Dean Hung-Rong Yen Was Elected President-Elect of the International Society for Ethnopharmacology (ISE)

Professor Hung-Rong Yen, Dean of the College of Chinese Medicine at China Medical University (CMU), was recently nominated and elected President-Elect of the International Society for Ethnopharmacology (ISE) during the Society's Board meeting, with confirmation by the General Assembly. Professor Yen will serve as ISE President from 2027 to 2029, becoming the first Asian scholar elected to this position since the Society's establishment in 1990—an achievement of historic significance.

Founded in Europe in 1990, the International Society for Ethnopharmacology has been dedicated to advancing research and dialogue on traditional medicines, natural products, and cross-cultural medical knowledge. With members across all continents, representing pharmacology, traditional medicine, anthropology, and clinical sciences, ISE has become one of the most influential academic communities in the field of ethnopharmacology. Its official journal, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, is a leading international publication in integrative and complementary medicine with significant global impact.

Professor Yen has long devoted his career to integrative medicine, traditional pharmacology, and evidence-based clinical applications, publishing numerous high-impact studies in ethnopharmacology and Chinese medicine. He currently serves as Co-Convener of the Division of Pharmacy and Chinese Medicine of Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council and as Chief Executive Officer of the Global University Network of Traditional Medicine (GUNTM), actively promoting international collaboration in Chinese medicine research and education, while enhancing Taiwan's global visibility. Beyond his outstanding contributions in research and clinical practice, Professor Yen has also demonstrated strong leadership in academic societies. In 2022, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he successfully organized the 21st ISE Annual Meeting at CMU's Shuinan Campus in Taichung. With a hybrid format, the conference featured 42 international and 15 Taiwanese expert speakers, making it one of the few major international academic gatherings successfully convened during the pandemic, and earning widespread recognition for strengthening the Society's development.

Professor Yen's achievements are further reflected in his distinguished record of awards. He has received one Taiwan's National Innovation Award and two National Quality Symbol (SNQ) Awards. His research team was honored with the ISE Peter Houghton Innovation Award for groundbreaking work on Qing Dai (Indigo naturalis) in autoimmune regulation, underscoring the team's international leadership in ethnopharmacological research. He also became the first scholar from Taiwan to receive the Science Award of the International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques (ICMART) at the 36th World Medical Acupuncture Congress, highlighting his pioneering role in advancing acupuncture and integrative medicine. In addition, he was named a Top Doctor of the Year 2023 by CommonHealth magazine, the only physician from CMU Hospital to be recognized that year, affirming his excellence in clinical service.

Professor Yen's election as ISE President-Elect not only reflects his international academic influence but also marks a milestone for Asian scholars in ethnopharmacology worldwide. China Medical University will continue to support Professor Yen's leadership on the global stage, advancing international cooperation and driving innovation in the integration of Chinese medicine and ethnopharmacology to improve human health and well-being.