Peking University Health Science Center 100 Year Anniversary Congratulatory Remarks

Victor Dzau, MD

October 26, 2012

　　I feel very privileged to be here to celebrate this momentous occasion, speaking on behalf of the international universities present. Today, we celebrate with you the 100th year of the first medical school in China to have a curriculum built around Western medicine– what is now the Peking University Health Science Center.

　　China is very special to me; it is the country of my birth, the place where I spent the early years of my life, and so it gives me immense pride to see the growth and success of this country.  Today’s large international presence reflects the global stature of academic medicine in China – specifically at PUHSC – and the respect academic institutions everywhere have for PUHSC.  Indeed, PUHSC is among the most important academic health systems in all of Asia – a real player among global AHSCs.  So on behalf of all the international universities in attendance, we congratulate you on this historic occasion.

　　PUHSC has been a trailblazer in many areas.  As Peking Medical School and later, Beijing Medical College, it played a key role in China’s modernization.  Reincorporated into Peking University and renamed in 2000, PUHSC is home to a key national laboratory and eleven ministry laboratories; and more recently established both clinical and translational research institutes.  Executive Vice President Ke Yang has also led reforms in medical education.

　　China and the US face similar challenges in healthcare – access, quality and affordability.  Both our countries have undertaken historic healthcare reforms.  Both systems are in need of innovation.  AHSCs like PUHSC are places of innovation.

　　With 6 schools and 8 university hospitals – plus additional teaching hospitals – PUHSC is poised to advance China’s healthcare system through excellent patient care, research, and education; addressing the health needs of China and globally.  Many of you know I have written and spoken widely about the importance of Academic Health Centers in leading the transformation of medicine and health.  PUHSC is leading the way in this transformation.

　　Duke University is very proud of its special relationship with PUHSC.  In 2007, Professor Ke Yang and I led a series of exchanges between our two institutions that resulted in the signing of a seven-year agreement – a strategic partnership targeting significant opportunities of mutual benefit.

　　Our joint vision was to advance health and healthcare in China, the US and globally.  Areas of partnership included healthcare delivery, education, clinical research, and global health.  In Cardiovascular disease, thanks to the China Medical Board, we have undertaken clinical and research training programs.  In Cancer, Dr. Kim Lyerly from our Cancer Institute is engaged in a number of collaborations with PUHSC faculty.  In Aging, Dr Zeng Yi, who has appointments at Duke and PUHSC, is leading the “Chinese Healthy Longevity Study,” which will enroll 15,000 Chinese centenarians and is funded by NIA with matching funds from a Chinese Foundation and MOH.

　　We have also collaborated in healthcare management training.  In 2007, we hosted Peking University hospital CEOs at Duke for an intensive course, during which they met with top DUHS leaders to discuss strategic areas from supply chain to quality reporting and safety, to clinical service lines.  We are now exploring a joint Duke-PUHSC program.

　　In 2008, when the Peking University Clinical Research Institute was formed, Duke was an early advisor, along with the George Institute.  Now PUCRI is becoming a world-class academic clinical research organization.  The Duke Global Health Institute and PUHSC initiated the Duke/Peking University Global Health Diploma in 2009.  More recently, again with the George Institute, DGHI and PUKSC launched the China Center of Excellence in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Diseases to support population-based research.

　　In conclusion, Duke Medicine is extremely proud of our partnership with PUHSC.  We look forward to renewing and strengthening it for years to come.  It is clear to me PUHSC will be vital to China’s future, and the future of global health and medicine.  Again, on behalf of all international universities, congratulations!

　　今天能够在这里庆祝这个重要时刻，并代表在座的北医的海外大学合作伙伴在此发言，我倍感荣幸。祝贺北医——中国第一所开设西医课程的医学院——迎来她的百岁生日。

　　中国对我来说有着特殊意义，我出生在这里，并在这里度过了我的早年生活。看到这个国家的发展与成功，我感到无比自豪。今天各国大学齐聚一堂，正显示了中国医学，特别是北医在全球的地位；各校在此相聚，正是为了表示对贵校的敬意。事实上，北医是全亚洲最重要的教育研究性医疗体系之一，在全球教育研究性医疗体系中扮演重要的角色。在此，我谨代表出席的各国大学，在这个历史性时刻向你们表示祝贺！

　　北医在许多领域都是开拓者。从北京医学专门学校到后来的北京医学院，她在中国的现代化进程中扮演了重要角色。2000年合并入北京大学后，它拥有了二个国家重点试验室，29个部级重点实验室，后来又建成了临床研究所和转换医学研究所。北大常务副校长、医学部常务副主任柯杨担当了医学教育领导者的重任。

　　中国与美国在医疗卫生方面面临相同的挑战——可及性、服务质量和支付能力。两国都采取了重大的医疗改革措施，两种医疗体制都需要革新，北医与教育研究性医疗体系都是创新之地。

　　北医拥有6个学院，8个附属医院，还有一些教学医院，他们一直致力于以优秀的医疗服务、医学研究和医学教育来推动中国卫生体制的进步，服务于中国的卫生需求以至全球的卫生需求。在座的各位知道我在文章中和演讲中多次提到医疗学术中心引领医学与卫生服务的变革，而北大医学部正引领着这一变革。

　　杜克大学一直以与北医的密切交流而深感骄傲。2007年，柯杨教授与我领导了两校之间的系列交流活动，并签署了一个七年协议，结成战略伙伴关系，以寻求双方的重大发展机遇。

　　我们共同的目标是促进中国、美国以及全球健康与卫生服务。这一伙伴关系覆盖了卫生保健服务、医学教育、临床研究和全球卫生等领域。在心血管疾病方面，我们在中华医学基金会的支持下设立了临床与研究培训项目。在癌症方面，杜克大学癌症研究所的Kim Lyerly博士与北医的同行进行了系列合作。在老龄化方面，在两校都有任职的Zeng Yi 博士正领导着“中国健康长寿研究”，这一项目将研究15，000名中国百岁老人，项目由美国老年研究所（NIA）和中国卫生部以及一个中国基金会共同支持。

　　我们还在卫生管理人员培训方面进行了合作。2007年，杜克大学举办了北医培训班，培训中方的医院院长与杜克大学医疗体系的领导者们讨论了供应链、质量报告、安全、临床服务链等领域的问题。我们现在正在寻求合作建立杜克-北医联合项目。

　　2008年北京大学临床研究所建立时，杜克大学与乔治研究所担任了早期顾问工作。现在，临床研究所正成长为一个世界一流的临床学术研究机构。2009年，杜克全球卫生研究所与北医共同发起了杜克-北大全球卫生课程。最近，杜克全球卫生研究所和北医又与乔治研究所共同启动了中国心血管与肺部疾病研究中心来支持大规模人群研究。

　　最后，我想说杜克医学院及医疗体系对与北医的合作深感自豪！我们期待着进一步加强合作，开创合作的崭新局面。毫无疑问，对中国的未来来说，对全球卫生健康事业来说，北医的地位举足轻重。再一次，我代表在座的各国大学，祝贺你们！