Series Report No.15 on Medical Imaging: DICOM Imaging Founder Aims to Pass on a Lifetime of Knowledge
The Dicom Imaging Academy and the Imaging Physicians Group were founded by Professor Qu Hui, former Director of the Department of Radiology at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Society of Radiology under the Chinese Medical Association, and Deputy Leader of its Bone Group.
The Dicom Imaging Academy leverages internet-based instruction. Professor Qu Hui told VCBeat, “I deliver lectures online, enabling learning wherever internet access is available. With the widespread adoption of computers, and especially smartphones, we can engage in continuous learning at any time. Therefore, I believe this is a positive development. We also aim to organize these audio-visual materials to allow learners to review and study them at their convenience. Furthermore, bringing people together through online platforms fosters a constructive atmosphere, where peers can mutually encourage and learn from one another. As Confucius said, ‘When three walk together, there must be one who can teach me.’”
If Dicom Imaging Academy is dedicated to imparting theoretical knowledge and experience to radiologists, then Dicom Radiologists Group is primarily responsible for providing physicians with opportunities for hands-on clinical practice.
Professor Qu Hui introduced, “Physicians at the School of Imaging can attend lectures by experts and engage in mutual discussions to continuously improve their professional competence. However, while theoretical knowledge is valuable, it must be complemented by practical experience to achieve true mastery. For radiologists, the most effective form of practical training is interpreting medical images. But where do these images come from? Some physicians at primary-care hospitals interpret fewer images in an entire year than their counterparts at major hospitals in Beijing do in a single week. The unequal distribution of medical resources has long been a persistent issue. We have found, however, that this problem can be readily addressed through internet connectivity. Since images from imaging equipment are standardized digital data, uploading them online eliminates spatial constraints. This enables physicians in Beijing and Guizhou to review images together. In this process, physicians in Guizhou enhance their skills, while those in Beijing accumulate broader clinical experience.”
Furthermore, many private hospitals have purchased advanced imaging equipment but fail to utilize it effectively. Reports have indicated that the diagnostic concordance rate for imaging in county-level hospitals is less than 70%. The Daicom Imaging Physicians Group leverages an internet-based model to assist grassroots physicians and patients, thereby significantly improving the concordance rate of imaging diagnoses.
Dacom Imaging Academy and Dacom Imaging Physicians Group operate as independent yet complementary entities. Professor Qu Hui stated, “All of this is designed for radiologists, enabling them to accelerate their professional development, engage in greater knowledge sharing, and avoid working in isolation. Furthermore, it better demonstrates the value of radiologists. Ultimately, the primary beneficiaries will be our patients, as high-quality healthcare depends on having skilled physicians.”
In May this year, Professor Qu Hui traveled to Guizhou for an academic conference. While resting at the airport, preparing to return to Beijing, he suddenly experienced nausea, slurred speech, severe headache, and impaired motor function in his limbs. His companions immediately suspected a cerebral hemorrhage and rushed him to the hospital. After receiving treatment locally for more than a month, Professor Qu returned to Beijing for continued care.
It was precisely this cerebral hemorrhage that inspired Professor Qu Hui to establish the Daicom Imaging Academy and the Physician Group.
“At that time, as I lay in the hospital bed, I reflected on the fact that I had accumulated a wealth of experience over my lifetime and developed my own insights into medical imaging. Consequently, I was frequently invited to deliver lectures at many academic conferences. However, despite flying around all year, I could only attend a few dozen conferences annually, reaching a very limited audience. I wondered: if my condition at the airport had not been promptly controlled, what would have been the outcome? Would my lifelong expertise simply vanish? Those who had never heard my lectures would never get the chance, and numerous grassroots physicians lacked the resources to travel to major cities to attend these sessions. I felt a strong sense of responsibility and obligation to better pass on the knowledge we senior experts possess to grassroots doctors, and to preserve this expertise more effectively so that it could be shared and inherited by a broader audience. After returning to Beijing, several friends came to visit me. When I shared my ideas with them, I was surprised to find that they all strongly agreed. We quickly reached a consensus to move forward with this initiative, which I believe is highly meaningful.”
VCBeat’s Series on Medical Imaging Startups
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Medical Imaging Series Report 8: 51 Duxian Network: Why Are We Establishing a Medical Imaging Expert Group?
Medical Imaging Series Report 9: Haina Medical Information: How Did This Medical Imaging Company Sell Its Products to the United States?
Medical Imaging Series Report 10: M&S: The Core of Remote Medical Imaging Platforms Lies in Providing Diagnostic and Treatment Services
Medical Imaging Series Report 11: Yingda Technology: Deepening Expertise in Mobile Imaging Technology
Medical Imaging Series Report 12: Huaxia Pathology Network: How It Retains Over 90% of Pathologists in China
Medical Imaging Series Report 13: Pai Yi Pai: Accumulating Big Data in the Healthcare Industry by Interpreting Laboratory Test Results
Medical Imaging Series Report 14: Jinma Yangming: How a Regional Dominator Gradually Conquered the National Market