Shanghai Medical College Fudan University marked its 99th founding anniversary on October 22 with a rich lineup of commemorative events, including the launch of a global alumni flag relay, the inauguration of a memorial exhibition honoring founding pioneers Dr Yan Fuqing and Chen Tongsheng, and the official release of the first announcement for its upcoming centenary celebration.
Throughout its 99-year journey, the college has nurtured 48 academicians and achieved a series of groundbreaking medical advancements, effectively addressing numerous complex and intractable clinical conditions. Upholding its timeless mission of serving public health and national rejuvenation, the college is formulating its long-term development blueprint for the next century and pioneering a modern medical education model within a comprehensive university framework. It strives to build a world-class medical school with distinctive Chinese characteristics and reach new heights in global medical development.
“The college’s centenary development must be positioned within the national strategy of advancing Healthy China 2035 and the broader mission of national rejuvenation,” remarked Wu Zhengyi from the college leadership. The anniversary ceremony featured the unveiling of the Yan Fuqing and Chen Tongsheng memorial exhibition, the global launch of the alumni flag relay themed Zhengyi Mingdao: A Centenary Legend, and the official publication of the centenary announcement, officially kicking off comprehensive preparations for the college’s 100th anniversary.
Wu stated that the college will align its development with the six core capabilities specified in the national health strategy, systematically exploring answers to three fundamental questions: what kind of world-class medical school to build, what caliber of medical talents to cultivate, and how to undertake national strategic responsibilities. The college inherits its profound institutional legacy, showcases century-long developmental achievements, and advances value-oriented medical education. It disseminates the pioneering stories of its foundational contributions to China’s modern medical education, enriches cultural education initiatives, strengthens professional ethics and patriotism training, and passes down time-honored medical mentorship traditions. While honoring its founding heritage, the college embraces innovation, advances high-quality developmental projects, and remains committed to public welfare and social service. Under the guidance of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the Hongqiao Medical Innovation Park will further enhance comprehensive service capabilities, while flagship cultural programs support holistic talent cultivation. Through interdisciplinary and cross-industry collaboration, the college bolsters fundamental medical research, conquers major clinical challenges, empowers Shanghai’s urban health development, and contributes to the construction of a robust education system and Healthy China initiative.
As a precious spiritual legacy for the entire college community, the memorial exhibition draws on authoritative historical archives to restore the life stories and educational philosophies of the two founding trailblazers, serving as an immersive platform to inherit and carry forward the college’s noble spiritual ethos.
College leaders further elaborated on the forward-looking talent cultivation philosophy. As modern medical development blurs the traditional boundaries between clinical practice, scientific research and technological entrepreneurship, contemporary medical talents are required to possess interdisciplinary comprehensive capabilities. “Medical students must first uphold firm professional ideals and master solid clinical competencies to deliver high-quality patient care,” Wu emphasized. “Based on rigorous clinical training, students need to engage with cutting-edge medical research, emerging technologies and industrial innovation.” The college is integrating artificial intelligence into modern medical education and building a “stem-cell-style” talent training system, fostering adaptable, innovative, interdisciplinary elites who excel in both clinical treatment and technological breakthroughs, and support national scientific and technological self-reliance.
The Hongqiao Medical Innovation Park constitutes the core of the college’s century-long developmental blueprint. Situated in Hongqiao International Central Business District, the park’s first-phase construction is scheduled to commence by the end of this year. Strategically located for industrial and technological integration, the park aims to deepen the convergence of medical education, scientific research and industrial transformation. It will serve as a frontier innovation hub that connects the college’s talent cultivation system, scientific research strengths and industrial innovation chains, bridging laboratory research, clinical application and industrial commercialization.