On October 20, 2018, the “Laboratory Medicine Advancement & 60th Founding Anniversary of PUMCH Laboratory Conference” was held at the Lecture Hall of our hospital. Present at the event were: PUMCH Vice President Zhang Shuyang, Former Deputy Party Secretary Chen Jie, hospital department chiefs, leaders of the Chinese Society of Laboratory Medicine and renowned experts. More than 70 leaders of laboratories across the country as well as former and current staff of PUMCH Laboratory also attended the event.

PUMCH President Zhao Yupei and Party Secretary Jiang Yuxin sent congratulatory messages. They praised the achievements of the hospital’s Laboratory in the past 60 years and wished for further success.

The meeting was chaired by Qiu Ling, deputy director of PUMCH Laboratory. Director Xu Yingchun delivered an opening speech, summing up the innovations and changes of the Laboratory in the past six decades, including its medical services, international cooperation, research, teaching, as well as efforts of seven generations and the results achieved. Other speakers included Professor Wang Chengbin, director of Chinese Society of Laboratory Medicine, Research Associate Zhou Zan, vice president and deputy editor-in-chief of Medical Reference.

The event came to its climax with a poem reading by former directors and staff of the Laboratory. Director Wang Huizhen came to the hospital at the age 23, and worked hard all the way to be the chief. Professor Cao Xingwu was at the parasitology lab, who was committed to “digging out a flower from excrements”. Director Li Lin was the third director, who focused on introducing new technologies and projects and pushing forward international cooperation. Director Chen Minjun worked for 46 years at microorganisms, and blazed a trail in molecular biology and identification of difficult bacterial strains. During the SARS epidemic in 2003, Director Ni Anping, regardless of his own safety, succeeded in separating three SARS strains. He said this is his interest as well as his duty towards patients.

Deputy Director Li Yongzhe presented certificates to the eight young winners of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The conference recalled the Laboratory’s history of sending 40 people over the decades to medical aids in needy areas as well as emergencies. It also remembered Wang Peng, an excellent staff member, who once said: “Working for patients voluntarily is my greatest pleasure.”

Sideline activities focusing on microorganisms, clinical mass spectrometry, immunity, molecule and research were also held to add to the academic celebrations.

Leaders and guests at the conference

Poem reading by retired staff