104 Cardiovascular Specialists Convene at Pangu Forum to Unveil Emerging Therapeutic Directions and Innovations
The Pangu Conference was initiated in 2009 by a group of idealistic industry professionals led by Professor Sun Lizhong’s team and has a history of 11 years to date. The conference aims to facilitate experience exchange and sharing among colleagues across all disciplines, continuously advancing the field of large vessel diseases. Professor Sun Lizhong, the primary initiator of the conference, has been engaged in cardiovascular surgery for 37 years, having independently performed or supervised junior physicians in performing over 10,000 cardiovascular surgical procedures. The 9th Pangu Conference was attended by 104 physician representatives from various disciplines, including surgery, extracorporeal circulation, critical care, anesthesiology, interventional medicine, imaging, and nursing, with doctors from senior, middle-aged, and younger generations sharing insights on the same platform.
A Gathering of 104 Physicians: From Authorities to Rising Stars, All to Bring Hope to More People
The Pangu Conference has now grown into a representative brand academic conference in the field of cardiovascular medicine. Since its inaugural edition in 2009, the Pangu Conference has been held in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Fujian, Harbin, and other locations. It has evolved from a single-discipline academic meeting into a comprehensive cardiovascular conference characterized by multidisciplinary exchange, communication, and collaboration. With participants ranging from young core professionals to senior experts, and formats expanding from simple knowledge sharing to diverse interactive engagements, the Pangu Conference continues to mature.
In his opening address, Professor Sun Lizhong, the primary initiator of the conference, stated: “The Pangu Conference has evolved into a platform for knowledge exchange and dissemination. It serves not only as an internal forum for the academic community but also as an effective channel for communication between physicians and patients. Furthermore, it is a platform for talent development, enabling many young professionals to showcase their technical expertise while creating learning and growth opportunities for young physicians who are unable to attend in person. The conference also provides a venue for physicians with an exploratory spirit to engage in academic exchange and demonstrate their technical innovations.”
(Professor Sun Lizhong, principal initiator of the Pangu Conference and President-Elect of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association)
Notably, in addition to the participation and knowledge sharing by numerous experts and elites from cardiovascular and related disciplines, the conference featured a dedicated debate session. The purpose of this debate was not to determine right or wrong, but to explore and discuss the therapeutic efficacy of different surgical approaches for diseases from diverse perspectives.
As interdisciplinary integration deepens, a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic chain has gradually taken shape in the field of medicine. In line with this trend, the Pangu Conference continues to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration. In addition to cardiovascular specialties, the conference program encompasses anesthesiology, radiology, interventional medicine, extracorporeal circulation, critical care medicine, and nursing. The integration of these disciplines truly enhances patient outcomes from diagnosis through treatment, and may further enable the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Inaugural Pangu Annual Awards Ceremony: A Tribute to the Most Admired Individuals
Physicians hold in their hands the hope and future of every patient. They diligently study the most cutting-edge theories and master the most core technologies. Countless outstanding doctors stand guard day and night in operating rooms, separating truth from falsehood and sifting gold from sand. They are heroes, deserving of praise from all. Therefore, the 9th Pangu Forum on Large Vessel Diseases has established the Pangu Figure Award and the Pangu Annual Paper Award for the first time. These awards aim to pay tribute to the warriors fighting on the front lines of cardiac and large vessel diseases, while encouraging physicians and scholars to explore frontier theories and promote high-quality development in the field of large vessel diseases.
The inaugural Pangu Annual Figure Awards were divided into two categories: the Annual Outstanding Contribution Award and the Annual Figure Award. Professor Wang Chunsheng from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University in Shanghai, was honored with the inaugural Pangu Annual Figure Outstanding Contribution Award. The Pangu Annual Figure Awards Review Committee stated: “As an authority and key figure in China’s cardiovascular discipline, Professor Wang Chunsheng not only possesses exceptional medical expertise but also tirelessly cultivates talent within the field. In recognition of Professor Wang’s outstanding contributions to the entire cardiovascular discipline through his leadership of his team over the past year, as well as his remarkable achievements in fostering the next generation of cardiovascular professionals, he has been awarded the Annual Outstanding Contribution Award.” Additionally, eight individuals received the Pangu Annual Figure Award: Sun Qiang from the Second Hospital of Shandong University; Yan Yang from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University; Tang Hao from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University; Liu Ningning from Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University; Liu Chaoliang from the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University; Li Jianrong from Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University; Duan Weixun from Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University; and Fu Jun from Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital.
(Recipient of the 2020 Pangu Award for Outstanding Contribution and Person of the Year)
Li Yu, Chen Yu, and Zhong Yongliang from Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University; Wang Ren from Fujian Provincial Hospital; and Tang Hao from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were honored with the Pangu Annual Paper Award.
China’s First Museum of Cardiovascular Imaging Archives Opens Concurrently
The entanglement of the body with disease, and the race between life and time, have shifted the power determining human lifespan from divine forces on the altar to the scalpel under the shadowless surgical lamp. The advancement of surgery has transformed human life from a known brevity into an unknown longevity. Over the millennia, the accumulation of individual case studies has become the cornerstone of modern medical progress. These precious cases serve as powerful weapons in humanity’s fight against disease; in particular, each technological leap in the cardiovascular field has marked a milestone in the advancement of life. To this end, China’s first museum dedicated to cardiovascular surgical case imaging—the Museum of Rare Cases—was inaugurated concurrently with the Pangu Conference.
(Li Yu, Initiator of the Rare Disease Museum and Chief Physician of the Department of Radiology at Beijing Anzhen Hospital)
As one of the highlights of this conference, the Rare Case Museum was initiated by Dr. Li Yu, Chief Physician of the Department of Radiology at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University. The museum displays imaging data from over 30 complex cardiovascular cases, carefully selected from more than 1,000 difficult cases. These invaluable resources include images of aortic ruptures, diagnostic challenges of rare and complex diseases, and classic cases from routine consultations. Accurate interpretation of these images can significantly determine a patient’s future. Dr. Li Yu, the museum’s founder and Chief Physician of the Department of Radiology at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, provided on-site explanations of the first batch of exhibited cases at the Pangu Conference. In her view, many rare clinical cases play an immeasurable role in the advancement of medical science.
3,000 young physicians engage in real-time online learning, with concurrent cloud-based skills training for clinicians
Talent Pipelines Determine the Future Landscape. The cultivation and development of young talents determine the future and stature of the aortic disease specialty. To facilitate the rapid growth of the next generation of physicians, the Pangu Conference, in collaboration with leading medical technology companies, has established a specialized clinical skills training program. Delivered via cloud-based live streaming, this program features Professor Zheng Jun from Beijing Anzhen Hospital and Professor Liu Wei from Shanghai DeltaHealth Hospital as training mentors, who provide real-time demonstrations of surgical techniques to train young physicians in operative skills. Nearly 3,000 young doctors participated in the live online observation and learning on the day of the broadcast. Furthermore, to ensure that the hands-on training genuinely impacts young physicians and fulfills the original intent of enhancing technical proficiency, regional training bases have been established across China to complement the online live surgical demonstrations.
The 9th Pangu Conference has concluded, yet the path toward advancing disciplines related to large vessel diseases remains long. As cardiovascular disease stands as the foremost threat to human health and life, medical professionals have always remained on high alert. The Pangu Conference has now grown into a national-level academic conference. Such an event serves not only as a platform for exchange, communication, and knowledge sharing but also as a nurturing ground for the strength of China’s cardiovascular disciplines. Achieving effective diagnosis, treatment, and prevention for patients with cardiovascular disease remains the relentless pursuit of physicians across all relevant specialties.
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