On March 18, the “IntMedEdu” international medical education program, hosted by the Hainan International Medical Center ofShanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), was officially launched with the support of the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone. A total of 62 outstanding medical students from 13 countries worldwide will commence a two-week advanced medical training program in Boao Lecheng. This marks a significant step forward forSJTUSM in advancing the internationalization of medical education and supporting the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Building the“Belt and Road”Medical Education Community
As a key part of SJTUSM’s international strategy, the“IntMedEdu” program is deeply integrated into the national“Belt and Road” Initiative (BRI). It builds a cross-national medical education platform through a“bringing in” and“going out” dual mechanism.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Professor Fang Yong, ViceChancellor of SJTUSM, emphasized:“In the context of globalization, cultivating medical leaders with an international vision is a crucial pillar for building a healthy China.”
By integrating the top academic resources of SJTUSM with the preferential medical policies of the Lecheng Pilot Zone, the program has developed a curriculum that covers cutting-edge fields such as bioinformatics, artificial intelligence in medicine, and real-world research. It offers internationalstudents invaluable opportunitiesto engage in face-to-face exchanges with China’s top medical experts.
Pioneering Healthcare Innovation in the Free Trade Port
Leveraging the policy advantages of Hainan Free Trade Port’s“medical special zone,” the“IntMedEdu” program innovatively integrates medical education with practicalexperience in the healthcare industry.
Yi Tuoxin, Deputy Director of the Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration, pointed out:“As the only‘medical special zone’ in China, Lecheng boasts a leading platform for the application of licensed medical devices and real-world data research.” This program’s curriculum includes a special“International Medical Innovation Practice” module, where participants will visit medical institutions in the Lecheng Pilot Zone to conduct on-site visits to China’s first clinical applications of urgently needed imported medical devices and witness the dynamic practice of China’s healthcare reform and innovation.
Establishing a New Model for Opening Up Higher Education
Nenad Filipovic, Director of the Science Fund of Serbia, expressed in his speech:“The‘IntMedEdu’ program opens up a new path for Sino-Serbian medical cooperation.” The program not only attracts international students but also emphasizes bilateral interaction: SJTUSM will send excellent faculty members to countries along the BRI to provide medical training, establishing a regular exchange mechanism for teachers and students. This“dual empowerment” model is a vivid example of SJTUSM’s implementation of the“Opinions on Accelerating and Expanding Education Opening to the Outside World in the New Era,” showcasing China’s proactive role in global health governance.
Charting a Blueprint for High-Quality Development in Medical Education
The Hainan International Medical Center of SJTUSM has clearly outlined its goal to establish the “IntMedEdu” international education program as a globally influential medical education brand. Over the next three years, the program will gradually expand its enrollment, covering regions such as ASEAN and BRICS countries, with a particular focus on developing interdisciplinary areas like digital health and precision medicine. The Hainan International Medical Center will leverage its role as a key platform to foster “chemistry” between Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s top-tier educational resources and the industrial advantages of the Lecheng Pilot Zone. The aim is to establish an international medical education center by 2030, radiating across Southeast Asia and providing strong talent support for the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port as an “International Medical and Health Innovation Island.”
Tong Tianlang, Deputy Director ofHainan International Medical Center, SJTUSM,said, “With the historical opportunity of building a Free Trade Port with Chinese characteristics in Hainan, the launch of the ‘IntMedEdu’ program is not only an innovative exploration of medical education models but also a strategic measure to support China’s broader opening-up. We will use this program as a lever to align China’s medical education standards with international norms, contributing China’s wisdom to building a global health and wellness community.”
The project has received strong support from the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan, which is cultivating international medical talent for the Free Trade Port and bringing together global healthcare resources in Boao Lecheng to provide an extensive international platform for the creation of a new ecological model for international tourism.
