Shih-Fen Hsiao

Dr. Shih-Fen Hsiao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, and the Master’s Program of Long-Term Care in Aging at the College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU). She also serves as Vice President and Executive Director of the Board of Directors of the Taiwan Physical Therapy Association (TPTA) since 2020.

Dr. Hsiao earned her BSc in Physical Therapy from Kaohsiung Medical College and a PhD in Physiotherapy from King’s College London, UK. Her professional experience includes academic appointments in Taiwan and the UK, as well as clinical practice as a Senior Neurological Physical Therapist at the KMU affiliated Hospital. Dr. Hsiao’s research focuses on neurological rehabilitation, musculoskeletal function, aging, dementia and frailty, sarcopenia, and long-term care. Her recent research focuses on the effect of chronic kidney disease and dialysis on muscles, and advocates regular screening of handgrip strength as an indicator of sarcopenia.

For more than 25 years, Dr. Hsiao has worked for TPTA in the international related affairs or task forces, and served as secretary general or committee members of international organisations. Her representative achievements include coordinating international projects with World Physiotherapy, Rotary International, Vietnamese PT Association and TPTA to level up the physical therapy quality in Vietnam (RI Vocational Team Training Project - GG2125902). This collaboration fostered further engagement of iUSR Project of Namahsia of KMU in Vietnam, and the support is still ongoing for improving the ability of PT in northern Vietnam to meet the goal of Rehabilitation 2030.