On September 22, “Medicine Across Oceans – A Century of Shared Learning and Partnerships: A Tribute to U.S.-China Collaborations in Medicine and Health” was held at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in Washington, D.C. Serving as the Washington, D.C. session of Peking Union Medical College Hospital’s (PUMCH) 105th Anniversary Academic Week, the event featured a U.S.-China medical dialogue and exchanges among young scholars. Through academic dialogue, it sought to reflect on the history of medical exchange between the two countries and promote continued collaboration. The event was jointly hosted by PUMCH, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), and the CMB Foundation (CMB), bringing together experts and scholars from the medical communities of both countries.

▲The PUMCH delegation take a group photo with leaders of the National Academy of Medicine and CMB, along with other guests, at the National Academy of Sciences Building

In remarks at the White House welcome ceremony on September 24, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that “the interests of China and the United States are deeply intertwined, and there is plenty of room for us to work together.” CMB was founded in 1914 with support from the Rockefeller Foundation. In the years that followed, distinguished physicians and medical educators crossed the ocean to China, bringing with them a modern, science-based approach to medicine and helping establish Peking Union Medical College and PUMCH. Their work at PUMCH not only contributed to the development of modern medicine in China, but also became an important part of their own distinguished professional journeys. Over the past century, PUMCH has drawn on leading international medical ideas and practices, trained generations of medical professionals in China, and served as an important platform for U.S.-China medical exchange.

▲ZHANG Shuyang, President of PUMCH, delivers remarks and a keynote presentation

▲Monica M. Bertagnolli, President of the National Academy of Medicine, delivers remarks and a keynote presentation

▲Roger I. Glass, President of the CMB Foundation, delivers a keynote presentation

At the U.S.-China medical dialogue, ZHANG Shuyang, President of PUMCH; Monica M. Bertagnolli, President of the National Academy of Medicine and Chair of the NAM Council; and Roger I. Glass, President of the CMB Foundation, delivered keynote presentations.

President Zhang emphasized the deep historical roots of U.S.-China medical collaboration and the important value of continued medical exchange and collaboration for both countries. Looking ahead, she proposed further academic exchange and professional collaboration around shared health priorities such as rare diseases and healthy aging, as well as stronger exchanges among medical professionals, particularly the younger generation, to open a new chapter in medical collaboration.

Dr. Bertagnolli remarked that courage, cooperation, and friendship can be contagious, too. She recognized China’s important contributions at pivotal moments in global public health, highlighted the role of PUMCH and CMB in fostering longstanding ties between the United States and China, and emphasized the importance of sustaining scientific and health collaboration between the two countries to address shared global challenges.

Dr. Glass noted that China has become an important force in global medical research. In the face of major health challenges shared around the world, he emphasized the importance of the United States and China continuing to learn from one another and work together.

▲Barbara J. Stoll, Executive Vice President of the CMB Foundation, delivers remarks

▲Charles M. Wiener, President of Johns Hopkins Medicine International, gives a keynote presentation

▲J. Michael Millis, Professor of Surgery and Vice Chair of Global Surgery at the University of Chicago, gives a keynote presentation

Barbara J. Stoll, Executive Vice President of the CMB Foundation, reflected on the century-long relationship between CMB and PUMCH and commended PUMCH’s achievements in clinical care, education, and research. She emphasized that “friendship builds trust, and trust enables meaningful and lasting collaboration,” and encouraged practical collaboration across a broad range of areas.

Charles M. Wiener, President of Johns Hopkins Medicine International, traced the profound influence of the Johns Hopkins model on PUMCH’s early development and reflected on the history of two-way medical exchange between the United States and China. J. Michael Millis, Professor of Surgery and Vice Chair of Global Surgery at the University of Chicago, reviewed the historical ties between the two institutions and called for further strengthening their academic connections.

▲Young scholars in discussion

The hope of U.S.-China relations lies in the people, and the future lies in the youth. A dedicated session for young scholars was therefore included in the program. Young medical professionals from both countries shared their experiences in cross-border collaboration, while participants discussed ways to sustain bilateral medical exchange, promote two-way mobility of medical talent, and jointly address shared health challenges. The discussions highlighted the vitality of medical exchange as it is carried forward by a new generation.

▲Carlos del Rio, Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Emory University and the International Secretary of the National Academy of Medicine, delivers the closing presentation

During the closing session, Carlos del Rio, Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Emory University and the International Secretary of the National Academy of Medicine, delivered a presentation titled “The Path Forward.” He spoke highly of PUMCH’s leading role in U.S.-China medical exchange and noted that practical collaboration in medicine can contribute to world peace. President Zhang said that PUMCH looks forward to deepening mutual trust with leading U.S. medical institutions, continuing constructive and practical collaboration, and working together to advance human health.

Dr. Glass concluded by quoting Confucius: “Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?” Expressing his appreciation for the gathering, he described the event as an important new starting point for the next century of U.S.-China medical collaboration.

Medicine is a common language that transcends borders, and people-to-people medical exchange remains a valuable bridge between nations. The event not only looked back on more than a century of mutual learning between the U.S. and Chinese medical communities, but also provided a timely example of how people-to-people engagement can deepen understanding and expand exchange.

At this new starting point, PUMCH will continue to work with its U.S. medical partners to strengthen the bridges of academic collaboration, advance practical initiatives that benefit people’s health, and make further contributions to the health and well-being of people in both countries.