International Exchanges in ZUCH during the Outbreak of Covid-19

With the contagion of covid-19, most countries adopted corresponding policies to curb the spread of the virus, therefore, countless academic conferences were forced to cancel or put off. During this time, the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine took the initiative to improve international cooperation and exchange, minimizing the adverse effects of covid-19.

Earnest ZUCH: Online Communications

On April 22, the 2020 PDA Management Forum was held in the form of a network video conference. Dr. Shu Qiang, the Secretary of the Party Committee of the hospital, was invited to give a keynote report—— “Multi-center Cooperation and International Cooperation in Clinical Research”, which showcased the multi-centric clinical study of National Clinical Research Center for Child Health of the hospital under the condition of rigorous covid-19, bringing enlightenment to peers across the country.

Previously, Dr. Fu Junfen, the Executive Vice President of the hospitral, actively participated in the meetings of the APPES and IMPE to discuss the implement of academic activities. On April 17, she actively opened an “Air International Classroom” connecting with Dr. Ron Rosenfeld, a lifelong pediatrics professor at Stanford University. On May 16, she participated in the “Covid-19 Prevention and Control Experience International Sharing & Health China International Public Health Management Training Project” and shared the speech “Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Diseases under Covid-19” with nearly 10,000 online audiences.

The epidemic is not a reason to interrupt international exchanges. Dr. Fu Junfen said that “Although face-to-face communication has been blocked, we can also conduct online academic exchanges. The international online video conference conducted before has been affirmed, and we will continue to try various forms of communication in the future.”

Accommodating ZUCH: Donations

Received strong support from international partners before, the hospital sent condolences to them at the first time and shared the latest diagnosis and treatment experience to them, delivering the sincere care and blessings of Zhejiang University. In addition, after learning about the shortage of protective equipment in many cooperative hospitals, employees who studied abroad donated more than 6,000 pieces of medical surgical masks and protective clothing to international partners in need.

Except from protective equipment, the hospital also made a contribution to to help the command of covid-19. Since April, the experts have been invited to participate in COVID-19 Multicenter CICU Response weekly call. The experts in online discussions come from many countries such as North America, Europe, Asia, etc., therefore, the discussion should start at 4 am Beijing time. And they should overcome the time difference to make the voice of Zhejiang University as the only representative of Asia in the global epidemic prevention.

Proactive ZHC: Diversified International Exchanges

The hospital organized a series of international long-distance academic exchanges, with the help of high-technology, to ensure normal international academic exchanges during special periods, continuing academic exchanges during the contagion of covid-19.

Starting from May 1, Dr. Li Haifeng, Director of the Rehabilitation Department, would lead the team members to make weekly video connections with the children's speech rehabilitation team at Loma Linda University on time to carry out courses, setting up an international aerial classroom. Dr. Shen Jie, a cardiologist who returned from Boston Children's Hospital, actively introduced the OPEN Pediatrics online course founded by Boston Children's Hospital to doctors and nurses, promoting further international exchanges. Dorazio Robert Matthew, a biostatistician from the United States, created Statistics and Research Lecture Series ——“Bob's Talk”, which is open to all staff in the form of live broadcasts to improve the data processing and analysis capabilities of hospital staff in scientific research, improving the scientific research of the hospital. At the same time, Pediatric Gynecology, Stomatology, Endocrinology, Nursing Department and other specialties all actively carried out different forms of online international exchanges to help discipline construction.

Never idle away any time, the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine actively responded to the call of General Secretary Xi Jinping “What the world needs most now is firm confidence, concerted efforts, united response, and comprehensive strengthening of international cooperation.” Hence, the hospital took the initiative to carry out various forms of international exchanges, and gradually made online international exchanges, expanding the breadth and depth of international exchanges and cooperation