To further reinforce and consolidate collaborations with leading Canadian medical schools, from October 20 to 24, Chancellor Fan Xianqun of Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitySchool of Medicine (SJTUSM), Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, successfully led a delegation to visit the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and the University of Ottawa. Accompanying him were Xia Qiang, President of Renji Hospital Affiliated to SJTUSM, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Liu Fang, Academician of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, as well as colleagues from the SJTUSM’s Academic Affairs Office, Development and Liaison Office, Office of Academic Planning and Development, International Affairs Office, and Renji Hospital. This visit not only continued the longstanding tradition of collaboration between SJTUSM and top Canadian medical institutions but also resulted in multiple consensuses in joint research, talent cultivation, and medical education reform, injecting fresh momentum into China-Canada medical education cooperation.
At the University of Toronto, the delegation received a warm welcome from Vice-President and Provost Trevor Young and Associate Vice-President for International Relations Alex Mihailidis. Trevor Young emphasized the importance of establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership with SJTUSM, while Alex Mihailidis reviewed past collaborations in neuroscience, oncology, and other fields and shared prospects for joint efforts in precision medicine, digital health, and other cutting-edge areas. He noted that the University of Toronto and SJTU have carried out numerous fruitful collaborations, and the current visit would further deepen strategic cooperation in the medical field. Professor Peter Kertes, Director of the Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, introduced the operation, service model, and research collaboration system of his institution, expressing hope to establish ongoing cooperation with SJTUSM in ophthalmic clinical research and physician training. During the visit, the delegation paid tribute to the statue of Dr. Norman Bethune, jointly commemorating the medical pioneer who symbolizesthe friendship between China and Canada. This highlighted the shared mission of the two institutions in upholding the humanitarian spirit and promoting the development of medicine.
Discussion of Professor Fan Xianqun with Professor Alex Mihailidis (third from the left).
Professor Fan Xianqun and Professor Alex Mihailidis exchanged gifts.
The delegation paid respect to the statue of Dr. Bethune.
At McMaster University, the delegation engaged in warm discussions with Bonny Ibhawoh, Vice-Provost (International Affairs) and other officials. As the birthplace of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) teaching model, McMaster has a long-standing history of collaboration with SJTUSM. Over the past decade, SJTUSM has annually sent around 30 students for summer exchanges and 20 faculty members for advanced training at McMaster, with its innovative educational philosophies deeply integrated into the university’s clinical teaching reforms. Professor Paul O’Byrne, Dean of McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences, held in-depth discussions withChancellor Fan Xianqun and his team on topics such as AI-assisted medical education and interdisciplinary cohort research. Both sides agreedto furtherformalize their partnership through a memorandum of understanding, outlining comprehensive and practical cooperation in graduate joint training, clinical research, medical engineering, and artificial intelligence.
Bonny Ibhawoh (third from the right in the front row) and others took a group photo with the delegation.
Fan Xianqun exchanged gifts with Paul O'Byrne.
The delegation took a group photo with the team from McMaster University Medical School.
At the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, a long-term strategic partner of SJTUSM, the delegation met with the management team led by Dean Melissa Forgie. Both sides highly praised the achievements of the Ottawa-Shanghai Joint School of Medicine (OSJSM) over the past decade, a program that has trained hundreds of medical professionals with international perspectives and strong clinical competence. Fan and Forgie reached new agreements on deepening the integration of AI in medical education and joint training of public health professionals, signing a cooperation enhancement agreement witnessed by Minister Counselor Deng Yonghui of Science & Technology Affairs from the Chinese Embassy in Canada. During the visit, Cameron Love, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), affiliated with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, and Vice President Xue Wei of Renji Hospital, participated in discussions on hospital collaboration and exchange. The delegation also toured Ottawa Hospital, meeting with Professor David Maberley’s ophthalmology team to explore clinical technology and scientific research collaboration initiatives.
Fan Xianqun participated in a discussion and exchange with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa.
Fan Xianqun, on behalf ofSJTUSM, signed a cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa.
Deng Yonghui, Minister Counselor of Science & Technology Affairs from the Chinese Embassy in Canada (third from right in the back row) and others witnessed the signing.
A group photo oftheSJTUSM team andtheUniversity of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine team.
During the visit, the SJTUSM Canada Alumni Association was officially established.
The visit took place at a pivotal moment for SJTUSM, as the university is both implementing key initiatives under its 14th Five-Year Plan and preparing for the 15th Five-Year Plan. It fully demonstrates the SJTUSM’s proactive approach and sense of responsibility in advancing toward a world-class medical school. Through high-level dialogues and practical cooperation, the delegation further strengthened strategic partnerships with Canada’s top medical schools.
In the field of scientific research and innovation, the delegation explored collaborative platforms for precision medicine and digital health. In medical education, they deepened the integration of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and artificial intelligence applications. Flagship projects such as the OSJSM serve as benchmarks for optimizing the international training system for medical talent. These achievements not only enhance the quality of past collaborations but also lay a solid foundation for deepening global medical cooperation during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, reflecting the SJTUSM’s firm commitment to openness-driven development and innovation-led excellence.
Looking ahead, the SJTUSM will continue to refine its international education model, accelerate high-level collaborative research, joint talent cultivation, and coordinated medical technology innovation, advancing toward the goal of becoming a world-class medical school with global influence and providing a model for Chinese medical education on the world stage.
The Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto is a benchmark for medical education in Canada, consistently ranking first among Canadian medical schools for several years. Renowned for its integration of cutting-edge research and clinical practice, the faculty has shaped North American medical education standards and trained numerous Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine, representing the highest academic authority in Canadian medicine.
McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences is the birthplace of Problem-Based Learning (PBL), a methodology that has profoundly transformed modern medical education. Widely adopted by medical schoolsworldwide, PBL emphasizes active learning and interdisciplinary integration. Known as a pioneer in health sciences education, McMaster continues to lead international medical education reform through its innovative curriculum design.
The University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine is a pioneer of bilingual (English-French) medical education in North America, with a history spanning nearly 80 years. It is the only medical school in Canada offering a full curriculum in both English and French. Its organizational structure reflects Canada’s official bilingualism and is designed to train healthcare professionals with strong multicultural competence. The faculty’s clinical training system emphasizes community-based healthcare and a global health perspective.
