Modest and good-natured, Chen Chien-jen is also an effective communicator. In mid-March, he took on the responsibility of convening the SARS Contingency Committee set up by the Executive Yuan. On May 17, when the epidemic was at its height, Chen jumped into the breach and assumed the post of minister of the DOH.
陳建仁為人謙和、善於溝通，三月中旬，行政院成立 SARS 專家委員會，他「當仁不讓」擔任召集人，爾後更在疫情節節升高時，臨危受命於五月十七日接任衛生署署長。