ABOUT- WEST CHINA CENTER OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Between 1985 and 2000, the University went through a period of considerable development, beginning with the change of name to West China University of Medical Sciences (WCUMS) in May 1985.
As of June 2000, the University had eight schools: School of Basic Medicine, School of Stomatology, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Public Health, School of Pharmacy, School of Continuing Education, School of Forensic Medicine; four departments: Department of Foreign Languages, Department of Maternal and Children's Health, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Physical Education; three training centers: Health Science Training Center for Administrators, Pharmaceutical Management Training Center, Medical Continuing Education Training Center; four research centers: Birth Defects Monitoring Center of China, Perinatal Research Center, Dental Implantology Center of the Ministry of Health, and Evidence Based Medicine Center,12 research institutes, 27 research departments, five university hospitals, and one university pharmaceutical factory.
The principal teaching mission at WCUMS is undergraduate education, with postgraduate education a priority, and adult education and continuing education as vital extensions of this mission. The University strives constantly to improve the quality of its teaching and to upgrade the curriculum. By 2000, 15 programs had become provincial key programs and 29 programs had become university key programs.
Students are required to take the following oath:
"Medicine relates to people's health. People entrust their lives to us.
As I enter this shrine of medical wisdom, I make this solemn vow:
I will devote my life to the cause of medicine. I love my motherland. I will be loyal to the people. I will adhere to strict medical ethics. I will respect my teachers and observe discipline. I will study diligently and constantly in order to perfect my medical skills and to develop myself in all possible aspects - morally, intellectually and physically.
I determine to do my utmost to alleviate people's suffering caused by illness, and to improve their health. I will devote myself to the holy medical practice. I will heal the wounded and comfort the dying. I will spare no effort in serving my patients. I will strive all my life for the development of medical causes in my motherland and for the physical and mental health of humanity".
The four university hospitals were accredited as "excellent hospitals" by the State and Sichuan Province. The construction of five multi-media reading rooms has been completed.
In 1988 the programs in Medicine and Stomatology lengthened their curriculum from five to seven years. The brightest students were selected from the five year program to enter the seven year program, while the remainder remained in a five year program. As of 2000, 300 highly qualified individuals, proficient in clinical skills and English, have graduated from the seven-year program, which has received an excellent evaluation from the Ministry of Education.
The University has 12 five-year programs in Medicine, Stomatology, Preventive Medicine, Hygiene and Analysis, Forensic Medicine, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Technology, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Clinical Pharmacology, Maternal and Child Health, Science and Technology English. Elective courses in humanities and social sciences are also available to the students.
As of 2000, development of postgraduate education was well on its way with seven post-doctoral degree programs. The University has been approved by the Ministry of Education for accreditation of doctoral degrees in Basic Medicine, Bioengineering, Preventive Medicine, and Stomatology.
Continuing education is developing and expanding. Within the past few years, the first School of Medical Continuing Education in China and Pharmaceutical Management Training Center were established at the University and the new Qingyang campus was constructed for the development of adult education. They offer a wide range of programs approved at both State and Provincial level and graduate large numbers of medical professionals in various fields.
Research is also a priority at the University. Since 1985, nearly 2,000 research projects have been conducted with funding of RMB 60 million. The University has exceeded the national average of projects awarded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and has also obtained scientific research funding from other sources.
During this period many of the research projects have been recognized with awards, including 479 projects that have won the Scientific Research Achievement Prize. Among the many significant achievements, three new products have been developed and are being manufactured by the University Pharmaceutical Factory. They are: "Shengmai Injection", "Le Mai Granule" and "Triphaser Contraceptive Tablet", all of which have received awards. The CDIC artificial tooth implantation technique was acknowledged as one of the 100 achievements of the past decade by the Ministry of Public Health and has been promoted nationwide. The Dental Implantology Center has already developed into a comprehensive entity of science, education, industry and trade.
Another significant achievement lies in the successful development of new drugs which have earned approximately RMB 2.8 million. Researches on live-targeted interferonan ti-osteoporosis drug (XW-630), polynucleotide vaccine for hepatitis B/C and some anti-cancer drugs, such as quercetin and vaso-inhibitory factor, shows promise.
The University encourages its research team to share their findings and has seen a steady increase in the number of articles published in international journals. WCUMS compiled and published 14 academic journals, and among them the "WCUMS Journal", won a number of prizes and has been widely quoted.
It was the goal of WCUMS to rank among China's top caliber universities and to commit itself to the economic development of Sichuan Province. To achieve this goal, university officials devoted themselves to the development of key disciplines.
The University has four affiliated hospitals which serve as the centers for clinical medical education, clinical medical research, medical prevention, and medical services for Southwest China
Founded in 1892, newly built in 1940s, extended in 1950s and from then on, what would eventually become the First University Hospital is a well-equipped general hospital with a capacity of 1,235 beds and 286 clinical specialties. The hospital was elected the "Class A Hospital of the Highest Grade" in 1990 and is also listed among the "One Hundred Best Hospitals" of the Ministry of Health. It houses the International Clinical Epidemiological Network Second-level Training Center, the Pharmacology Research Base of Ministry of Public Health, the Sichuan Provincial Rehabilitation Center for Poliomyelitis, the Sichuan Provincial Rehabilitation Center for the Deaf, the Sichuan Provincial Center for Burns First-Aid, the Training Base for Critical Diseases of the Ministry of Health and the Base for the Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The Second University Hospital, based on the former Departments of OBS/GYN and Pediatrics, was founded in 1989. It is the largest Women's and Children's hospital in Southwest China. It enjoys the title of "Baby Friendly Hospital" awarded by the Ministry of Health and WHO. In 1998, it ranked among the highest "Grade A" hospitals for women and children in China. The Hospital has a capacity of 299 beds and 460 staff members. Also located in this hospital are the China Birth Defect Monitoring Center, the Prenatal Research Center, and the Emergency Center for Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Children.
Founded in 1917, the Hospital of Stomatology has the honor of being the earliest base for dental therapeutics and dental education in China. It now ranks among the ten best city hospitals of Sichuan Province. Currently, the Hospital has a capacity of 220 dental chairs and 507 staff members. In 1991, with the approval of Ministry of Public Health, the Dental Implantology Center was set up. It is the first of its kind that integrates teaching, research, clinical practice and production.
The Fourth University Hospital was first founded in 1976 under the name of the "Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Hospital" and was renamed in 1994. The Hospital has a capacity of 130 beds and over 150 staff members. Besides being a training base for doctors of occupational health and diseases, it also houses the Sichuan Provincial Occupational Toxication Base and Pneumoconiosis Diagnosis Group.
The University Hospitals all take pride in their strong foundation and high level of diagnosis and treatment. During the past decade, they have taken a lead in China and have reached advanced international standards, e.g. Stomatology. More than 5,000 patients have benefited from its tooth implantation technique. Examples can also be found in clinical medicine such as the clinical diagnosis and treatment of fundus diseases.
The patients come from provinces and regions in southwest China and northwest China, Taiwan Province, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as from Sichuan Province. Some patients are overseas Chinese and foreign guests who are visiting or working in Sichuan. A large number of these patients come with difficult and complicated diseases. In 1982, the First University Hospital successfully treated Machida Koono, a Japanese mountaineer who had been stranded by heavy snow in the mountains of Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Apart from saving life and fighting diseases, the four hospitals also offer professional guidance and provide assistance to more than 100 medical and health units in more than 60 cities and counties of Sichuan province alone, as well as to Shenzhen, Hainan, Macao, Xinjiang and Yunnan as well.
With the development of the medical and healthcare industry, the University Hospitals strive to better serve society. In 1993, a golden-card membership system of medical care was established in the medical service center of the First University Hospital. In 1999, the Gold Card Hospital was completed and began to provide special medical services for its members and to patients from overseas.
During the "WCUMS" period from 1985 - 2000, the University made all possible efforts for improvement. To this end, a great deal of emphasis has been put on the following:
1. Infrastructure
2. Renewal of facilities and equipment
3. Modernization of the library and access to information
4. The University archives
5. Computer education, audio-visual education and experimental animals
The new library facility was completed in 1983 and has since become the University's information service center. It has a CD-ROM retrieval system, Internet retrieval terminal, multi-media integrated management system and fully implemented computerized management system. The library has set up its own catalogue and literature database to enable reference to and inquiry on the Internet. The database has 80,000 bio-medical catalogues and literature titles and more than 5,000 standard MARC journals at home and abroad. Transfer to the libraries of 11 other medical colleges and universities in China resulted in both social benefits and economic returns. In 1996, the network connection of China Medical Information Net (CMINET) for the southwest part of China was established, which provides inter-connection between CERNET and the Internet.
The library is the largest biomedical library in Southwest China and owns more than 720,000 books and journals, including 3,600 journals in foreign languages and 1,600 in Chinese. It is equipped with 1,100 seats. Apart from the routine services offered, the library also offers courses in medical information retrieval.
The University Archives were set up in 1986 and were expanded in 1995. The Archives are responsible for the management, direction, supervision, collection, storage, and supply of the University's archives. Scientific research is carried out here and a management network has been established. Apart from the responsibilities mentioned above, the University Archives are responsible for the Exhibition Hall of University History.
With the development of modern science and technology, audio-visual education has gone through the three stages of films, videotapes and digital electronic materials. The University is Sichuan Province's "Excellent and Exemplary School in Audio-Visual Education".
The Laboratory Animal Center of WCUMS was established in 1984 and was ranked among the seven major national breeding sites. Between 1984 and 1990, the Center gradually established Grade I, Grade II and Grade III laboratory animal rearing facilities and set up a supporting system for breeding and production management. Meanwhile, technology rooms for microbiology genetics, parasitology, nutrition and veterinary medicine were built, together with a complete system to control, supervise, and guarantee production quality. Since 1990, special attention has been paid to the research on breeding and species-reserve technology for high-grade experimental animals and on repair and renewal of high-grade experimental-animal facilities, micro-organism examination, feed development, and animal experiments.
Apart from doing research, the Center provides more than 50,000 experimental animals annually for teaching and scientific research. It has been granted 26 certificates of quality, including eight grade three's for nude mice, one for feed, and grade one, grade two, and grade three certificates for animal experimental conditions. The Center provides experimental animals and their feed to not only the University, but also other units in Sichuan, Tibet, Gansu, Yunnan, Guizhou, Shanxi, and Chongqing etc.
Being open and international is a worldwide trend in higher education reform and development. It is also one of the major features of all top-rate universities. In order to be among these, WCUMS devotes much effort to international exchanges and cooperation for the benefit of its personnel and cooperative research work. Between 1985 and 2000 more than 3,000 were sent abroad for advanced studies. The University also signed cooperative agreements with 41 foreign colleges and universities, research institutes and foundations. During these years, the University has sent 13 medical teams to such countries as Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates, and invited 9,800 overseas specialists to Sichuan. Their coming has enlivened the academic atmosphere at the University and brought information on frontline science and technology.
In June 1999 the University's scholarship program for students from overseas was approved by the Ministry of Education. The University has also hosted international conferences and study classes. Considerable financial aid has been received from such organizations as World Bank, China Medical Board, CIDA, Rockefeller Foundation, HF, HOPE, WHO and Issa Industry etc. as well as government loans from World Bank and several foreign countries.
Cultural activities at WCUMS take various forms. The "Huaxi Culture and Art Festival", held in early summer, offers students an opportunity to participate in various contests, while "Charm of Autumn in Huaxi", held later in the year, is a theatrical event which also educates students on the importance of patriotism. Other performances include "Classic Folk Music Concert", "Cross-talk and Comic Play Evening", "Campus Singer Concert", "Lectures from Famous Writers', "Hi-FI Concert", and "Famous Vocalist Concert". These events are supplemented with art appreciation and other cultural/educational sessions throughout the year.
Each of the schools and individual departments has its own talent. From the School of Basic Medical Sciences (SBMS), the audience enjoys "Light of SBMS"; from the First School of Medicine (FSM), "Wind from FSM"; from the School of Pharmacy, "Autumn Ripples"; from the Foreign Languages Department, "The English Drama Festival"; from the School of Stomatology (SS), "Sound of SS"; from the School of Forensic Medicine, "Starry Night--Cross-talk and Comic Play Competition"; from the Department of Maternal and Child Care (DMCC), "Star of DMCC"; and from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, "Dancing Festival".
The social tradition at WCUMS is strong. As a medical university, WCUMS gives its students a strong sense of social responsibility and extends culture, science, technology, and health care to the surrounding area. The Volunteer Youth Service Program sends teams made up of teachers and students into rural, underprivileged areas to offer a variety of social and medical services to those in need. In the past several years, more than 45 teams of specialists and other personnel have gone out on such missions. The high quality of their services has been cited by the Youth League Central Committee, the Youth League Provincial Committee and the Youth League Municipal Committee.
Students have also volunteered their time during the summer vacation for social experiences. The Local Youth League, Residents' Committee and Family Member Committee at Dayi County, Chongzhou City, Jingjiang District and Wuhou District have all supported this practice. With their help, regular bases that provide social services have been set up and their efforts have been fruitful. Students who have served society in this way have gained a strong understanding of its importance.
Over the past several years, some 24,000 individuals have taken part in this effort and 18,000 patients have benefited directly from their services. 24,000 reports on social practice have been produced and 23 related projects have been completed. 37 teachers and students have been honored by Sichuan Province and Chengdu City and 16 teams have won national, provincial and/or municipal award. WCUMS has been awarded the title of "National Advanced Group in College Students' Social Practice" by the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, Ministry of Education and Youth League Central Committee two years in succession.
In November 1999, the University was designated by the Central Government as one of the one hundred key universities to receive major government support and concern for the 21st century under the "211 Project".
With the approval of the State Planning Commission, seven disciplines became key disciplines of the "211 Project". They are: Clinical Dentistry, Pathology and Pathophysiology, Surgery, Medicine, Occupational Health and Environmental Hygiene, and Ophthalmology.
As of 2000, or 90 years of its existence, the University had turned out a total of 35,884 students. Of these, more than 33,000 were after 1949, including almost 3,000 post-graduates. Between 1985 and 2000, the University's greatest growth period, the number of post-graduate students rose from 500 to 1246.
The University has a history of nearly one century, during which time it has experienced many difficulties and hardships and experienced frustration on the path to glory. In their words: "It is a mirror that reflects the history of China's higher education. Showered in the first glimmer of dawn, the old, yet new WCCMS, shines with youth and vigor. Nurtured by our motherly Huaxi, we take pride in having a mother great as such. We would spare nothing to bring her a more beautiful future. May WCUMS be blessed!"
