On April 15, the 2025 US-China Youth Health Dialogue was held at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) in Guangzhou, Guangdong. Young American doctors and medical students from prestigious institutions such as Yale University, Stanford University, Harvard University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Michigan collaborated with delegates from Chinese hospitals and medical schools, including Peking Union Medical College Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.

The two sides discussed oncology, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, relevant clinical research, and medical student training, where in-depth ideas were exchanged.

Maximilian James Wagner, a medical student from the University of Michigan with aspirations in plastic surgery, shared his perspective on the importance of international collaboration in medical education. "I think the significance of international collaboration brings diverse perspectives to the field of medicine, particularly in understanding how different people approach patient care, from diagnostics to treatment programs," he explained, "and how these practices are integrated across the entire country."

Having lived in Shanghai for several years during his childhood, he felt nostalgic returning to China. He believes that medical practitioners can sometimes become entrenched in a single mindset and treatment plan, which underscores the importance of being open to learning from others about how different medical systems approach individual patient care.

Lauren Meredith Raymond, a resident at Yale University specializing in general surgery and aspiring for a fellowship in surgical oncology, emphasized the importance of global collaboration in medical research.

"I believe that young people like myself have so much growth to achieve in our respective fields. Being in this unique stage where we are continuously learning, it’s crucial to build networks and establish collaborations that can last even longer," she said. As she progresses in her career, she recognizes the endless opportunities for fostering long-lasting partnerships among youth, especially between China and the US, two major forces in medical research today.

The delegates later visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital to witness firsthand healthcare services and medical education in China.

American delegates also exchanged views with Chinese medical students on pressing health agendas. "I'm interested in OB-GYN and women's health," said Kayla Blaise, a medical student at the University of Michigan. "There will always be people giving birth, and medicine is a great area for us to maintain that friendship and partnership," she emphasized, highlighting the crucial role of medical partnerships in women's health during a recent discussion.

Enze Xing, a medical student pursuing an MD/PhD at the University of Michigan, stressed the vital role of international collaboration in scientific research, drawing from her experience in skin inflammation studies. "I think it's really important to continue collaborations," Xing asserted. "As an MD/PhD student, I spent four years conducting research on skin inflammation at the University of Michigan. During this time, we collaborated extensively with researchers based in China."

She highlighted the significant contributions of postdoctoral researchers who rotated through their lab, bringing diverse perspectives and expertise. "We also had numerous postdoctoral researchers join our lab, each contributing unique insights in areas ranging from cell biology to bioinformatics."