A proposed China Consortium of Elite Hospitals for Residency Training convened 60 specialists to consider plans for improving the quality of residency training in China; the October 30 event was co-hosted by the PUMC Hospital and CMB. In attendance were leaders of Central South University (Xiangya), Fudan University, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Sichuan University, Sun Yat-sen University, and Zhejiang University, along with one major affiliated hospital.

To ensure quality of health services, China is now prioritizing the strengthening of postgraduate medical education. Initial steps include assigning the Chinese Medical Doctors Association (CMDA) the role of accrediting residency training and launching pilot residency training at 559 hospitals throughout the country. To harness the power of China’s leading hospitals and universities, a seven-member Consortium was established that would play key instrumental roles, such as: developing standards for various specialties; establishing a forum for sharing data and metrics; investing in faculty development; running a trial matching system; and leading efforts in research, evaluation, and assessment. In his opening remarks, CMB President Lincoln Chen said that ensuring excellence in clinical education is a 21st-century challenge shared by countries around the world, so China will both innovate as well as identify lessons to adapt to meet its own national requirements.