The Department of Rheumatology of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University was established in March 1998. It was the first department in the province to operate both an independent specialty outpatient clinic and a dedicated inpatient ward. The department serves as the institutional seat for several key leadership roles within the medical community. These include the Vice President of the Rheumatology and Immunology Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, the President of the Rheumatology and Immunology Branch of the Zhejiang Medical Doctor Association, and the President-Elect of both the Rheumatology Branch and the Internal Medicine Branch of the Zhejiang Medical Association. At the national level, it is the institutional seat for Standing Committee Members of the Rheumatology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and the Rheumatology and Immunology Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association.
Recognized as the Zhejiang Provincial Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Complex and Severe Rheumatic and Immune Diseases and a National Clinical Drug Trial Base, the department has a broad scope of responsibilities. It provides consultations for complex cases referred from across Zhejiang and neighboring provinces. Its academic and educational mission encompasses teaching, clinical training, and research supervision for undergraduate, international, and postgraduate students. The department also administers the Standardized Residency Training Program, as well as specialized fellowship training in rheumatology and immunology. Furthermore, it is accredited as a Zhejiang Provincial Continuing Medical Education Base and a National Specialist Physician Training Base.
The department has been consistently recognized in national rankings. It ranked 11th nationally in the 2021 Science and Technology Evaluation Metrics (STEM) for Rheumatology and received a nomination in the Fudan Hospital Rankings. By 2023, it maintained its elite status, ranking 12th nationally in the STEM for Rheumatology and again receiving a Fudan Ranking nomination.
As a leading academic department, we are deeply committed to advancing medical education and fostering the next generation of rheumatology specialists. Our educational mission is comprehensive and multi-tiered:
Comprehensive Student Training: We provide systematic teaching, hands-on clinical training, and dedicated research supervision for medical undergraduates, international students, and postgraduate students (Master's and PhD candidates).
Standardized Residency Program: The department oversees a rigorous Standardized Residency Training Program, ensuring physicians acquire core competencies in internal medicine and rheumatology.
Accredited Training Bases: The department is formally accredited as a Zhejiang Provincial Continuing Medical Education (CME) Base and a National Specialist Physician Training Base, offering high-quality ongoing education for practicing clinicians across the region.
Through these integrated programs, we ensure a continuous pipeline of well-trained clinicians and researchers dedicated to the field of rheumatology and immunology.
