Department of Dermatology

The Department of Dermatology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital was established in 1924 and is one of the earliest dermatology and venereology departments in China. The first director was Dr. Chester N. Frazier. After the liberation, the department was led by one of the founders of dermatology and venereology in China, the renowned dermatologist and first-class professor Li Hongqiang. Through the unremitting efforts of several generations, the department has made outstanding contributions to the development of dermatology and venereology in China.

In 2002, it became one of the first national key disciplines and serves as a training site for postdoctoral, doctoral, and master's students, as well as a national clinical pharmacology base. Under the leadership of academic leader Professor Jin Hongzhong, the department has continuously expanded its team in recent years, achieving remarkable results in medical care, education, and research. It has developed into a large dermatology and venereology department with multiple specialized centers for autoimmune bullous diseases, psoriasis, sexually transmitted diseases, laser cosmetic treatments, and dermatopathological diagnosis, covering emergency, inpatient, and research laboratory services. The department actively develops various new diagnostic and treatment projects, such as dermoscopy, skin ultrasound diagnosis, Mohs micrographic surgery, minimally invasive axillary odor surgery, and photodynamic therapy for port-wine stains. For many years, it has adhered to the excellent tradition of weekly three-level rounds by the department head and discussions of difficult cases, providing efficient and precise diagnosis and treatment for complex and severe patients from across the country.

The team’s subspecialty groups are deeply engaged in research, achieving breakthroughs in recent years in the pathogenesis of atypical acne, autoimmune bullous diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, psoriasis, and mycosis fungoides. Papers have been published in internationally renowned journals such as Science, New England Journal of Medicine, and British Journal of Dermatology. The department undertakes several research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation, the Ministry of Health industry fund, the Beijing Natural Science Foundation, and the Capital Development Fund. It also hosts multiple international collaborative projects funded by the Milstein Medical Foundation and the International Union Against Cancer. The research achievements have gained recognition from international peers, and the team has presented at various international academic conferences.

Each year, the department trains over ten master's and doctoral students and undertakes the eight-year teaching tasks of Peking Union Medical College. Under the leadership of Director Jin Hongzhong, the teaching team in dermatology and venereology strives for excellence and innovation, implementing diverse teaching models and undertaking multiple teaching reform projects. Since 2007, the team has been responsible for standardized training for resident physicians in Beijing, successfully training dozens of outstanding residents who have been sent to various parts of the country. In addition to completing its own training tasks, the team also sends speakers nationwide to promote experience sharing and actively advance standardized training in dermatology across the country. The team has received multiple teaching awards, including the Beijing Higher Education Excellent Textbook Award and the Peking Union Medical College Teaching Innovation Team Award.