐石。

The founding of a university comes from ideals and efforts of many people. The evolution of a university is driven by the consolidated and strong will of more people. The development of a university must encompass the wisdom, talent and vision of the staff.

Kaohsiung Medical University (originally Kaohsiung Medical College) was established in 1954. It was the first private medical college as well as the first college founded on land donated by the private sector. It is a model for private education. Kaohsiung Medical University has played a distinguished role in medical history. It contributes primarily to the promotion of education and medicine in Southern Taiwan. It also inherited the legacy of Patrick Manson (born in Scotland in 1844), the father of Tropical Medicine, who had been devoted to medicine and education since his arrival in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1866.

The first three two-story grey buildings were built on a 107,000 m2 rice field. From its days of being surrounded by swaying rice fields and scattered cattle, with the continuous efforts by the staff and students, it has grown into a major research- and teaching-led university. Kaohsiung Medical University has provided a high-caliber education system with high-leveled professionalism and a wide range of the humanities. The mission of the University is to develop and promote the advancement of science; to undertake fundamental, strategic and applied research; to build up research on local subjects; to care for underprivileged groups; and to participate in local, regional, national and international medical services. In the undertaking of this significant mission of teaching, research and service, Kaohsiung Medical University has constantly expanded and fulfilled these duties.

Kaohsiung Medical University has been educating its medical professionals to meet the various social needs of its patients and ultimately improve the society as well. It has strengthened the local medical educational system and research, and therefore, promoted and improved the quality of medical service. It has become a major medical education center in Southern Taiwan as well as the educational hub of Kaohsiung-Pingtung Area. With the Kaohsiung Medical University’s over-fifty-year legacy, it will continue to widen access, open new frontiers, and strive towards even greater excellence. At Kaohsiung Medical University, people cheer for today’s achievements and strive for tomorrow’s ideals.

一所大學的誕生，是集合許多人的理想與努力；一所大學的生存，是累積更多人的毅力與奉獻；一所大學的發展，是匯聚所有與學校相關人士的智慧、才能與遠景。

高雄醫學大學(原高雄醫學院)創設於西元1954年，是全國第一所私立醫學院校，也是第一所民間人士捐地籌建的大學，是高雄地區第一所大學院校。這是私人興學的典範，杏壇的佳話，對提振南臺灣的教育文化與醫學服務，都具有深遠的歷史意義。也是承襲了西元1866年來，高雄的熱帶醫學之父萬巴德(Patrick Manson)醫療與教育之精神，因此高醫創校開始就融入了國際觀與本土化的精神。

在11甲餘的水田校地中矗立起3棟 2層樓高的灰色牆瓦建築，周遭稻浪翻風、田埂縱橫、牛隻散見。胼手胝足的師生從簡陋的草創期，歷經奮發圖強、兢兢業業的成長時期，蓬勃發展的茁壯時期，到今日的飛躍進步。在既有的深厚基礎上，培育兼具專業與人文素養、實踐社會關懷與終身學習的優秀人才，發展創新尖端科學、建立整合性研究平臺、厚植本土性醫學研究，照顧弱勢族群、參與社區及國際醫療服務，在肩負教學、研究、服務之使命下，落實社會賦予高醫大的期望與責任。

高醫大的創設為臺灣培育眾多切合社會需求並帶動社會進步之醫療人才，強化本土醫學教育體系與醫學研究工作，促進醫療服務與醫療品質之提升；成為南臺灣首居一指的醫學重鎮，高屏地區之高等教育文化中心。高醫一甲子的歷史悠遠傳承，秉持著薪傳的火炬，將是我們開創新局，邁向卓越的基石。高醫人，齊奮起，為今日的成就歡呼，向明日的理想邁進。