Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has formed a collaboration with China-based Huici Health Management Co. to assist with physician training and the design of a new medical center — including a 1,000-bed hospital — in Suzhou, eastern China. In turn, medical students, residents and fellows from the School of Medicine will have opportunities to learn and train at the new medical center.

The School of Medicine is an attractive partner for the prominent Chinese healthcare firm because of its broad and deep expertise in diagnosing and treating complex medical conditions and its prominence as one of the top research-based medical schools in the U.S. 

Faculty at the School of Medicine will advise and consult on the design of the medical center’s facilities and recommend specific technologies, especially for diagnostic imaging and cancer treatment. After the Huici Medical Center opens in 2020, the School of Medicine will collaborate with physician training and continuing education.

Siteman Cancer Center also will play an important role in the collaboration, especially with regard to cancer diagnosis and treatment of difficult-to-treat tumors. 

International relationships the university helped to foster over years laid the groundwork for the new collaboration.