Reprinted from China InternationalExchange and Promotion Association for Medical and Healthcare

院士档案

Profile of Academician Han Demin

Han Demin is the President of China International Exchange and Promotion Association for Medical and Healthcare and an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering. He obtained a doctoral degree in medicine from China Medical University and a doctoral degree in medicine and a doctoral degree of philosophy in medicine from Kanazawa Medical University in 1990. He has been granted with the Second Prize of the National Award for Science and Technology Progress for three times. Credits to his name also include Outstanding Returned Overseas Chinese, OutstandingPost Doctor of China, Medical Virtue Award by China Medical Foundation, and Chinese National Doctors Awards by Chinese Medical Doctor Association at the Sixth Chinese National Doctors Awards Ceremony. He was honored Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation's Award for Science and Technology Progress in 2007 and South South International Humanitarian Award by the UN in 2012, the first doctor to hold this honor. He was enlisted as a Beijing Scholar in 2013 and selected as the academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Born and raised in the fertile land of the northeast of China, he embarked on his journey in medicine

and gained doctoral degrees in medicine from Chinese and Japanese Universities.

1973 was a year that changed his life trajectory. By then, he was 22 years old and had lived and worked at Panjin, Liaoning Province for four years. At that year, Han Demin abandoned the recommendation for universities for five times. But, something weas brewing for him. China Medical University came to Panjin to recruit students. After seeing Han Demin's resume and examresults, the teacher in charge of recruitment decided to enroll him without a moment delay.

Han Demin was diligent during university years and maintained remarkable scholarly records. He was assigned to the otolaryngological department of readiness medical team after graduation and had been determined to becoming an excellent otolaryngological doctor since then. He was busy in operation during day and practising dissection on skulls during the night. Hard work paid back. His medical skills witnessed rapid improvements and earned a sound reputation among local people. In 1982, Han Demin was enrolled as a master degree candidate. Then, after finishing his M.D. in China, he went to Japan and gained doctoral degrees in medicine and philosophy in medicine.

Creating multiple new surgical methods

and inroducing MBA into hospital management

In more than 40 years of clinical practice, academician Han Demin has carried out a series of innovative work, found the anatomical part of the "velum palatinum gap", created, among others, a new surgical method called Han-UPPP and new technologies in endoscopic surgery, upper air way ventilation dysfunction diagnosis and treatment, artificial hearing. Most of the new technologies have been replicated over the country. 68 years old is he, Han Demin is still working at the frontline. Every Monday, he will show up for outpatients. Every Tuesday, he will be the operation room to operate skillfully to share his experience with students and demonstrate what a properly handled operation is.

In 2000, Han Demin became the President of Beijing Tongren Hospital. At the same year, MBA was introduced to manege Tongren Hospital.In 2002, Jinlang Hotel in front of the old campus was acquired to expand space for the Hospital. In 2005, Yizhuang Campus of Tongren Hospital came into service, positioning itself as the only large class-A tertiary hospital and regional medical center in Yizhuang Economic and Technological Development Zone. Under the leadership of Han Demin, Tongren Hospital is no longer a hospital solely renowned for its ophthalmology and ophthalmology. Through recruitments, departments such as endocrinology, neurology and neurosurgery, cardiovascular, pneumology,  podiatry, and clinical laboratory center prospered, increasing the comprehensive strength of the Hospital.

Transforming medical model in China

Making quality medical resources accessible at primary level

Performing operation requires concrete accumulation. It is the same with life. Han Demin's experience as a doctor and administor cause him to ponder: how to meet the trend of the time? An individual doctor couldn't cover all patients even if he or she works 24/7. In 2013, Han Demin was selected as an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering. As an academic leader, he foused on how to transform from medical-centered approach to health-centered approach and explored new ways in medical and healthcare service model. In 2015, Han Demin was appointed as the President of China International Exchange and Promotion Association for Medical and Healthcare. Huatuo Project championed by Han Demin is among one of the important cariers of the exploration.

In Han Demin's words, Huatuo Project aims to flesh out Plan of Helath China 2030, impletment the national strategy of health China to make quality medical resources accessible at primary level, and improve the ability to deliver healthcare service at primary level. The Project will promote diagnosis and treatment technologies when time is appropriate, establish functional health records covering all people,and tap into the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine. Medical and healthcare service will be focused on community level. New methods will be adopted in medical and healthcare service model to meet people's ever-growing needs for a better life. The great mission for Huatuo Project is to make quality medical resources, mature diagnosis and treatment technologies, and standardized diagnosis system accessible at community level to further improve community-level healthcare.

In the early Spring, 46 years ago, Han Demin made his mind to make a difference when he altered his life path from the fertile land of the northeast to brightly lit classrooms. 46 years later, in a same Spring like before, Han Demin is still endeavoring in medicine. He said that he won't fail the time and will join hands with people for greater social progress.