Lin Ruey-shiung (; born 17 December 1938) is a Taiwanese

physician-scientist A physician-scientist (in North American English) or clinician-scientist (in British English and Australian English) is a physician who divides their professional time between direct clinical practice with patients and scientific research. Physicia ...

, epigeneticist, and professor of

public health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the de ...

. He was the vice presidential nominee of the People First Party ticket for the 2012 Taiwan presidential race, running with

James Soong Soong Chu-yu (; born 30 April 1942), also known by his English name James Soong, is a Taiwanese political scientist and politician who is the founder and chairman of the People First Party. Soong was the first and only elected governor of Taiw ...

. Prior to his vice presidential run, Lin never held political or elected office. After graduating from medical school at

National Taiwan University National Taiwan University (NTU; zh, t=國立臺灣大學, poj=Kok-li̍p Tâi-oân Tāi-ha̍k, p=, s=) is a National university, national Public university, public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 1928 during Taiwan under J ...

, Lin earned a doctorate in medicine from the

University of Heidelberg Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg (; ), is a public university, public research university in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1386 on instruction of Pope Urban VI, Heidelberg is List ...

in Germany and then a second doctorate in the United States from

Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...

Early life and education

Lin was born in

Chiayi Chiayi (,), officially known as Chiayi City, is a Provincial city (Taiwan), city located in Chianan Plain in Regions of Taiwan, southwestern Taiwan, surrounded by Chiayi County with a population of 263,188 inhabitants as of January 2023. The H ...

Tainan Prefecture was one of the administrative divisions of Taiwan during the Japanese rule. The prefecture consisted of modern-day Tainan City, Chiayi City, Chiayi County, and Yunlin County. Population Administrative divisions Cities and districts In ...

, on December 17, 1938. After graduating from

National Tainan First Senior High School The National Tainan First Senior High School () is a public senior high school in East District, Tainan, East District, Tainan, Taiwan. It was established in 1922 and is considered one of the most prestigious high schools in Taiwan, usually only a ...

, he graduated from

with a

Bachelor of Medicine A Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (; MBBS, also abbreviated as BM BS, MB ChB, MB BCh, or MB BChir) is a medical degree granted by medical schools or universities in countries that adhere to the United Kingdom's higher education tradi ...

(B.M.) in 1965 and a

Master of Public Health The Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH), Master of Medical Science in Public Health (MMSPH) and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), International Masters for Health Leadership (IMHL) are interdisciplinary profes ...

(M.P.H.) in 1967. He then completed graduate studies in

epigenetics In biology, epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression that happen without changes to the DNA sequence. The Greek prefix ''epi-'' (ἐπι- "over, outside of, around") in ''epigenetics'' implies features that are "on top of" or "in ...

in Germany at the

, where he earned a doctorate (

Dr. med. Doctor Medicinae, also spelled Doctor Medicinæ and abbreviated Dr. Med., is a higher doctoral degree (a research doctorate) in medicine awarded by universities in Denmark and formerly in Norway. It is officially translated as Doctor of Medical ...

) in

epidemiology Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and Risk factor (epidemiology), determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population, and application of this knowledge to prevent dise ...

and

genetics Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.Hartl D, Jones E (2005) It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinians, Augustinian ...

in 1970. After receiving his first doctorate from Heidelberg, Lin went to the United States to complete further advanced studies at

, where he earned a second doctorate, a

Doctor of Public Health A Doctor of Public Health (abbr. DrPH, Dr.P.H. or D.P.H.; Latin ) is a doctoral degree awarded in the field of Public health, Public Health. DrPH is an advanced and terminal degree that prepares its recipients for a career in advancing public hea ...

(D.P.H.), in 1977 from the

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is the public health graduate school of Johns Hopkins University, a private university, private research university primarily based in Baltimore, Maryland. It was founded as the Johns Hopkins ...

. His second doctoral dissertation was titled, "An epidemiological study of familial patterns in cardiovascular mortality".

Academic career

Lin has taught at the National Taiwan University Medical School, the

University of Kansas The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States. Two branch campuses are in the Kansas City metropolitan area on the Kansas side: the university's medical school and hospital ...

, and the

University of Maryland The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the Univ ...

. He was a professor at National Taiwan University's School of Public Health from 1985 to 2006 and served as the school's dean from 1987 to 1993.

2012 election

PFP chairman James Soong chose Lin to be his ticket's vice presidential nominee in late-September 2011. Lin, a political novice, had to renounce his American citizenship (he had held dual citizenship of the United States and the Republic of China) in order to be an eligible candidate. Lin claimed that for three consecutive nights, beginning Sept. 20, his residence was attacked by electromagnetic waves and that he had to flee to a hotel.http://www.france24.com/en/20111201-taiwan-running-mate-claims-magnetic-attack

References

External links

National Taiwan University Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lin, Ruey-shiung 1938 births Living people National Taiwan University alumni Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health alumni Heidelberg University alumni People First Party (Taiwan) politicians Former United States citizens Taiwanese public health doctors Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Tainan Academic staff of the National Taiwan University University of Maryland, College Park faculty Taiwanese expatriates in Germany University of Kansas faculty Scientists from Tainan Taiwanese university and college faculty deans