On the morning of July 22, the Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (ZCH) inaugurated its Summer School on the theme of “Adolescent Medicine: Good Health and Well-being”. Inspired by the SDGs, this Summer School lasts for two weeks and focuses on adolescent medicine, a field of studies that is much overlooked but nonetheless potential and highly relevant to the immediate health of youth and the long-term well-being of the world.
The Summer School is made possible by the strong capacity for clinical training and medical studies of the School of Pediatrics of Zhejiang University. Comprised of a series of lectures, workshops, and hands-on practices given or guided by world-class scientists, researchers, and clinical staff, it aims at promoting state-of-the-art knowledge of adolescent medicine and cultivating future talents in pediatrics.
As an inclusive program that opens to all student interested in medicine regardless of their background and nationality, the Summer School received over 90 applications and eventually enrolled about 22 students, from prestigious medical schools of universities such as Imperial College London (UK), Mahidol University (Thailand), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Zhejiang University, Fudan University, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
The opening ceremony heard several welcome addresses by hospital leaders and medical experts, including Prof. SHU Qiang, CCP Secretary of ZCH, Prof. FU Junfen, President of ZCH, Prof. MA Daqing, Executive Vice Dean of the School of Pediatrics, Prof. MAO Jianhua, Vice President of ZCH, and Prof. Constantin Polychronakos, a guest professor from McGill University (Canada). Besides extending heartfelt congratulations and a warm welcome to students from home and abroad, they expressed expectations that students take this opportunity to broaden their horizons, develop friendship, and commit themselves to the cause of global health.
The Summer School encompasses such a wide range of topics that each contributes a special aspect of adolescent medicine. Puberty and mini-puberty are talked over; adolescent quality of life is discussed; obesity and cardiovascular risks in adolescence are considered; developmental diseases in kidney, nerves, and limbs are touched upon; and so forth.
The very first lecture of the Summer School was given by Prof. FU Junfen, who is a leading endocrinologist in China and the incumbent President of ZCH, on the topic of “Puberty and Mini-puberty”. Her lecture provided students with a comprehensive understanding of puberty, including its physiological and psychological changes, as well as the factors influencing its onset and development. Informative and enthusiastic, she taught not only the signs and symptoms, normal and abnormal development of puberty, but also the potential risks and consequences associated with early or delayed puberty. Encouraged by her interactive manner of teaching, many of the students claimed to have developed great interest in exploring puberty and adolescent medicine.
Another remarkable lecture was delivered by Dr. BAI Guannan, who is a principal investigator at ZCH, on the topic of “Quality of Life in Adolescents”. In the lecture, she provided an overview of health-related quality of life, discussed methodologies for its measurement in adolescents, and illustrated the application of quality of life metrics in clinical practice and research involving adolescent populations. She also engaged the students in practical exercises, inviting them to complete questionnaires that assess their own quality of life. Her lecture was characterized with substantial interaction, stimulating discussion, and numerous insights and inspiration.
In addition to the heated discussion in class, post-class feedback from students was also very positive. Abdul Rafay, a fourth-year medical student at Imperial College London, wrote an email saying that the lecture was “both engaging and thought-provoking, especially in highlighting the multiracial aspects that contribute to a good quality of life.” Moreover, he conveyed a keen interest in remotely participating in Dr. BAI’s research projects on quality of life at ZCH.
In addition to attending lectures, students also participated in various cultural activities held in and out of the hospital, including experiences of Chinese physical exercise and visits to museums of traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese history.
On the afternoons of July 23 and 24, students went to the hospital gym for baduanjin, a traditional Chinese physical exercise. Standing in rows and following the coaches’ guidance, students felt their bodies relaxed and their minds refreshed. Piraseat Rordzanabidikun, an undergraduate medical student from Thailand, was extremely fascinated with Chinese philosophy of healthcare. “In a world predominated by Western medicine,” he said, “Chinese medicine appears so different and unique. It gives importance to inner balance and harmony, and worths more attention from us.”
On the afternoon of July 25, students paid a visit to the Zhejiang Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where they were guided through exhibitions on the history, philosophy, therapy, and medicament of traditional Chinese medicine. Many international students marveled at the time-honored history of Chinese medicine and the idea that common plants and minerals can be used for medical purposes. Some were also intrigued by acupuncture and cupping therapy, wishing that they would have a chance to try traditional Chinese therapy in the future.
The Summer School proved a fruitful and unforgettable experience for students. Wong Tsz Yeung, a freshwoman at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, shared her experience at the Summer School with her fellow students, which goes as such: “It is such an amazing experience to attend this summer school, studying and growing with medical students from various nations for two weeks. With the well-planned schedule of lectures, visits, and practical courses, I am equipped with more knowledge and practical experiences to deal with childhood diseases and contribute to sustainable development goals in the future.”