From April 28 to May 6, 2026, Zhang Shuyang, President of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) and Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), led a PUMCH delegation and a CAMS & PUMC delegation to visit the United States on invitation. The trip included visits to Johns Hopkins University, the National Academy of Medicine, the Rockefeller Archive Center, Yale University, Columbia University, Stanford University, and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, with exchanges focused on medical education, rare diseases, and healthy aging. The delegations also held warm reunions with PUMC alumni that now live in the US. The visit broadened PUMCH's international network, strengthened its global presence, and opened new avenues for collaboration between China and the US in health and medicine. The visit was supported by the China Medical Board (CMB).

▲The delegations with senior leadership of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

▲The delegations visiting Yale School of Medicine

▲The delegations in conversation with Academician David Ho

▲The delegations at the healthy aging roundtable discussion

▲Dr. Chen Limeng (left) and Dr. Kang Lin (right) at the symposium on healthy aging and rare diseases

▲The delegations visiting the Buck Institute for Research on Aging

Academic symposia with different themes were held at Johns Hopkins University, Yale University, and Columbia University. Dr. Chen Limeng, Director of the Department of Nephrology, and Dr. Kang Lin, Director of the Department of Geriatrics, presented the hospital's work in rare kidney disease diagnosis, sarcopenia management, and geriatric medicine development, drawing strong interest and praise from participants. At Columbia University, President Zhang had discussions with Dr. David Ho — a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering — on virology and infectious disease prevention and treatment. Convened by CMB Chair Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, a roundtable on healthy aging brought together Health Policy and Aging Professor Dr. John Rowe and Harvard epidemiologist Dr. Lisa Berkman. CMB President Dr. Roger I. Glass and Executive Vice President Dr. Barbara J. Stoll also attended the roundtable discussion. Academician Ji Xunming, President of CAMS & PUMC, joined virtually. The delegations further visited the Buck Institute for Research on Aging — a global leader in longevity science — to learn about its latest translational research in epigenetic regulation and cellular senescence.

▲The delegations with senior leadership of the National Academy of Medicine

▲The delegations visiting the Rockefeller Archive Center

▲The delegations visiting Stanford University and Stanford Hospital

Throughout the trip, the delegations hosted alumni gatherings in Washington D.C., New York, New Haven, and San Francisco. President Zhang expressed her gratitude for the sustained support of overseas alumni, shared highlights of the hospital's recent development, and conveyed her sincere hope that alumni would consider returning to contribute to China’s medical advancement. She warmly encouraged them to leverage their international connections to facilitate research partnerships, talent exchange, academic visits, and translational medicine for the benefit of both the hospital and the country. Vice President of CAMS & PUMC Pan Hui also participated in the visit.

Written by the International Collaboration Office
Pictures courtesy of the International Collaboration Office
Edited by Chen Xiao and Xiao Xiong
Chief editor Duan Wenli
Supervised by Wu Peixin