MSD and Peking University Launch 'Jingwei Program' to Cultivate Mid-career Public Health Talents

Support the cultivation of in-service backbone talents in public health, and assist"Healthy China"Construction Proceeds with Irresistible Momentum

BeijingMarch 21, 2023PR Newswire -- The "Jingwei Program" Public Health Mid-Career and Young Backbone Talent Training Project, jointly initiated by MSD (MSD is the corporate name of Merck & Co., Inc., located in Rahway, New Jersey, USA) and the Peking University School of Public Health, recently held the inauguration ceremony for its Talent Development Committee and the project launch event in Beijing, officially "breaking ground and beginning to sprout." Academician Jianguo Xu of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Professor Weizhong Yang from the School of Population Medicine and Public Health at Peking Union Medical College, Professor Xiaofeng Liang from Jinan University, Dean Siyan Zhan of the Peking University School of Public Health, Professor Fuqiang Cui, the "Jingwei Program" project leader from the Peking University School of Public Health, as well as project advisors, committee members, and senior executives from MSD China, all attended the meeting. Together, they discussed on-the-job talent development and disease prevention reform, contributing to public health construction, hoping that the development of public health in China will grow rapidly like bamboo shoots after rain, welcoming a flourishing spring for "Healthy China."

"Jingwei Plan" Launch Ceremony for the Training Program of Young and Middle-aged Backbone Talents in Public Health

Prevention is the most cost-effective health strategy. To effectively curb infectious diseases and safeguard people's health, it is essential to improve the public health system and strengthen the construction of major epidemic prevention, treatment, and emergency response capabilities. Public health talents are the vanguard in major突发性公共卫生事件, and they are also the driving force behind the public health system and the construction of "Healthy China." Relying on Peking University's top-notch scientific research heritage and teaching staff, the School of Public Health at Peking University collaborates with MSD, a leading and trusted partner in China’s medical ecosystem. In line with the 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline of Vision 2035, the two parties will combine their strengths for mutual benefit, writing a new chapter in the development of public health talents and system construction.

"The Jingwei Plan" Public Health Mid-Career Backbone Talent Training Program aims to more effectively, efficiently, and profoundly support the cultivation of high-quality mid-career backbone talents aged 30-45 working in public health in China, strengthen team building, optimize disciplines, and construct a high-quality, dynamic, and sustainable public health talent pool and service system, with the goal of "solidifying the national public health protection network and providing comprehensive and full-life-cycle health services to the public."

"Building a strong public health system to combat the spread of emerging and sudden infectious diseases is an important guarantee for safeguarding people's health and a key prerequisite for economic development."Professor Siyan Zhan, Dean of the School of Public Health, Peking University"As a university partner of the ‘Jingwei Plan’ for the training of young and middle-aged backbone talents in public health, Peking University nurtures the cultivation of in-service public health professionals with its fertile soil of academic learning and education; the School of Public Health at Peking University will also take this project as an opportunity to collaborate with various social forces in industry, academia, research, and application. It will continuously play an active role as the main force in discipline construction and a new force in scientific research breakthroughs, enhance governance levels, optimize the discipline layout, empower the backbone of today’s public health system, and irrigate the unstoppable momentum of ‘Healthy China.’"

Professor Cui Fuqiang, Project Leader of the "Elite Health Plan" at the School of Public Health, Peking UniversityIt was introduced that, with the establishment of the Talent Development Committee and the launch of the project today, seven professional advisors and 21 committee members from multiple regions, fields, and institutions across China — including the Centers for Disease Control and academic institutions — will collaborate on the design and implementation of this five-year project. The current stage involves guiding the research on the talent competency model and identifying key areas and directions for talent development. In the future, they will organize a teaching team, design curricula, create research application plans for young scholars, recruit talent, and conduct periodic evaluations, with the aim of contributing to the cultivation of public health professionals.

MSD has been deeply rooted in the Chinese market for over 30 years, covering business areas such as vaccines, diabetes, hospital specialty care, and oncology—fields critical to national health. It continuously enhances the accessibility of healthcare for patients and consumers, significantly improving health outcomes. From prevention to treatment, MSD builds health barriers covering the entire life cycle for different age groups. Upholding the values of its founder, George Merck—"Medicine is for human beings, not for profits"—MSD carries forward the torch of its "Bright Future" China strategy, continuing to firmly establish itself in China, serve China, and work hand-in-hand with local partners to support the construction of "Healthy China."