A prominent Chinese medical researcher, Wang Chen, has proposed the integration of liberal studies into medical school curricula and a revision of the evaluation criteria for doctors in China. Wang Chen, serving as the president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College and specializing in respiratory diseases, advocates for a broader medical education beyond the traditional focus on biological sciences. He suggests incorporating multidisciplinary studies, including various fields in science and engineering, social sciences like law, political science, and economics, as well as humanities studies encompassing philosophy, art, and literature. According to him, this approach will nurture Chinese medical professionals with global perspectives and a forward-looking orientation. This recommendation was shared during a recent interview in Beijing.
"We aspire to develop medical professionals with expertise across multiple disciplines who can employ diverse approaches and methodologies to address challenges", Wang expressed. While acknowledging the substantial quantity of physicians and clinical resources in China, he highlighted the disparity in advanced medical research output and the number of leading medical scientists when compared to developed nations. Wang noted that Chinese researchers have produced more high-quality papers and achieved breakthroughs in certain research areas, as evidenced by their publications in reputable medical journals. However, these accomplishments have yet to establish a significant, cohesive presence on the international stage.
"I think that all doctors have the potential to engage in medical research", he stated. "Even doctors in rural areas can make observations across a village, leading to valuable epidemiological findings". He emphasized that the global norm is to allow physicians to choose between focusing solely on scientific research, concentrating on clinical practice, or pursuing a third option of balancing both aspects concurrently. According to him, each choice would lead to a distinct career trajectory. Wang proposed the establishment of two distinct academic evaluation mechanisms for doctors: one for clinical practice and another for academic research. This approach would empower doctors to shape their career paths based on their interests and strengths.
