Report on The First International Symposium of Pathophysiology Teaching

(November 21-23, 2009, Shanghai, China)

The First International Symposium of Pathophysiology Teaching was jointly held the International Society for Pathophysiology (ISP) and the Chinese Association of Physiology (CAP) from Nov. 21st to 23rd in Shanghai Second Military Medical University with great success. This is a great event for the world of pathophysiology since the Fifth International Congress of Pathophysiology (ISP 2006, Beijing).

The Symposium was chaired by Prof. Han Qide, President of ISP and CAP. ISP Vice President Prof. Yury V. Arkhipenko presented at the Symposium congratulations from Academician G. Kryzhanovsky, ISP Founder Honorary President and Academician Aslan A. Kubatiev, Director of the Institute of Pathophysiology RAMS. ISP Editor in Chief Prof Osmo Hanninen, ISP Councillor, CAP Vice President, Prof. Wang Jianzhi, also participated in the Symposium. More than 180 delegates from Canada, Croatia, Finland, Norway, Russia, US, and mainland and Taiwan of China attended the Symposium. More than 100 abstracts have been collected. The Symposium was generously supported by China Association for Science and Technology, Second Military University, Jinan University and Chinese Association of Pathophysiology Specialized Committee of Critical Care Medicine.

In his address to the Opening Ceremony, Chairman Han Qide pointed out that the discipline of pathophysiology, as a bridging discipline, has play an important and irreplaceable role in the development of both medical education and medical sciences; yet with the rapid development of medical sciences and fundamental changes in clinical practices, the position of pathophysiology teaching in the overall medical curriculum and its teaching method are faced with huge challenges in the 21st Century. The Symposium is held oppwith great significance.

Invited Speakers from China Medical University, Harvard Unviersity Medical School, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Second Military Medical University, Oslo University Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy, University of Toronto, University of Zagreb, University of Kuopio and delivered plenary lectures and shared their experience with medical education innovations. CAP Vice President Prof. Lu Jian and Prof. Wang Jianzhi also introduced the overall current situation and reform of pathophysilogy teaching in China. At special forums, delegates discussed heatedly on various topics of common interest, including curriculum development, teaching pattern and methods, problem-based learning, and the cultivation of students’ invocation capacity. The delegates also raised their insights on how to strengthen the development of the discipline and faculty, and integration with clinical practice.

“The ISPT 2009 Resolution Concerning the Trends and Practice in Pathophysiology Teaching/Learning” (Shanghai Resolution) was announced by ISP Teaching Committee Chairman Zdenko Kovač at the Closing Ceremony, and was unanimously approved. During the Symposium, 400 titles of medicine textbooks have also been exhibited.
Against the international backdrop of medical education reform, the First International Symposium of Pathophysiology Teaching is a significant step in pushing forward education reform and research, the development of the discipline of pathophysiology.