Ir. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, CHFC, CLU
Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia
Sugianto Kusuma
CEO of Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Indonesia
Dr. Ruth Oni Anggraini, MARS
TIMA Indonesia
Prof. Liem An Liong, MD, Ph.D. FIPP
Amsterdam UMC, Netherlands
Chin Lon Lin, MD
CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation
Dr. Susianto Tseng
Doctor of Public Health Nutrition
Sumeet S. Chugh, MD
Cedar Sinai Hospital, USA
Prof. Dr. dr. Pustika Amalia, Sp. A (K)
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Consultant RSUPN Cipto Mangunkusumo
Dr. Chi Cheng Li
Director of Center of Stem Cells and Precision Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital
Shin-Zong Lin, MD, PhD
Superintendent at the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital
Sou-Hsin Chien, MD
Superintendent of Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital
Prof. Dr. Sheng-Che Chou, MD, Ph.D
National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan
Dr. Soekirman Soekin, Sp.THT-KL (K), M.Kes
Indonesia Tzu Chi Hospital
Dr. Chuan Jen Hsu
Vice President of Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital
Keng-Chang Liu, MD, PhD
Director of the Spine Surgery, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital
Dr. Tang Kiat Beng
Deputy CEO, Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia
Dr. Antonio Say, MD, MHPEd, FPAO
President of the Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines Inc.
Dr. You-Chen Chao
Superintendent of Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital
DR. dr. Maria Astheria, MPALLC
Palliative Practitioner in Indonesia Tzu Chi Hospital
Professor Robert (Bob) M Graham
Executive Director, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute & Professor of Medicine
Prof. Dr. Jason P. Sheehan, MD, Ph.D
Harrison Professor of Neurosurgery; Director of Neuroscience Service Line; Department of Neurological Surgery University of Virginia
Yi Pang Lee, DDS, Ph.D
Director, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital Oral Pathology Department
drg. Muhammad Novo Perwira Lubis, Sp.RKG, SubSp. Rad.D (K)
Dento-Maxillofacial Radiologist Consultant in Disgnostic Imaging
Ming-Yueh Huang
Volunteer Team Leader, Department of Social Service
Sugianto Kusuma
CEO of Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Indonesia
Sugianto Kusuma currently serves as CEO of Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Indonesia as well as Vice Chairman of The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia.
He was born in Palembang, on January 10, 1951, Sugianto has successfully managed several projects in Indonesia. Starting from housing, offices, and apartments, to commercial and industrial areas, he has succeeded in developing them into new economic centers that support the surrounding areas.
In the beginning, he was invited to support Tzu Chi’s plan to build houses for residents living on the banks of Kali Angke which were affected by the flood and were about to be relocated. As an entrepreneur in the property sector, this house construction plan sounded very easy to him, so Sugianto immediately agreed. When he went to meet Master Cheng Yen with other Indonesian Tzu Chi volunteers, he always answered “No problem” to the various tasks that were put to him. So he was known as “Mr. No Problem”.
Ir. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, CHFC, CLU
Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia
Born in Bogor on May 6, 1964, Budi Gunadi Sadikin was appointed as Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia on December 23, 2020. Previously, he served as Deputy Minister of State Owned Enterprises since November 2019.
As a Deputy Minister whose in charge of State Owned Enterprises (BUMN) in Health and Pharmaceuticals, he was actively involved in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic by opening international networks and mobilizing domestic resources to procure PCR test kits, COVID vaccines along with vaccine delivery and distribution systems, as well as procurement of therapeutic drugs of COVID-19. He also plays an active role in handling COVID-19 by monitoring and managing 70 state-owned hospitals.
Budi Gunadi Sadikin earned his bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Physics from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 1988, University of Washington, Chartered Financial Consultant (CHFC), and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) Certification from the Singapore Insurance Institute in 2004.
Dr. Ruth Oni Anggraini, MARS
TIMA Indonesia
Dr. Ruth graduated from Tarumanagara University in Jakarta, Indonesia. She has joined Tzu Chi and TIMA since 2002, and she’s currently actively involved in Tzu Chi’s social service, especially if there’s a natural disaster.
She serves in TIMA as a Coordinator of Social Services, Disaster and Incidental Emergency.
An Liem Liong, MD, Ph.D., FIPP
Maastricht University,UM · Pain Management
Dr Liem was born in Leiden, The Netherlands. He graduates from the Free University College of Medicine in Amsterdam. He completed his residency in anesthesiology, intensive care, and pain management at the St. Antonius Hospital in Utrecht. He is board certified in anesthesiology as well as pain medicine by the Dutch Society of Anesthesiology.
Dr. Liem is a Fellow of International Pain Practice according to the World Institute of Pain and was the founder and president of the Benelux Neuromodulation Society. He has been Treasurer of the International Neuromodulation Society and member of the Editorial Board of the journal Neuromodulation. He has been the principal investigator on several clinical trials and is participating in international consensus and appropriateness boards on pain and spasticity.
In 2010, Dr. Liem received the Sam Hassenbusch Prize in Budapest. Over the last years, he has focused on completing his scientific work on stimulation of the dorsal root ganglion for the treatment of chronic pain and obtained his Doctorate of Philosophy at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam in January 2016.
Chin Lon Lin, MD
CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation
Dr. Chin Lon Lin has been the CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation since 2008. Upon graduation from the College of Medicine, National Taiwan University in 1968, he served as a primary physician in the Chinese army from 1968-69. He then began his residency in internal medicine at the National Taiwan University Hospital from 1969-70, and went on to rotate as an intern at the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens from 1970-71. He finished his residency in internal medicine training in Brooklyn from 1971-74. Then, he became a fellow in cardiology in the same hospital from 1974-76 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York in 1984. After his fellowship, Dr. Lin became an instructor in medicine at SUNY Stony Brook for a year.
In 1977, he began as an attending physician at the Northridge Hospital Medical Center, and continued for eighteen years. His next endeavor led him to Vice President of the Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital in Hualien, Taiwan. While serving as Vice President, Dr. Lin became CEO for the Tzu Chi International Medical Association in 1998. Besides his medical expertise, Dr. Lin also has published over fifty articles on topics in medicine.
Dr. Susianto Tseng
Doctor of Public Health Nutrition
Dr. Susianto Tseng is a Doctor of Public Health Nutrition (Universitas Indonesia). He is the President of World Vegan Organisation (WVO) & Vegan Society of Indonesia (VSI).
Dr. Susianto is a popular vegan figure in Indonesia and Internationally, and has spearheaded the vegan movement in Southeast Asia’s largest nation. A nutritionist, educator, he is also a researcher and a successful businessman.
Dr. Susianto is the first in the world to produce tempeh in powder form, which is marketed in Indonesia and other neighbouring countries.
Sumeet S. Chugh, MD
Cedar Sinai Hospital, USA
Dr. Chugh is the Pauline and Harold Price Professor, Associate Director of the Smidt Heart Institute, Medical Director of the Heart Rhythm Center and Director of the Center for Cardiac Arrest Prevention at Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles.
He also serves as Director of the Division of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine in the Dept. of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. The Heart Rhythm Center at the Smidt is a clinical, teaching, and research operation that involves over 100 staff, trainees and personnel.
Prof. Dr. dr. Pustika Amalia, Sp. A (K)
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Consultant RSUPN Cipto Mangunkusumo
Prof. Dr. dr. Pustika Amalia, Sp.A(K) is a doctor who focuses on treating various kinds of disesase related to blood disorders and cancer in children, from babies to teenagers.
The following are cancers and blood disorders that can be treated by Prof. Dr. dr. Pustika Amalia, Sp.A(K): – Blood clotting and bleeding diseases, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and hemophilia. Disorders of red blood cells, such as iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, and sickle cell anemia – Disorders of the spinal cord and white blood cells, such as aplastic anemia and neutropenia. – Blood cancers, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma – Nerve cancers such as neuroblastoma – Bone cancers, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma – Brain cancer, such as astrocytoma and medulloblastoma. – Eye cancer, such as retinoblastoma – Kidney cancer, such as nephroblastoma.
Dr. Chi Cheng Li
Director of Center of Stem Cells and Precision Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital
Dr. Chi Cheng Li graduated as a Bachelor of Medicine from China Medical College and earned his master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from National Cheng Kung University.
Dr. Li has expertise in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and high-resolution flow cytometry in the detection of minimal residual disease and the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome.
Currently, Dr. Chi Cheng Li serves as the director of the Center of Stem Cells and Precision Medicine in Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. He has received three medical licenses in Taiwan. He’s also a medical school instructor at Buddhist Tzu Chi University.
Shin-Zong Lin, MD, PhD
Superintendent at the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital
Dr. Shin-Zong Lin specializes in neuroscience, neurosurgery, stem cell therapies, translational science, new drug development, and hospital management. Currently, he is the Superintendent at the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Dr. Lin is also President of their Bio-Innovation Center and Professor of Neurosurgery at Tzu Chi University.
He received his M.D. from the National Defense Medical Center in 1980 and completed his neurological residency at the Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan between 1980 and 1986. He received his Ph.D. in 1989 from the Department of Physiology and Biophysics/Department of Neurological Surgery at SUNY Stony Brook.
Dr. Lin has been named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, International Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgery and Charter Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. In April 2018, he become a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
Sou-Hsin Chien, MD
Superintendent of Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital
Dr. Sou-Hsin Chien is a renowned plastic surgeon and superintendent of Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital. He embodies humanity in his practice of medicine and has devoted himself to local community care and international disaster relief.
Due to his visits to affected areas including Philippines, Pakistan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Nepal, Jordan, and Mexico, he was honored with the Presidential Achievement Award in Medicine in 2010.
Dr. Chien hosts a popular medical program “All About Health” on Da Ai TV, and being the first medical professional honoree to have won a Golden Bell Award in Taiwan. Through the help of stories and anecdotes, Dr. Chien Sou-Hsin, superintendent of the Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, translates scientific information into easy-to-understand facts and examples that audiences may apply in their everyday lives.
Prof. Dr. Sheng-Che Chou, MD, Ph.D
National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan
Prof. Dr. Sheng-Che Chou holds a medical bachelor degree from the department of medicine at the National Taiwan University School of Medicine and serves as an attending physician for the department of traumatology at the National Taiwan University Hospital.
He specializes in functional neurosurgery (deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease; MRgFUS for essential tremor and tremor-predominant Parkinson’s disease; epilepsy surgery; hemifacial spasm; trigeminal neuralgia; palmar hyperhidrosis; spinal cord stimulation).
Dr. Soekirman Soekin, Sp.THT- KL (K), M.Kes
Indonesia Tzu Chi Hospital
dr. Soekirman Soekin, Sp.ENT-BKL (K), M.Kes, began his career as an ENT-KL specialist in 1981 at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia. Since 1981, the science of ear health and hearing loss has been deepened with various kinds of training and courses in the above fields from various centers in developed countries (Japan, Australia, the Netherlands, and the United States).
dr. Soekirman Soekin, Sp. ENT-KL (K), M.Kes is well-known for being friendly and one of the best ENT doctors in Jakarta. A number of dr. Soekirman’s offices can be found in several hospitals, he is also quite active in the membership of the Indonesian Association of Ear, Nose, Throat, Head, and Neck Surgery.
He has developed knowledge and skills through Indonesian social activities from 1988 until now by collaborating between ENT-KL specialist education centers and hospitals in Indonesia.
Dr. Chuan Jen Hsu
Vice President of Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital
Dr. Chuan Jen Hsu was born in Taichung in 1951. He graduated from the School of Clinical Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan, and earned his doctoral degree at National Taiwan University.
After obtaining his doctorate, Dr. Chuan Jen Hsu returned to the National Taiwan University Hospital to continue his service. In 1988, he set off again and went to Harvard University and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital for further training on the theme of cochlear implants, determining that those who live in a silent world can hear the voice and no longer regret it.
Dr. Chuan Jen Hsu continues to help hearing-impaired children find their hearing, and the number of them is getting large. He also actively educates students and passes on technology without concealment, hoping to help more children escape the silent world.
Until now, he’s a popular doctor in otology and well known for cochlear implants and ear surgery.
Keng-Chang Liu, MD, PhD
Director of the Spine Surgery, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital
Dr. Keng-Chang Liu is a director at the Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan. He’s also the president of PASMISS 2023, which is the Pacific and Asian Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery that will be held in Taiwan from July 13th to 15th, 2023.
Dr. Antonio Say, MD, MHPEd, FPAO
President Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines Inc.
Originally from Quezon City in the Philippines, Dr. Antonio Say has upheld a
commitment to medical humanitarianism and lifelong learning. He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas College of Medicine and Surgery in 1976, completed his residency at the Dept. of Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital in 1983, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master in Health Professional Education from the University of Santo Tomas in 2011, and is currently enrolled in a Master’s Degree program for Hospital Management at the University of the Philippines.
Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Say has served as the Department of Ophthalmology Faculty of Medicine & Surgery Chairman at the University of Santo Tomas from 2006-13 and Department of Ophthalmology Chairman at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
In his time at the Tzu Chi International Medical Association, he became head of the ophthalmology mission as early as 1998, proceeded to Assistant Head of the Tzu Chi International Medical Association, Philippine Chapter from 2003-06, and now the Medical Director of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Clinic of the Philippines since 2006.
Dr. You-Chen Chao
Superintendent of Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital
Dr. You-Chen Chao is the president of Tzu Chi Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, and his specialty is gastroenterology, hepatology, viral hepatitis, and alcoholic diseases.
He graduated from the Department of Medicine at the National Defense Medical College and has been awarded the 3rd New Taipei City Medical Public Welfare Award and the Taipei City Medical Association Xinglin Award.
As someone who had a different understanding of “practicing medicine”, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to the cause of Tzu Chi medicine and led all colleagues at Tzu Chi Hospital Taipei to make unremitting efforts to practice “holistic medicine”.
He’s also the author of a book called “Love is the Best Medicine in the World.”
DR. dr. Maria Astheria, MPALLC
Palliative Practitioner in Indonesia Tzu Chi Hospital
DR. dr. Maria Astheria received her Bachelor’s Degree in 1987 at Gadjahmada University, faculty of medicine, and her master’s in palliative care in 2004 from the Institute of Palliative Care and Supportive Services, Flinders University, SA.She has been working in several hospitals and is well known as a palliative practitioner.
She has done some research about palliative care and, through her research, she hopes that it can be used by various parties to improve the quality of management for adult cancer patients who require palliative care. In addition, it is necessary to socialize instruments to identify palliative care needs for adult cancer patients with health workers in hospitals.
Professor Robert (Bob) M Graham
Executive Director, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute & Professor of Medicine
Bob received his training in medicine at the University of New South Wales (MB,BS Hons, 1972; MD, 1988), St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney and Sydney Hospital (FRACP, 1979) and University of Texas Southwestern Medical School (UTSWMS), Dallas, Texas (FRCP, 1981). He was appointed as Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, UTSWMS (Alfred Gilman, Chairman, Nobel Laureate) in 1978, and Associate Professor in Medicine, Cellular and Molecular Research Laboratory (Edgar Haber, Chairman), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School (1982).
His research for many years has focused on molecular cardiology, with emphasis on circulatory control mechanisms, hypertension, receptor signalling and cardiac hypertrophy. More recently, his work has focussed on cardiac regeneration and cardioprotection, and spontaneous coronary artery dissection. He is the author of over 300 peer-reviewed papers that have received over 20,000 citations. He is co-founder and director of Infensa Bioscience Pty Ltd, and currently serves as a member of Council, AAS (2021).
Prof. Dr. Jason P. Sheehan, MD, Ph. D
Harrison Professor of Neurosurgery; Director of Neuroscience Service Line; Department of Neurological Surgery University of Virginia
Jason Sheehan received his BS, MS, PhD and MD from the University of Virginia. His BS is in Chemical Engineering with the highest honors awarded from the School of Engineering. He performed fellowships at Auckland University and the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Sheehan has written more than 250 peer reviewed papers. Also, he has published several books and numerous invited manuscripts. He reviews manuscripts for the Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, World Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery and Nature Clinical Practice Oncology. Dr. Sheehan has an active laboratory pursuing translational and basic science research in the area of brain tumors. He also helps to oversee clinical trials for brain tumor patients.
Dr. Sheehan won the University of Virginia Clinical Excellence Award in 2006, the AANS/CNS Translational Brain Tumor Research Award, the WFNS Young Neurosurgeon Award and the Synthes Skull Base Award. Dr. Sheehan also serves as the Foundation’s Senior Advisor for Brain Tumor Research.
Yi Pang Lee, DDS, Ph.D
Director, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital Oral Pathology Department
Dr. Yi Pang Lee is the director of the Oral Pathology Department at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, educated at Chung Shan Medical University. He has joined TIMA since 1999, followed Tzu Chi volunteers and TIMA members to hold free clinics for people living in Taiwan’s rural areas and outlying islands. He also took part in free clinics hosted in mainland China (in the Sichuan Province, Suzhou City, and Beijing’s municipality), the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Jordan. In the process of serving, he realized that the greatest achievements come from within. Though away from the comfort of the ordinary clinical setting, he saw his own responsibility and mission where it was most needed.
Dr. Tang Kiat Beng
Deputy CEO, Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia
Dr. Tang Kiat Beng graduated as doctor of medicine from China Medical University, Taiwan, then he continued in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for Occupation Health Doctor.
Dr. Tang Kiat Beng became General Practitioner since 1993. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Klinik Bersatu Group, Malaysia. He also the Founder and Executive Director of Metro Specialist Hospital, Malaysia.
Now, Dr. Tang Kiat Beng is the Deputy CEO, for Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia and Medical Director of Buddhist Tzu Chi Healthcare Society Malaysia.
drg. Muhammad Novo Perwira Lubis, Sp.RKG, SubSp. Rad.D (K)
Dento-Maxillofacial Radiologist Consultant in Diagnostic Imaging
drg. Muhammad Novo graduated from Faculty of Dentistry, Trisakti University, Jakarta in 2008. In 2014, he received Dento-Maxillofacial Radiology Specialist from Padjadjaran University, Bandung.
He started his career as dentistry since 2008 at Siliwangi Dental Care, Bogor until 2014. Now, drg. Muhammad Novo is the Lecture of DMF-Radiology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Trisakti University, Jakarta since 2011 and became the Head of DMF-Radiology Department since 2015.
Then, in 2017 till 2022, drg. Muhammad Novo acted as Dental Professionalism Education and Training Commission (P3KGB) at Indonesian Dental Association. Besides that, he is the Vice Chairman of Indonesian DMF-Radiology Association for since 2022.
drg. Muhammad Novo is the Honorary Member of Indonesia Aesthetic Dentistry in 2020 till now, he also the Academic Ambassador of International Academic of Ultrasonic Surgery and Implantology (IAUSI) since 2021.
Ming-Yueh Huang
Volunteer Team Leader, Department of Social Service
Ms. Ming-Yueh Huang is currently the Leader of the Volunteer Group in the Department of Social Service of Tzu Chi Hospital, with a long experience of more than 30 years in heartwarming volunteering in supporting the healthcare team.
Whilst wondering the value of her life 32 years ago, Ms. Huang met Tzu Chi and was inspired by a passage from the speech of Master Chen Yen. Since then, she has been serving as a volunteer supporting the healthcare team in Hualien, Dalin, and Taichung Tzu Chi Hospitals, respectively, for more than 30 years. While serving in the hospitals, she found that both the healthcare team and patients were in a great stress from caring and suffering the illness. Therefore, she had a mission to support, and more, to assist the medical team as well as the patients and their families, not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. She organized the education and training of volunteers to provide the all year around services, which helps to ease the pain in the hospital.
“Love is the actual efforts, not slogans.” She has found the calling of her life and been dedicating the rest of her life in volunteering.
Mei Hui Chen, RN
Vice Director Suzhou Tzu Chi Clinic, China
Chen Mei hui is currently the vice president of Suzhou Tzu Chi Medical Career Health Promotion Center
She has been in nursing care for 33 years. He has worked in Hualien and the Heart Lotus Palliative care Ward of Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital for more than 16 years. Throughout her career in the palliative care, she demonstrate the wisdom to face the pain of life and illness while taking care of the patient, even if the patient is suffering from illness, she can still show a bright smile.
Medical career protects health, relieves suffering, gives happiness and peace of mind, if we give more encouragement, hope and care to the family members, colleagues or people around us at any time, the relationship between people will be more friendly and warm. Busy medical work and tense doctor-patient relationship require the combination of medical treatment and humanities, so that medical staff have a sense of mission and patients stay away from suffering. This is spiritual care, one of the medical humanities.