Update China

In August 2005, a model six-year cardiothoracic residency program was initiated at Shanghai Chest Hospital, in China, under the auspices of the World Heart Foundation (WHF). A. Thomas Pezzella MD, former Director of Special Projects of the WHF spent one year in China implementing and monitoring the program with co-director Professor Yingze Lee.   A program committee met monthly to evaluate the progress of the program. Subsequent yearly visits to China were made by Dr Pezzella in May 2007, and May 2008. Three of the initial residents finish in August 2008.   The fourth resident will obtain his Masters degree in surgery, following a two-year fellowship in Hong Kong. His final year will be completed at Shanghai, Chest Hospital. After successful completion of the written, oral, and practical examinations, they will receive a certificate from the Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Health Bureau and the World Heart Foundation.  Seven more residents are already in the program.   The program will continue to evolve and improve. Other CT surgery programs in China are evaluating this model. A national system of graduate medical education does not exist in China. These initiatives will serve as practical and efficient models to study and adopt.