China International Training Academy of Gastric Surgery Opening Ceremony of the First Course

On the morning of 17th October, the opening ceremony of the first course of China International Training Academy of Gastric Surgery (CINTAGAS) of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province Hospital) was successfully held. The CINTAGAS was Initiated by Prof. Xu Zekuan's team from Gastric Cancer Center. The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and Mindray Medical Company. This course gathered outstanding surgeons from Sudan, Spain, Chile and other countries, aiming at exchanging and promoting the latest advances in the field of gastric surgery and therapeutic techniques. Prof. Ding Qiang, The president of the hospital, Ms. Du Lina, Director of External Cooperation Department, Prof. Xu Zekuan, Director of Gastric Cancer Center, as well as Mr. Zhang Qianze, Marketing Manager of MindRay Medical attended the ceremony. The event was hosted by Prof. Xu Hao of Gastric Cancer Center.

President Ding Qiang warmly welcomed the international participants and emphasised the hospital's active practice in cultivating international medical talents and promoting international medical cooperation and exchange. He pointed out that this training course is not only a platform for academic exchanges, but also an important initiative for our hospital to actively expand international medical cooperation and enhance international influence. He hoped that the participants would make full use of this platform to learn extensively, communicate deeply and continuously improve their professional level in order to better serve patients around the world.

Prof. Xu Zekuan introduced Gastric Cancer Center and elaborated on the far-reaching significance of the training course. Prof. Xu emphasized that this international training course aims to share and exchange the latest technology of standardized treatment of gastric cancer, to improve the diagnosis and treatment level and also to reflect the active efforts of our hospital in promoting international medical cooperation and cultivating international medical talents.

Mr Zhang Qianze from MindRay Medical Company warmly welcomed the participants from all over the world, and also expressed his wonderful vision to support the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University to carry out the construction of international exchanges. Hopefully through this workshop, we can promote the communication of advanced medical technology domestic and abroad, and to various regions and countries around the world to provide local patients with better medical services.

At the opening ceremony, President Ding Qiang, Prof. Xu Zekuan and Mr Zhang Qianze unveiled the plaque for CINTAGAS, marking a solid step forward for the hospital in the field of international medical cooperation. Afterwards, President Ding Qiang, Prof. Xu Zekuan, Ms Du Lina and Prof. Yang Li performed the gowning ceremony for the trainees.

The training course will last for 2 months, including outpatient and MDT clinic, standardized radical gastric cancer surgery, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, ward rounds and discussion of difficult cases, visit to Endoscopy Center and Pathology Department, and training related to GIST, and other rich contents.

After the opening ceremony, the trainees went to the operating theater to start their intense and fulfilling learning journey. The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University will continue to implement the strategy of‘Open Hospital’, promoting international medical cooperation and exchange, improving the international influence of the hospital, and contributing to the development of global healthcare.