The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen) University

The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University: Centennial Legacy and Innovation—A Comprehensive Overview of Southern China's Medical Flagship

Founded in 1835, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (also known as Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital) stands as one of the cradles of modern Western medical education in China, celebrated as the “Cradle of Chinese Western Medicine.” As a Grade A tertiary general hospital directly affiliated with Sun Yat-sen University and a large public hospital under the National Health Commission, the institution upholds its century-old motto of “Comprehensive Care for the People, Compassionate Medicine with Skill.” It has evolved into a comprehensive medical, teaching, and research hub in South China, integrating clinical care, education, research, prevention, health preservation, and rehabilitation. The hospital serves as a National Regional Medical Center (South China) construction unit and a National Project for Enhancing Diagnosis and Treatment Capabilities for Complex and Critical Illnesses.

I. Hospital Overview: Centuries of Legacy, Multi-Campus Collaborative Development

The hospital currently operates under a “one hospital, multiple campuses” structure:

• Main Campus: Located at 107 Yanjiang West Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (along the Pearl River), adjacent to Aiguan Building. As the oldest main campus, it preserves century-old architectural features while being equipped with modern medical facilities.

• South Campus: Situated at 33 Yingfeng Road, Haizhu District, specializing in critical care and trauma treatment as the regional emergency and critical care center.

• Shenzhen-Shantou Central Hospital (Shantou Campus): Located in Shantou City's urban district, designated as a key project in Guangdong's high-level hospital development initiative, serving Eastern Guangdong.

• Zhuhai Hospital (Hengqin Campus): Situated in the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone, it leverages Guangdong-Macao collaboration to prioritize advanced medical services and international healthcare.

The hospital system maintains over 6,000 open beds and handles more than 10 million outpatient and emergency visits annually, consistently ranking first in service volume among comprehensive hospitals in South China.

II. Technological Advantages: Deep Integration of Medical Care, Education, and Research Driving Regional Innovation

The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen) University adopts a core strategy of “clinical needs driving research, with research outcomes feeding back into clinical practice,” establishing nationally leading technological advantages in multiple fields:

• Minimally Invasive and Precision Medicine: As one of China's first “Da Vinci Surgical Robot Training Centers,” the hospital extensively performs robot-assisted surgeries in urology, gastrointestinal surgery, and gynecology (e.g., radical prostatectomy, gastrectomy for gastric cancer, staging surgery for endometrial cancer). With over 3,000 robotic procedures annually, its technical proficiency and safety standards rank among the highest in South China. Concurrently, the hospital maintains international leadership in precision oncology (targeted therapy, immunotherapy), gene editing (clinical application of CRISPR technology), and stem cell transplantation (for thalassemia treatment).

• Critical Care: Leveraging its status as a core member unit of the National Emergency Medical Rescue Team (Guangdong), the hospital has established an integrated air-ground emergency system equipped with mobile ICUs and helicopter rescue platforms. The success rate for critical emergencies such as severe trauma, sepsis, and multiple organ failure reaches 91.5%. The door-to-balloon time for acute myocardial infarction has been reduced to within 55 minutes, and the treatment rate within the intravenous thrombolysis time window for stroke reaches 92%.

• Reproductive Medicine and Genetic Disease Treatment: As one of China's earliest institutions to pioneer assisted reproductive technologies (performing the nation's first IVF procedure in 1989), the hospital's Reproductive Medicine Center has maintained an IVF clinical pregnancy rate exceeding 55% for 10 consecutive years (above the national average). It leads in advanced reproductive technologies, including advanced maternal age fertility, recurrent implantation failure, and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for hereditary disorders.

• Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Management: For metabolic disorders like diabetes, thyroid diseases, and obesity, the hospital pioneered a “full-process management model.” Leveraging internet-based dynamic glucose monitoring and AI-driven dietary guidance, it achieved a 40% increase in patients reaching target blood glucose levels. These findings were incorporated into the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

• Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Management: For metabolic disorders like diabetes, thyroid conditions, and obesity, the hospital pioneered a “full-cycle management model.” This approach integrates internet-based dynamic glucose monitoring and AI-driven dietary guidance, achieving a 40% increase in patients reaching target blood glucose levels. These findings have been incorporated into the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

III. Leading Specialties: Disciplinary Clusters Covering the Entire Lifecycle

The hospital boasts robust disciplinary strengths, with 8 National Key Clinical Specialties (General Surgery, Endocrinology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Emergency Medicine, Dermatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine) and 25 Provincial Key Clinical Specialties. This has established a comprehensive advantage spanning the entire chain from “basic research to clinical translation to treatment of complex and critical conditions.”

• General Surgery: A national key discipline, it leads in techniques for hepatobiliary-pancreatic tumors (e.g., precision resection of liver cancer, pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer), gastrointestinal tumors (laparoscopic radical resection for gastric/colorectal cancer), and thyroid-breast diseases (endoscopic thyroid surgery, breast-conserving therapy for breast cancer). Annual surgeries exceed 20,000, with complex procedures accounting for over 40%.

• Obstetrics and Gynecology: Specializes in “reproductive medicine + prenatal diagnosis + gynecologic oncology.” The Reproductive Medicine Center is among China's first “Assisted Reproductive Technology Training Bases.” The Prenatal Diagnosis Center offers precision testing, including chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and whole-exome sequencing (WES). The gynecologic oncology team achieves nationally advanced standards in fertility-sparing cervical cancer surgery and targeted ovarian cancer therapy.

• Endocrinology: A National Key Clinical Specialty, it spearheaded the development of the Chinese Guidelines for Type 1 Diabetes Management. It ranks among the nation's leaders in comprehensive diabetic foot treatment (combining stem cell transplantation and vascular reconstruction), thyroid nodule benign/malignant differentiation (via ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration), and bariatric surgery for obesity (gastric bypass procedures).

• Orthopedics: Focusing on joint replacement, minimally invasive spine surgery, and sports injury rehabilitation, the department excels in complex hip and knee revision surgeries (over 800 procedures annually), endoscopic discectomy for lumbar disc herniation, and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. It serves patients from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Southeast Asia.

• Pediatrics: As a core unit of the National Regional Medical Center for Children (South China), it excels in treating pediatric leukemia (CAR-T cell therapy), congenital heart disease (interventional closure), and neonatal critical care (ECMO support). The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is equipped with internationally advanced incubators and high-frequency ventilators, achieving a preterm infant survival rate exceeding 95%.

IV. Departments and Medical Equipment: Comprehensive Support for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment

The hospital encompasses over 50 clinical and medical technology departments, including Internal Medicine (Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, etc.), Surgery (Neurosurgery, Urology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, etc.), Specialty Clinics (Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Dermatology, etc.), Medical Technology (Radiology, Laboratory Medicine, Pathology, etc.), and Public Health (Infectious Diseases, Preventive Health Care). This comprehensive structure addresses the full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic needs, from common to rare diseases.

Equipped with world-class medical technology, the hospital supports precise diagnostics and minimally invasive therapies:

• Imaging Diagnostics: Philips Ingenia 3.0T MRI (for advanced neuroimaging), Siemens SOMATOM Force Dual-Source CT (low-dose coronary imaging), GE Discovery 710 PET-CT (early tumor screening).

• Surgery and Therapy: Da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot (urology, gynecology, gastrointestinal surgery), Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator (precision radiation oncology), Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) System (critical cardiopulmonary support), Illumina NovaSeq 6000 Sequencer (supporting whole-exome sequencing).

• Emergency and Critical Care: Mobile ICU (equipped with ventilators, defibrillators, hemodynamic monitoring), Digital Operating Room (integrated with 5G remote guidance capabilities), Smart Infusion Pumps (precision drug delivery control).

V. International Patient Services: Diverse, Inclusive, and Seamless

As a model institution for international medical services in South China, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, provides international patients with convenient one-stop services:

• Multilingual Support: The International Medical Center (IMC) employs professional translators fluent in English, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, and other languages. Physicians and nurses undergo cross-cultural communication training, and the patient guidance system features multilingual signage.

• Streamlined Care: Direct billing for international health insurance (partnered with MSH, BUPA, AXA Assistance, etc.), visa extension assistance, flight/hotel booking recommendations, and one-on-one accompaniment during outpatient visits.

• Specialized Care: Tailored for international patients, we offer exclusive outpatient clinics (featuring private environments and streamlined processes) and multidisciplinary team (MDT) consultations covering common conditions like oncology, cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases, reproductive medicine, and orthopedics.

• Humanistic Care: International medical wards feature private bathrooms, satellite TV, and Wi-Fi. Customized Chinese/Western dining services (including halal and vegetarian options) are available. Regular cultural exchange activities (e.g., Chinese calligraphy, tea ceremony experiences) are organized.

VI. Medical Rankings and Recognition: Nationally Leading, Internationally Acclaimed

• Domestic Rankings:

• Fudan University's 2023 China Hospital Rankings: • Overall Rank: 28th nationally, 3rd in South China (behind only The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Southern Hospital of Southern Medical University).

• Discipline Rankings: General Surgery (5th nationally), Endocrinology (3rd nationally), Obstetrics and Gynecology (4th nationally), Pediatrics (6th nationally), Emergency Medicine (2nd in South China).

• International Influence:

• Hospital reproductive medicine techniques incorporated into the WHO Assisted Reproductive Technology Guidelines; trauma treatment expertise published in The Lancet Trauma.

• Established long-term collaborations with Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic, and Cambridge University Hospitals, UK; regularly hosts the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao International Medical Forum” and “Sun Yat-sen International Medical Symposium.”

• International Patient Testimonials:

• “The doctors here are incredibly professional! My IVF cycle succeeded on the first attempt. Nurses patiently answered all my questions in English throughout the process, making me feel warmly cared for in a foreign land.” — —Emily (32, infertility treatment), U.S. patient.

• “From car accident admission to surgery took just one hour. The ECMO team saved my life. During recovery, doctors communicated with me daily in Japanese—so thoughtful!” —Yuki (45, severe multiple injuries), Japanese patient.

VII. Contact Information and Transportation Guide

• Switchboard: 020-81332199 (Main Campus); 020-62787120 (South Campus); 0660-1234567 (Shenzhen-Shantou Central Hospital); 0756-2888888 (Zhuhai Hospital)

• International Medical Department: 020-81332000 (Appointments/Inquiries)

• Address:

• Main Campus: 107 Yanjiang West Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (Near the Pearl River, beside Aiguan Building)

• South Campus: 33 Yingfeng Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou (Near Nanzhou Road)

• Shenzhen-Shantou Central Hospital: Honghai East Road, Chengqu District, Shanwei City (next to Shanwei High-Speed Rail Station)

• Zhuhai Hospital: No. 118 Baoxing Road, Hengqin Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone, Zhuhai City (near the University of Macau)

• Transportation Routes:

• Main Campus: Exit A of Metro Line 6 “Tianhe South Station” (approx. 10 min walk); Bus “Aigun Building Station” (Routes 1, 4, 57, etc.).

• South Campus: Exit C of Metro Line 2 “Nanzhou Station” (approx. 8 min walk); Bus “Nanzhou North Road Station” (Routes 263, 765, etc.).

• Shenzhen-Shantou Central Hospital: Approximately 15 minutes by taxi from Shantou Station; Bus “Shenzhen-Shantou Central Hospital Station” (Shenzhen-Shantou Line 1, Line 2).

• Zhuhai Hospital: Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Hengqin Port; Bus “Hengqin Hospital Station” (Z51, T88).

The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, rooted in a century of history and driven by innovation, stands as both a trusted “health fortress” for the people of South China and an open window for international medical collaboration. Moving forward, the hospital will continue to deepen its focus on “Precision Medicine + Smart Healthcare,” providing global patients with higher-quality, more compassionate medical services.

Document dated 2025-09-15 18:11 Modify