Dr Bih-O (Becky) Lee

Dr Bih-O (Becky) Lee loves nothing more than being able to inspire others in her profession. As a renowned nursing scholar, nursing leader, nursing educator, and inter-disciplinary expert in Taiwan, Bih-O takes a lot of pride in helping others to be the best they can be, and solving problems in healthcare at the same time.

The academic researcher—who completed her PhD from Griffith University in 2008 under the supervision of Professor Wendy Chaboyer—is thrilled to have been named the 2021 Griffith University Outstanding International Alumnus for the Health group.  “I felt fantastic and so happy at that time,” she said of discovering her win. “I repeat the sentence in my heart ‘I am always honoured to be part of Griffith University and Wendy’s student’.”

Her formative PhD years at Griffith University provided Bih-O with a strong foundation to upon which she has built to become a leading Taiwanese nurse academic, successfully combining research, teaching and administration. The discipline she developed around identifying a research problem, critically examining the literature and then planning and executing a high-quality study helped her develop critical thinking skills and the ability to execute research in challenging situations. She also gained important English writing skills that have led her to publish in top international journals. Essentially, her PhD training provided her with the skills to be a leader in nursing, as a researcher, educator and administrator.

Ultimately, the mentorship and role-modelling she received allowed her to continue to develop her research and leadership expertise throughout her career. As a PhD student, Bih-O gained important skills in planning, conducting and publishing her research and now has published over 70 academic papers, and 30 per cent in top journals. She has been funded continually by Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology for 12 years after her PhD.

In 2018, she was invited to work in School of Nursing in Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU). In 2019, she was proud when she was elected the Dean of Nursing College in KMU to lead the School of Nursing, Masters Nursing Program, PhD Nursing Program, International PhD Nursing Program, and Master Program of Long-Term Care in Aging.

Bih-O said there are a couple of things of which she is particularly proud in her career to date. “I am most proud of running a three-year teaching program focusing on precision healthcare,” she explained. “By achieving KMU goals that are based on solving aging problems in Taiwan, I have been running a teaching program focusing on precision medicine, precision health, and precision healthcare from 2019 to present.

“I have designed six teaching projects into each program or department in the nursing college. I have overseen one of the projects. Those projects help faculty member and students to understand AI, precision health, and AI connected to precision healthcare. Now, fourteen courses in the nursing college have been incorporated into AI and precision healthcare.

She continued, “In one of the courses in the Master of Long-Term Care in Aging, the faculty members and students designed an app for tongue movement has been awarded as the champion in a big national entrepreneurship competition. It is a big achievement.”

Another piece of work of that brings Bih-O a great amount of pride is leading an interdisciplinary team consisting of top universities in Southern Taiwan looking at the impact of artificial intelligence in precision healthcare. This is a project that has the potential to have enormous impact and help create a brighter future for older adults and people with mild dementia. “This interdisciplinary AI team aims to solve the issues of rapidly aging population in Taiwan. I am leader who representatives our university in leading the sub-project named Community-based Precision Health Care for Older Adults: Establish an AI Assessment Model and Examine Effects of a Precision Health Project for Older Population. This is an important national-level project that will influence the healthcare system by 2030 in Taiwan.”

Bih-O is committed to remaining connected with Griffith University and to help more of her own Griffith Health group alumni and students to create a brighter future for themselves and the world.