About Academician Chen Haozhu
Academician Chen Haozhu (陈灸珠) is universally regarded as the founding father of modern cardiology in China and one of the most consequential figures in the history of Chinese medicine. A member of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院院士) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (中国工程院院士) — an extraordinarily rare dual distinction — he has dedicated over seven decades to building China's cardiovascular medicine infrastructure from the ground up.
Born in 1924, Academician Chen trained at the former St. John's University School of Medicine in Shanghai and subsequently at the University of London, where he was exposed to the emerging field of cardiology in the post-war era. Returning to China, he joined Ruijin Hospital and spent his entire career there, transforming its cardiology department into one of the most respected cardiovascular centers in Asia.
His contributions span clinical medicine, medical education, and health policy. He performed some of China's earliest cardiac catheterizations, established the country's first cardiac care unit, trained the first generation of Chinese cardiologists, and authored the definitive Chinese-language textbooks on internal medicine and cardiology that have educated every generation of Chinese physicians for the past half century. At over 100 years of age, he remains an active presence at Ruijin Hospital — a living legend whose influence on Chinese medicine is immeasurable.
Professional Positions and Distinctions
- Honorary Director, Department of Cardiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
- Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院院士)
- Member, Chinese Academy of Engineering (中国工程院院士) — one of very few physicians to hold both distinctions
- Past President, Chinese Society of Cardiology
- Past Editor-in-Chief, Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine and Chinese Journal of Cardiology
- National Science and Technology Progress Award — multiple recipients
- Shanghai Medical Lifetime Achievement Award
- Honorary Fellow, American College of Cardiology (ACC)
- Honorary Fellow, European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
Landmark Contributions to Chinese Cardiology
Academician Chen's contributions to Chinese medicine are so foundational that they are difficult to overstate. Key milestones include:
- First cardiac catheterization in China — performed in the 1950s, opening the era of invasive cardiology in the country
- Established China's first Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) — introducing the concept of specialized cardiac monitoring and resuscitation to Chinese hospitals
- Authored the definitive Chinese internal medicine textbook — Practical Internal Medicine (实用内科学), now in its 15th edition, which has been the standard reference for Chinese physicians for over 50 years
- Trained China's first generation of cardiologists — his students and their students now lead cardiology departments across the country
- Pioneered atrial fibrillation research in China — his epidemiological studies on AF prevalence in Chinese populations remain foundational references
- Established national cardiovascular disease surveillance systems — contributing to China's understanding of the cardiovascular disease burden
- Championed evidence-based medicine in China — introducing randomized controlled trial methodology to Chinese clinical research in the 1980s and 1990s
Clinical Expertise and Legacy
While Academician Chen's direct clinical practice has naturally evolved with his age, his intellectual legacy permeates every aspect of Ruijin Hospital's Cardiology Department. The department he built is now a National Key Clinical Specialty with strengths in:
- Coronary Artery Disease — interventional cardiology, primary PCI, and complex coronary intervention
- Atrial Fibrillation and Arrhythmia — catheter ablation, antiarrhythmic therapy, and device implantation
- Heart Failure — advanced heart failure management, CRT, ICD, and LVAD
- Valvular Heart Disease — TAVR, MitraClip, and surgical valve repair/replacement
- Hypertension and Preventive Cardiology — resistant hypertension, cardiometabolic risk, and lipid management
- Cardiac Imaging — echocardiography, cardiac CT, and cardiac MRI
Academic and Research Contributions
Academician Chen has published over 400 peer-reviewed papers and authored or edited more than 20 medical textbooks and reference works. His research has covered the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease in China, the pharmacology of cardiac drugs in Chinese patients, and the clinical outcomes of cardiac interventions. His work on atrial fibrillation epidemiology in China — demonstrating that AF affects approximately 8 million Chinese adults — has been cited in international guidelines and has shaped national AF management policy.
He has received China's highest scientific honors, including the National Science and Technology Progress Award, and has been recognized by the international cardiology community with honorary fellowships from the ACC and ESC. His influence on Chinese medical education through his textbooks is perhaps his most enduring legacy — generations of Chinese physicians have learned internal medicine and cardiology from books he wrote or edited.
Why International Patients Reference Academician Chen Haozhu
- Dual Chinese Academy member — one of the rarest and most prestigious distinctions in Chinese science
- Founding father of Chinese cardiology — his institutional legacy defines Ruijin Hospital's cardiovascular program
- Author of China's definitive internal medicine textbook — the standard reference for every Chinese physician
- Honorary ACC and ESC Fellow — internationally recognized by the world's leading cardiology societies
- Living institutional memory — his presence at Ruijin Hospital represents a direct connection to the highest standards of Chinese medical tradition
Ruijin Hospital Cardiology Department Today
The Department of Cardiology that Academician Chen built is today led by a new generation of nationally recognized cardiologists who carry forward his legacy of clinical excellence and research rigor. The department operates a 24/7 cardiac catheterization laboratory, a dedicated heart failure unit, a cardiac electrophysiology program, and a structural heart disease program performing TAVR and MitraClip procedures. It is one of the highest-volume cardiac centers in Shanghai.
For international patients with cardiovascular disease seeking care at Ruijin Hospital, CMCS can facilitate access to the department's current clinical leadership and ensure that the full resources of this historic department are available to support your care.
How CMCS Can Help
China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides end-to-end support for international patients seeking cardiovascular care at Ruijin Hospital. Our services include specialist appointment booking with the department's current clinical leadership, medical record translation (English ↔ Chinese), on-site interpretation, accommodation coordination, insurance liaison, and post-treatment follow-up.
📧 Contact us: contract@medicalsh.com
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