As we celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2025, we look back on one of the defining moments of their time at UChicago. In 2021, at the height of global travel restrictions, international flights between China and the U.S. were scarce, and the path to campus was uncertain.

With extraordinary coordination by the UChicago Center in Beijing, and in partnership with our travel agency Meiya and Asiana Airlines, we successfully organized a charter flight from Hangzhou/Changchun to Chicago—making it possible for over 240 students to safely return to campus. The photo above, taken at the Hangzhou airport before departure, captures the strength and solidarity of that moment.

Today, we celebrate not only their academic achievements, but also their perseverance. Congratulations to the resilient Class of 2025!

In April 2025, two delegations from UChicago Medicine—comprising faculty, a resident, and a medical student—participated in multi-disciplinary academic engagements in Beijing and Wuhan. These visits, organized by the WUMER Project and supported by the UChicago Center in Beijing, advanced collaborative efforts in emergency medicine, geriatrics and palliative care, continuing medical education, and clinical training. Outcomes included plans for future exchanges, collaborative research, and leadership in expanding the ECHO education model across China.

Beijing: On April 12, Drs. David Beiser, Nicolas Ludmer, and Jonathan Lio, participated in the 18th Peking Union Internal Symposium on Emergency Medicine (PUISEM), with Dr. Beiser delivering a keynote to 2,000 attendees on strategies to improve cardiac arrest outcomes in Chicago and Dr. Ludmer presenting on emergency management of sepsis. UChicago faculty participated as part of an ongoing educational partnership. Following the symposium, the delegation visited the Emergency Medicine Department at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, hosted by IMEP alumnus Dr. Di Shi. Both sides expressed strong mutual interest in developing emergency medicine resident exchanges and building the trauma service at PUMCH. Plans are underway for a fall 2025 visit by EM faculty from PUMCH to UChicago to study EM and trauma integration in clinical care, quality improvement, and education.

Wuhan: From April 13–18, Drs. Beiser and Ludmer co-led a small-group teaching demonstration on cardiac cycle physiology at Wuhan University’s Taikang School of Basic Sciences, in collaboration with Dr. Peng Biwen. The session drew students and faculty observers from across the basic and clinical sciences. They also co-organized and participated in the Luojia Emergency Medical Clinical Research Academic Seminar at Zhongnan Hospital alongside colleagues from Wuhan and Beijing, and journal editors from the European Journal of Emergency Medicine, World Journal of Emergency Medicine, European Journal of Heart Failure, and Emergency and Critical Care Medicine. Discussions focused on data quality, randomized controlled trials, and research innovation. Strong interest was expressed by the Wuhan emergency medicine group in learning from Chicago’s approaches to improving cardiac arrest outcomes, and both sides expressed interest in establishing a collaborative initiative in this area.

Beijing: On April 21, Drs. Shellie Williams and Jonathan Lio visited the Geriatrics Department at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Dr. Williams led an interactive communication skills workshop for 60 participants from geriatrics and palliative care, with robust discussion on cultural differences in how bad news is communicated. The visit also served as a springboard for joint research initiatives on sarcopenia and frailty, and for future faculty exchanges.

Wuhan: From April 23–25, the Dr. Williams delivered three presentations at Zhongnan and Renmin Hospitals: one on serious illness communication, one on the 4Ms framework (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility) for age-friendly care, and one providing an overview of geriatrics and palliative medicine’s clinical, educational, and research activities at UChicago. Dr. Williams shared practical community educational resources for palliative care, which faculty from the school of nursing will adapt to their local context. Dr. Williams also joined a home visit with a local palliative care team and was consulted on cancer symptom management, deepening clinical trust and cross-cultural engagement.

The ECHO (Expanding Community Health Outcomes) team from UChicago—Dr. Daniel Johnson, Karen Lee, and Kanika Mittal—introduced the model to faculty and staff at Zhongnan and Renmin Hospitals, and affiliated community health centers. ECHO is an innovative tele-mentoring model that uses virtual case-based learning to build capacity in underserved areas by connecting specialists with front-line healthcare providers. Wuhan University School of Medicine expressed strong interest in becoming China’s second ECHO hub after Shanghai. The Department of General Practice was especially motivated to launch the first educational series to pilot the model with local community health centers.

Dr. Harveen Kaur, a PGY-1 internal medicine resident, completed a clinical rotation in oncology at PUMCH, where she explored various aspects of cancer care. She gained valuable insights into treatment approaches as well as the cultural beliefs, traditions, and values that shape patient–physician relationships and influence decision-making in cancer care in China. Her experience also offered a broader understanding of the Chinese healthcare system, particularly in relation to oncology-focused care delivery and access to resources.

In Dr. Kaur’s reflection, she wrote: “During my time at PUMCH, I spent two days in the oncology department, one day in the GI department, and one day in hematology department. As I continue to explore my interests in oncology, I have found myself increasingly drawn to GI oncology, so observing the GI department was especially valuable. I had the opportunity to witness several endoscopies and see cases of gastric cancer, which we do not encounter as frequently here. It was also incredibly meaningful to explore a different healthcare system and reflect on my experiences across rotations in India, US, and now China. I have certainly developed a deeper appreciation for the strengths and challenges of different models of care, and this experience has helped shape my evolving perspective as a resident.”

Zhong Huang, a fourth-year medical student, shadowed Dr. Zhengkai Liao, chief oncologist at Zhongnan Hospital, and Dr. Qiuji Wu, a gynecologic oncologist. With a deep interest in the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western medicine in cancer treatment, Zhong observed inpatient care that incorporated TCM for both palliative and curative purposes. This experience enriched his perspective on the complementary roles of Eastern and Western medical approaches in oncology practice. Home visits with a palliative care team left a lasting impression, solidifying his commitment to caring for patients toward the end of life.

Dr. Charlotte Harrington, a second year general surgery resident who is currently completing a fellowship in clinical ethics, participated in a clinical rotation in PUMCH. In her reflection, she wrote: “I had an incredible experience at PUMCH. I was warmly welcomed by the team and had the opportunity to observe a wide range of clinical activities—from inpatient rounds and outpatient clinic visits to multidisciplinary discussions of complex cases and thoughtful family meetings held before surgery as part of the informed consent process. This exchange broadened my perspective and introduced me to valuable practices that I hope to carry forward in my own training and future career. I believe I will be a better doctor and world citizen after this exchange. I’m deeply grateful for their generosity, kindness, and willingness to share their expertise.”

These April 2025 academic engagements underscored the value of sustained academic exchange. Key upcoming initiatives include:

UChicago Medicine remains committed to deepening academic partnerships in China and advancing global medical education, research, and clinical excellence.

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