A doctor, an ophthalmologist, a scientist and a lifelong learner

“Coming to Tsinghua University is in line with my self-positioning as a lifelong learner.”

One of the world's most influential ophthalmologist and a senior physician-scientist-leader and innovator, as well as an elected international (foreign) member of U.S. National Academy of Medicine and elected fellow of the Singapore National Academy of Sciences, Professor Wong Tien Yin joined Tsinghua as Chair Professor and Founding Head of Tsinghua Medicine in 2021.

Vice President of Tsinghua University Prof. Wang Hongwei described Prof. Wong as "internationally known and highly respected physician-scientist", adding that, “Tsinghua University, especially the medical field will be enriched by his recruitment. His recruitment will optimize and improve on Tsinghua’s strategic development in medicine, strengthen the role of clinical medicine in the University, provide enhanced platforms and environment for the cultivation of medical students and faculty in Tsinghua University.”

It was a conversation in 2021, Prof. Wong says, that “put the initial seeds of a possible career in China to contribute to its development in medicine and healthcare”, when Professor Margaret Chan - former WHO director and now Founding Dean of Vanke School of Public Health in Tsinghua – asked him "would you rather want to watch the development of China’s medicine and healthcare from the outside, or do you want to actively participate in the transformation of healthcare and medicine within China?". 

In the past thirty years, China's healthcare system has evolved rapidly but is now faced with new challenges due to an aging population and the increase of chronic disease, such as diabetes and cancer. As a leading physician-scientist-innovator, Prof. Wong has always been committed to solving global health problems. Professor Margaret Chan's questions made him realize that there is a unique opportunity to contribute towards improving the health and lives of many people in China.

“Tsinghua needs more physician-scientists”

Since joining Tsinghua in 2021, Prof. Wong has been leading a reformation of the medical school curriculum under the umbrella of Tsinghua Medicine, the new academic healthcare system that brings together multiple Schools and Hospitals under a single umbrella.

Prof. Wong said, "As one of the world's leading universities, Tsinghua University has a responsibility to play a significant role to solve major societal problems including healthcare challenges. Previously, Tsinghua was very focused on building up a strong basic medicine and life science program. My aim is to broaden the scope of Tsinghua Medicine to tackle difficult and complex areas in related areas in clinical medicine, biomedical research and medical education. This expansion isn't limited to clinical investigation but also encompasses translational and basic science research, aiming to tackle major diseases and the disparities in healthcare delivery.”

“To do this, we need more physician-scientists, which are physicians who are well versed in clinical medicine but also has a strong scientific training foundation who will help address major clinical questions and discovery novel therapies for our patients."

Under his leadership, Tsinghua’s previous 8-year Experimental Medicine class has now been expanded with new scope and curriculum to the 8-year Outstanding Physician-Scientist program. The new program aims to further strengthen physician-scientists training with further exposure and training clinical skills with the foundational ability to conduct cutting-edge research, create innovative medical solutions and technologies, continuously expanding the breadth and depth of medicine.

"Address global issues and establish an international perspective"

Prof. Wong aspires to train Chinese medical students to have an international perspective and vision. "I hope that the faculty and students of Tsinghua Medicine can not only serve China's current medical and healthcare needs, but also participate in the development of global health care solutions," said Prof. Wong. 

Tsinghua Medicine should develop teaching and research programs which are innovative, interdisciplinary, international and individualized. This concept emphasizes innovative education curriculum, cutting-edge innovative research and the construction of academic clinical disciplines and inter-disciplinary teams. Leveraging on Tsinghua's traditional strengths in science and engineering, Tsinghua Medicine should aim to foster multidisciplinary intersections between medical engineering and biomedical science.

"Cultivating medical talent in response to national and societal needs"

Prof. Wong is a practicing senior ophthalmologist in the Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital affiliated with Tsinghua University. Interaction with patients and their families have given him a deeper understanding of the clinical and medical needs of patients in China.

Prof. Wong often asks himself this question: "Are our current models of physician training, research and hospital management equipped to handle new challenges of healthcare in the future?" 

After more than thirty years of development in China, the spectrum of diseases in the population has significantly changed compared to earlier times. Factors such as increased life expectancy and declining birth rates have led to rapid aging of the population. The medical focus has shifted from being predominantly 'emergency-based' to now dealing with 'chronic diseases' characterized by diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory illnesses. This is not only a new scenario for Chinese healthcare but also a global medical trend.

Chinese society needs a cohort of physicians and healthcare leaders oriented towards the future of healthcare. Tsinghua Medicine is tasked with the responsibility of cultivating high-quality medical talents for the country and its people. Addressing the major needs of the nation and society has become an important basis for the education curriculum and medical student training programs in Tsinghua Medicine.

"I'm a lifelong learner"

In April 2023 this year, Prof. Wong was awarded the 2023 ARVO Friedenwald Award.

Prof. Wong remarks, "I am a lifelong learner. This has been an expectation of myself over my life." In his interactions with patients, he continually discovers new types of diseases and finds new treatment plans; through communication and discussions with faculty and colleagues, he continuously improves the design of research experiments; he seeks to learn from each failed experiment, and he seeks to update his thinking and concepts in every conversation with students. Coming to China and to Tsinghua has also been a part of this lifelong learning journey.

He said, "Different environments, different cultures, different people, different situations - here, I am learning every day, and growing every day."

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TsinghuaRen ｜ Wong Tien Yin: A doctor, an ophthalmologist, a scientist and a lifelong learner

Writer: Cindy Yang

Editors: Gillian Tang, Lin Yuan

Designer: Xia Yifei

Reviewer: Chen Ken