On July 23, 2016, a seminar on the strategic planning and development of Biomedical Engineering at our university, presided over by the department’s founding Dean Prof X. Edward Guo, was successfully held in conference room 301 in the Executive Building. It attracted no fewer than 18 bigwigs from government, industry and academia, including President Chen Shiyi, Dean Professor Xiao Guozhi of the Department of Biology, Professor Tian Yanqing, Deputy Director of the Department of Materials, Chen Fangyi, the department of Biomedical Engineering’s Executive Director, Associate Professor Tang Bin, Associate Professor Chen Fei, Associate Professor Tian Leilei of the Department of Materials, and leaders of the Ministry of Planning and Development, Ministry of International Cooperation and the staff of the Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen ET- Medical Technology Co. Ltd.

 

The first item on the agenda was the research report on Biomedical Engineering at our University. This represented the first time that professors in Biomedical Engineering had come together to map out our research direction and priorities and lay down a solid foundation for a joint declaration on biomedical engineering projects.

A brilliant presentation by Professors

The second item on the agenda was a mission and vision statement on the establishment of Biomedical Engineering Department from our leaders. Prof X. Edward Guo began by defining the vision behind the collaboration between SUST and Columbia University, and introduced the underlying 3A concept, 3A being Adventurous, Arduous and Amiable. This is the ideal to be upheld and adhered to by all staff and students.

Prof X. Edward Guo on the “3A” culture

President Chen Shiyi endorsed the 3A culture for Biomedical Engineering, putting forward his own expectations and requirements. The first is internationalization. This can be achieved through frequent exchange visits with world-class universities and peers, while piggybacking on our partnership with Columbia University. Aim high in launching a world-class faculty. The second is, be bold and proactive to achieve a leapfrog development. A talent assessment system must be in place to recruit and retain researchers who not only produce research papers, but who are dedicated to the core of research interests. We need to usher in innovative talents.  

President Chen Shiyi on his expectations of biomedical engineering

The third item is a brain-storming session. On the development of the Biomedical Engineering, Prof Xiao Guozhi is brimming with confidence. He pledged unconditional support by the Department of Biology for this new initiative, as well as research coordination in various fields. This was followed by a free-wheeling discussion by professors present on the key research direction, industrialization, internationalization, talent scouting, on top of  exchanges and cooperation at home and abroad.

Prof Xiao Guozhi on his vision for biomedical engineering

Finally, under the chairmanship of Prof X. Edward Guo, the participants hammered out a shorter term 2016/17 action plan, plus a longer five-year plan for the development of Biomedical Engineering, with an overarching developmental thinking.

Strategic Planning in action

President Chen Shiyi and biomedical engineering staff members

Seven of our Year-3 students served out their internship at Peking University’s Shenzhen Hospital from June 27 to July 22, 2016. Under the patient guidance of their tutor, the hospital’s medical engineer, the interns were assigned to the equipment section. There, they learned about equipment maintenance, purchasing and file management. This is the first time our students took part in external internship activities during the summer. Students enhanced their ability to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-life situations, thereby enriching their social experience and first-hand knowledge of work environment in society.

Formerly known as the Shenzhen City Center Hospital, Peking University’s Shenzhen Hospital is a modern comprehensive hospital funded and constructed by the Shenzhen Government. The hospital was completed and officially opened for service in late 1999. In September 2001, the Shenzhen Government entered into a partnership with Peking University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It was subsequently renamed “Peking University’s Shenzhen Hospital” and “Peking University’s Shenzhen Teaching Hospital”. As such, it was incorporated into the system of Peking University’s affiliated hospitals. By 2011, after being given the thumbs-up by the Guangdong Hospital Accreditation Committee, it was classified as a grade-3 First Class hospital.  

For the first time, on July 20, 2016, Prof X. Edward Guo, founding Dean of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, invited some student representatives from the class of 2013/14 to a sharing session. He was joined in this activity by Prof Chen Fangyi, his Executive Dean.

 

Driven by student questions, Prof Guo addressed the following areas of interest: First, he introduced the latest development at Columbia University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, drawing particular attention to what students need to know about student life in the US. Secondly, he emphasized the importance of getting a handle on Cell Biology and Animal Physiology. In the process, he also gave them insights on how to tackle these subjects. Finally, while he was of the view that mastering Biomedical Engineering is no walk in the park, he offered a method for doing so. This greatly boosted student confidence in this difficult subject. Student interest and participation was notably high, with much give-and-take between them and the good professor.

 

This year, Prof Guo spearheaded the preparations for setting up the Biomedical Engineering Department at our University and began a comprehensive collaboration with its counterpart at Columbia University, including launching the student exchange mechanism. All in all, it was a highly productive and profitable encounter that was much anticipated and appreciated by the students.