APPES Delegation Visits ZCH, Enhancing Cross-Border Collaboration in Pediatric Endocrinology
On September 23, a distinguished expert delegation from the Asia Pacific Pediatric Endocrine Society (APPES) visited Zhejiang University Children's Hospital (ZCH). The delegation engaged in in-depth exchanges with the hospital leadership, including Ms. Zhang Weifang, Chairman of ZCH, Professor Fu Junfen, the current President of APPES, as well as participants from endocrinology and the International Affairs Office of hospital. The discussions focused on sharing updates on pediatric medical development across the Asia-Pacific region.
This productive dialogue has not only solidified the foundation for collaboration in pediatric endocrinology but has also translated the shared vision of "Safeguarding the Physical and Mental Well-being of Children in the Asia-Pacific" into concrete practice, marking a new chapter in transnational academic cooperation for child health.
Established in 1999, APPES is a leading academic authority in pediatric endocrinology within the Asia-Pacific region. Its membership comprises endocrine experts from numerous countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, and Vietnam. APPES organizes various academic activities annually, such as the Fellow School, Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses, major international conferences, and case discussions. These initiatives aim to provide specialized academic training and development opportunities for healthcare professionals in pediatric endocrinology, address regional disparities in specialized treatment capabilities, and ultimately safeguard the health of children across the Asia-Pacific.
During the symposium, Ms. Zhang Weifang extended a warm welcome to the APPES delegation and expressed gratitude for their strong support of Professor Fu Junfen in her role as APPES President. Ms. Zhang emphasized that Professor Fu's successful election is not only a recognition of her personal academic influence but also a significant milestone for ZCH on the international academic stage.
The visiting APPES delegation consisted of renowned authorities in pediatric endocrinology from various countries and regions, including Professor Rakesh Kumar from PGIMER, India; Professor Joanna Yuet-ling Tung from Hong Kong Children's Hospital; Professor Alexis Anand Dass from Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia; Clinical Scientist Professor Ben Albert from Starship Children's Hospital and Liggins Institute, New Zealand; Professor Jeerunda Sanitaprabhob from Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand; Professor Reiko Horikawa, former Director of the National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan; and four other specialist doctors from Indonesia, Australia, and Vietnam.
APPES delegation members remarked, "ZCH has established an efficient and high-quality pediatric healthcare model through its professional expertise and innovative practices. The integration of cutting-edge technology with humanistic care not only offers new ideas for the development of pediatrics in China but also provides valuable insights for the child health sector across the Asia-Pacific."
“It is a great honor for our hospital to host the APPES Fellow School and CME from October 23-27, 2025 in Hangzhou, and to welcome so many pediatric endocrinologists and specialists of APPES to Hangzhou, China”, Ms. Zhang concluded, " from cultivating young pediatric talents to sharing pediatric disease diagnosis and treatment resources in endocrinology, this deep cross-border cooperation is a vivid manifestation of the concept of a child health community."
