Core Positioning and National Honors
Founded in 1866, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology is a comprehensive public hospital directly under the administration of the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, an affiliated hospital (the First Clinical College) of a national "Double First-Class" university, one of the first national Grade A tertiary hospitals in China, and one of the Top 100 Hospitals in China. It has been awarded the National May 1st Labor Certificate and the title of National Civilized Unit. The Communist Party of China Central Committee has honored it as an Advanced Primary-Level Party Organization and a National Advanced Collective in the Fight against COVID-19. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee has paid a video call condolence to the hospital, and the former Premier of the State Council has visited the hospital for investigation and research.
Century-Old Historical Evolution
With a centuries-old history, the hospital has maintained its vitality through constant renewal. Its predecessor was "Hankow Renji Hospital", founded in 1866, which implies "benevolence heals the world". In 1928, the hospital moved to a new location and merged with other institutions to operate jointly, renaming itself "Hankow Union Hospital". In 1950, it signed an agreement with Wuhan University Hospital to establish the Wuhan University-Union Cooperative Hospital, and added the name "Teaching Hospital of Wuhan University (Tongji) Medical College". In 1953, the hospital's assets were transferred to state ownership, and it gradually became a teaching and affiliated hospital of the newly established Central South Tongji Medical College. Since 1978, when Wuhan Medical College (renamed Tongji Medical University in 1985) was placed under the administration of the former Ministry of Health, the hospital has become a hospital directly under the Ministry of Health and a secondary budget management unit. In May 2000, Tongji Medical University merged with Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Wuhan Urban Construction College to form Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and the hospital was renamed "Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology".
Comprehensive Strength and Disciplinary Advantages
The hospital ranks among the top-tier hospitals in China in terms of comprehensive strength. At present, it has 4 campuses, 49 clinical, medical technology and platform departments, 34 national key clinical specialties (including construction projects) and 10 national key disciplines, and serves as an output unit for the construction of national regional medical centers co-sponsored by the National Health Commission and the provincial government. It has a top-tier talent team led by various national high-level talents such as recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. Its clinical medicine has entered the top 1‰ of ESI globally and has been selected as a "Double First-Class" discipline by the Ministry of Education. For 5 consecutive years, it has been rated A+ in the performance evaluation of national tertiary public hospitals, ranking among the top 2% in China. In 2022, it was the only medical institution to be awarded the 9th Hubei Provincial People's Government Quality Award.
Advanced Medical Technologies and Service Capacity
Guided by advanced technologies, the hospital is committed to serving the general public. Its research and application of diseases and technologies such as solar dermatitis, Shen Di's disease, hypokalemic periodic paralysis, three-dimensional ultrasound imaging, and small splint fixation are pioneering in the world. In recent years, its biotechnology represented by CAR-T, organ transplantation technology represented by heart transplantation, and minimally invasive technologies represented by interventional and laparoscopic procedures have all reached the top level in China. The total number of level-IV surgeries ranks among the top 10 in China, and it is the host institution of 16 provincial medical quality control centers. Innovative service models such as internet hospital, multi-disciplinary diagnosis and treatment, day-case diagnosis and treatment, and telemedicine have been vigorously developed. Its Chest Pain Center, Stroke Center, and Thrombus Prevention and Treatment Center have been recognized as national-level centers. The hospital has won the Gold Award in the Customer Service Category of the Asian Hospital Management Awards and the Gold Award for Volunteer Service from the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China. It is equipped with a large number of internationally advanced medical equipment, including proton therapy systems, da Vinci surgical robots, PET-MR, PET-CT, TOMO Radixact, CyberKnife, and intraoperative MR. The hospital receives nearly 7 million outpatients, admits more than 400,000 inpatients, and performs about 160,000 inpatient surgeries annually.
Integration of Medical Education and Talent Cultivation
Promoting the integration of medical treatment and education, the hospital has nurtured numerous outstanding medical talents. As the First Clinical College of a "Double First-Class" university, it has a complete academic education and continuing education system covering medical undergraduates, postgraduates, advanced trainees, and standardized residency training. It has been selected as a national clinical teaching demonstration base, a national experimental teaching demonstration center, a national standardized residency training demonstration base, and a special practical teaching base for fighting the epidemic. A number of teachers have been honored with titles such as National Model of Teaching and Educating, National Distinguished Teacher, and Baosteel Excellent Teacher. In recent years, the hospital has successively won the Special Award for Teaching Achievements in Hubei Provincial Universities, the First Prize in the National Young Teachers' Teaching Competition in Universities, and the First Prize in the National University Teachers' Teaching Innovation Competition. It has more than 5,000 students of various types, including undergraduates, postgraduates, standardized trainees, advanced trainees, and international students, who have won many honors such as the Special Award for Baosteel Excellent Students and the Gold Award in the "Challenge Cup" competition.
Scientific Research Innovation and Achievement Transformation
Driven by innovation, the hospital strives to be a first-class institution. It has established 8 provincial and ministerial key laboratories, as well as 20 provincial clinical research centers and engineering research centers. In recent years, it has taken the lead in 34 national major science and technology projects and national key research and development programs, and has undertaken more than 100 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China for 12 consecutive years. Nine of its research achievements have won the National Science and Technology Progress Award (as the leading unit), and 91 achievements have won provincial and ministerial special awards and first prizes. Many individuals in the hospital have been awarded honors such as the National Innovation and Excellence Medal, the Ho Leung Ho Lee Award, etc.
Public Welfare Commitment and Social Responsibilities
Adhering to the public welfare nature, the hospital is dedicated to helping the people. It has actively participated in health poverty alleviation, mobile medical services, and the treatment of public health emergencies such as COVID-19 infections. It has been awarded titles such as National Advanced Collective in the Fight against COVID-19, Advanced Primary-Level Party Organization, China Poverty Eradication Award, and Advanced Collective in Earthquake Relief and Flood Control in the National Health System.
Hospital Philosophy and Future Vision
On the new journey of advancing Chinese-style modernization, Union Hospital will continue to adhere to the hospital-running philosophy of "benevolence heals the world, unity and sincerity bring people together", shoulder the lofty mission of "promoting humanitarianism, dedicating to medicine, and serving humanity", carry forward the Union spirit of "rigorousness, truth-seeking, and striving for perfection", implement the "Five Major Strategies" and put into practice the "Ten Major Plans". It will forge ahead towards the grand goal of building a world-class medical center with Chinese characteristics, make new contributions to safeguarding people's life and health in an all-round and full-cycle manner, and promoting the high-quality development of the health and medical cause.(Data updated as of January 15, 2025)
