From August 5 to 30, the School of Pharmacy, HUST Tongji Medical College held the 2024 Traditional Chinese Medicine Summer Program. 30 international students from top European universities participated in five series of activities in four weeks. Committed to promoting traditional Chinese medicine, the summer program made great efforts to tell stories of Tradtioanl Chinese Medicine (TCM) and to facilitate cross-cultural communication.

Consisting of five parts, the summer program lasted four weeks. In the first part, Professor Wu Yunxia of the School of Pharmacy gave lectures on three topics. During the lectures, Professor Wu actively interacted with the students and taught them basic diagnostic methods of TCM through practice, greatly stimulating their thirst for knowledge.

In the second part, the participants visited Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College and its Proton Medical Center. During the visit, they learned the history of the hospital, the operation of pharmacy-related departments, and the latest progress of proton therapy. They also learned the comprehensive strengths and development of China’s medical industry.

After visiting the Tongji Hospital history museum, the students gained an insight into the development of the hospital and Tongji Medical College. In the Department of Pharmacy, they got to know TCM plants and their properties. This experience enhanced their understanding of China’s medical system, promoted the exchange of Chinese and foreign medical cultures, and laid a solid foundation for future international collaborations.

The School of Pharmacy also organized visits to five local pharmaceutical enterprises. During the visits, the participants learned more about the industry’s outlook, cutting-edge technologies and expertise.

The third part was practice in labs. In the third week, students worked in labs under the guidance of professors from the School of Pharmacy, learned about lab safety, and collaborated with the faculty and graduate students. This prepared them for future international cooperation.

The fourth part was field practice in the Lushan base. The School of Pharmacy led the students to the Lushan base for a field study of medicinal plants in the fourth week.

Professor Wang Jianping instructed the students in the knowledge of natural medicines, the collection of medicinal plants in the wild, and the preparation of biological specimens at the Lushan base. This unique experience satisfied the students with knowledge, fun and beautiful natural landscape.

In the last part, students learned about the development of Chinese characters, history and food culture through lectures. Besides, they visited famous landmarks in Wuhan to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the society and culture as well as and development of the city.

During the summer program, the School of Pharmacy also organized a visit to the main campus so that the students could learn about the school’s history and education resources in the field of biomedical science.

After four weeks of study, the students gained a lot from the program. While reaping the benefits of their academic experience, they also forged profound friendships with the faculty and students of the School of Pharmacy. The summer program not only extended HUST’s international influence but also laid a solid foundation for deeper international exchanges and cooperation in the future.

Written by: Fang Siyuan

Edited by: Yang Kunjie, Chang Wen, Peng Yumeng