Wang Shih-hao (41), a former emergency physician at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, unexpectedly became an expert in high-altitude medicine because of his passion for mountain climbing. After immersing himself in high-altitude medicine, he also became a professional mountaineering writer. A book compiling his lifelong experiences in climbing quickly became a bestseller, and he plans to establish a mountaineering consulting company to take on the role of a “health manager.”
Starting from joining the mountaineering club at China Medical University, Wang Shih-hao became a passionate “mountaineering enthusiast,” enjoying the thrill of supporting each other with fellow climbers and overcoming steep slopes and harsh weather conditions during hikes.
After graduating from medical school and becoming a doctor, he climbed even more intensively. He estimates that he has climbed around 70 of Taiwan’s Hundred Mountains, and if including repeated climbs, the number likely exceeds 200—Yushan alone at least 70 times, and Snow Mountain about 20 times.
Mountain climbing allowed Wang Shih-hao to fulfill his passion, complete his promotion thesis at the medical center, and rank among the top 3.3% of global experts in high-altitude medicine. He has authored over ten papers on high-altitude medicine, ranking first in Northeast Asia.
Wang Shih-hao started in emergency medicine at Chang Gung and, in order to study high-altitude medicine, resolutely quit his medical position and took out a loan to go to the U.S. as a visiting scholar in high-altitude medicine. He transitioned from having his family follow and accompany him on hikes to them actively organizing trips while he became the one being accompanied.
In the first half of his life, Wang Shih-hao climbed mountains and conducted research. In the second half, he plans to open a “travel health management consulting company,” transforming into a “mountain medic” who earns money through climbing. Together with his mountaineering-related team, he has established a “high-altitude travel specialty clinic,” taking on the role of a “health manager” to provide specialized medical planning and consultation for both Taiwanese traveling abroad and international visitors coming to Taiwan for travel and mountaineering, offering a comprehensive “one-stop” service. This is the first professional service team in Taiwan and helps enhance the country’s international image.