On September 5, the Sino-German Academic Exchange Week for medical students, also known as the Sino-German Medical Summer Program, concluded in Shanghai. Hosted by the Tongji University School of Medicine (TUSM) and organized by its affiliated East Hospital, the inspiring two-week program brought together 28 students and 15 professors from leading German universities, including Bonn, Cologne, Marburg, Tübingen, and Heidelberg, alongside students from the Sino-German Experimental Program in Clinical Medicine and faculty from the School of Medicine, the Department of German, and the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University.

Following last year’s success, the program expanded participation and enriched its academic and practical components. Centered on “Medical Innovation and Cross-Cultural Collaboration”, it showcased advances in oncology, cardiology, neurology, psychiatry, and rehabilitation through keynote lectures, hospital and enterprise visits, and cultural activities, aiming to strengthen Sino-German collaboration in education, research, and clinical practice. Topics such as digital healthcare, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary medical-engineering research were addressed by experts including Prof. Andreas Heinz (University of Tübingen), Prof. Peter Huber (University Hospital Heidelberg), Prof. Bernd Weber (University of Bonn), Prof. Thomas Worzfeld (University of Marburg), and Prof. Marc Tittgemeyer (Max Planck Institute, University of Cologne).

Participants visited Tongji-affiliated health institutions, including East Hospital, the Fourth People’s Hospital, Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, the Pudong District Mental Health Center, and the Anting Community Health Center, with the opportunity to tour clinical departments, observe surgical procedures, attend case discussions, use locally developed virtual teaching and VR-assisted rehabilitation platforms, and join interdisciplinary art therapy workshops. Visits to the Siemens Healthineers (Shanghai) and the German Center (Taicang) provided insights into German enterprises’ localized innovations in medical technology. These exchanges set the stage for future collaboration in areas such as joint laboratory development and dual-mentor training programs. Participants also delved into the history of Tongji University, experienced traditional Chinese medicine culture through acupuncture, massage, and Baduanjin exercises, and explored the vibrant Jiangnan culture in the water town of Zhujiajiao.

“It brought me into the heart of China's medical environment and allowed me to see firsthand how different healthcare systems operate. The visits to the local community health center and mental health center were truly inspiring. It was impressive to see how organized and compassionate grassroots medical care is in China,” said Gregor Steinhardt from Hannover Medical School. Chengbi Wu, a Chinese student from the 2021 intake of the Sino-German Joint Experimental Program, shared: “Learning with German students improved my German proficiency and developed my cross-cultural collaboration and innovation abilities.”

Prof. Jialin Zheng, Dean of TUSM, emphasized the program’s role in strengthening students’ professional competencies and cross-cultural skills while paving the way for joint training, research, and faculty exchanges. Mr. Wen Yin, Director of Tongji University’s International Exchange and Cooperation Office, emphasized the university’s century-long ties with Germany as a bridge for cultural and scientific exchange, with continued commitment to substantive collaboration. Prof. Christine J. Bruns, Vice President of the University Hospital of Cologne and a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, noted that the program would become a new paradigm for Sino-German collaboration in education and research. Prof. Harald Renz from the University of Marburg commended the program for providing a platform that fosters in-depth exchanges and supports global medical innovation.

Since 2021, Tongji University has been running the Sino-German Joint Experimental Program in Clinical Medicine, upholding its century-old tradition of German exchange and cooperation, and is committed to cultivating medical talents with international perspectives. In May 2025, the first batch of the program completed a curriculum-required field trip to Germany. Tongji University School of Medicine will continue to expand partnerships, promote Sino-German medical education to wider domains, deeper levels, and higher standards, and inject youthful vigor and intellectual support into building a community of common health for mankind.