The China Rotation at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University

The Magnificent Efficiency of Chinese Anesthesia: Observations from Zhejiang’s Second Hospital

May 14, 2024 | Victor Xia, MD

In March 2024, Dr. Sam Jiang went to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University (SAHZU) for a 4-week clinical rotation in Hangzhou. His visit officially restarted the China Rotation, a long tradition enjoyed by prior UCLA anesthesia residents, following a hiatus prompted by the pandemic. Sam became the 12th resident to participate in this program since its inception in 2012.

The China Rotation is a unique and the one-of-a-kind program in the United States, offering UCLA Anesthesia resident physicians an opportunity to travel to China and participate in a clinical rotation within the Chinese environment and culture. During this rotation, UCLA residents engage in supervised perioperative care for patients at SAHZU.

Founded in 1885, SAHZU is now one of the premier hospitals in China and has two major campuses. Like UCLA, SAHZU provides a wide range of surgical services, including general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and transplantation of the kidney, liver, and lungs. Hangzhou, located about 112 miles southwest of Shanghai, is the capital of Zhejiang province, with a population exceeding 10 million.

The China Rotation is a part of the broad exchange and collaborative programs between UCLA and the Zhejiang University and between Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and SAHZU. In the early 2000s, an agreement was forged by Drs. Patricia Kapur and Yan Min, chairs of the two Departments, facilitating collaborative initiatives spanning personal exchanges, visits, lectures, and research projects.

Since then, nearly 20 SAHZU faculty members have visited UCLA for clinical observation and clinical or basic science research. In return, many UCLA faculty members have visited SAHZU. Drs. Barbara Van de Wiele, Judy Turner, Aman Mahajan, Randy Steadman, Dan Cole, Tom Vondriska, Yibing Wang, Gundappa Neelakanta, Ira Hofer, and Victor Xia have participated in various engagements in Hangzhou. Furthermore, Drs. Jure Marijic and Jakun Ing have delivered lectures remotely to audiences in SAHZU and its affiliated hospitals.

This collaboration has also yielded joint clinical and basic science research projects, many of which have been published. During the early phase of the COVID pandemic, SAHZU shared their experiences in fighting the virus with our Department and UCLA audiences via multiple Zoom conferences. They also generously donated masks and PPE to UCLA.

Now the China Rotation is officially open again and welcomes UCLA residents who are interested in this unique experience in Hangzhou to apply. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Victor Xia at [email protected].