I. Department Talent Echelon Department Director: He Yulong Deputy Directors: Cai Shirong, Han Fanghai, Tan Min Branch Party Secretary: Cai Shirong Senior Titles (Professor Level): Zhan Wenhua, He Yulong, Cai Shirong, Han Fanghai, Chen Chuangqi, Song Xinming, Ma Jinping, Huang Yihua, Tan Min, Wu Zhimian Associate Senior Titles (Associate Professor Level): Zhang Changhua, Wang Zhao, Cui Ji, Song Wu, Zheng Zhaoxu, Huang Wensheng Attending Physicians: Wu Hui, Peng Jianjun, Yang Dongjie, Wu Kaiming, Zhang Xinhua, Xu Jianbo, He Weiling, Ye Jinning, Chen Zhihui, Yuan Yujie, Chen Liuhua, Zhao Zhenxian, Yu Junfeng, Tan Jinfu, Zuo Jidong II. Basic Department Information The Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University was established in 1964. It is one of the earliest specialized departments for gastrointestinal and pancreatic surgery in China and was among the first batch of units authorized to confer master's and doctoral degrees nationwide. The department began recruiting postdoctoral researchers in 1995 and has since trained 6 postdoctoral fellows, over 50 doctoral graduates, and more than 100 master's graduates. It was designated a Class A key discipline in Guangdong Province in 2000, a national key discipline in 2002, a general surgery residency training base jointly accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong in 2010, and a national clinical key discipline by the Ministry of Health in 2012. The department has served as the lead unit for the Gastrointestinal Surgery Group of the Chinese Medical Association's Surgery Branch for three terms, the lead unit for the Guangdong Medical Association's Surgery Branch for four terms, and the lead unit for the Guangdong Medical Association's Gastrointestinal Surgery Branch for two terms. It founded the *Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery* and the *Journal of Digestive Oncology (Electronic Edition)*. The department has edited major textbooks including *Gastrointestinal Surgery*, *Operative Gastrointestinal Surgery*, *Digestive Tract Staplers and Their Applications*, *Diagnosis and Treatment of Intestinal Obstruction*, *Clinical Surgical Manual*, *Lymphatic Metastasis of Gastric Cancer*, *Sphincter-Preserving Surgery for Rectal Cancer*, and *Gastric Cancer Surgery*. It has translated *Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive Tract Tumors* and co-edited *Clinical Practice Guidelines: Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition* and *Surgical Oncology of Digestive Tumors*. Faculty members have contributed to works such as *Modern Surgery*, *Abdominal Surgery*, and *Surgery*. From 1991 to 2007, the department successfully organized nine "National Gastrointestinal Surgery Academic Conferences." From 1996 to 2001, it held six consecutive "National Advanced Training Courses on New Techniques in Gastrointestinal Surgery." Since 2001, it has organized four academic conferences for the Guangdong Medical Association's Surgery Branch. Since 2003, it has held two "China International Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Symposia." Since 2008, it has hosted five consecutive "National Gastrointestinal Cancer Summit Forums," five "National Advanced Training Courses on Gastric Cancer," and one "National Touring Lecture on Standardized Gastric Cancer Treatment." Since 2009, it has organized four consecutive academic conferences for the Guangdong Medical Association's Gastrointestinal Surgery Branch. The department also holds irregular annual training courses and surgical demonstrations on gastric cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. The overall strength of our department is recognized as leading nationwide, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, which enjoy high international and domestic renown in the field of gastrointestinal surgery. Multiple research findings from our department have been invited for presentation at the International Gastric Cancer Congress (IGCC) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, receiving strong responses. The department possesses a complete medical technology echelon capable of managing major, complex, and difficult cases in gastrointestinal surgery. Over the past decade, advancements in surgical techniques and overall proficiency have improved the 5-year survival rates for patients with gastric cancer and colorectal cancer, achieving a leading position domestically. The specialty includes the Sun Yat-sen University Gastric Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research Center, the Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery Specialty, the Colorectal and Anal Surgery Specialty, the Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Center, the Clinical Nutrition Center, the Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery Diagnosis and Treatment Center, the Editorial Office of the *Journal of Digestive Oncology (Electronic Edition)*, and the Ostomy and Chronic Wound Care Specialty. III. Clinical Work 1. Common Diseases: Gastric cancer, colon cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, neuroendocrine tumors, retroperitoneal tumors, duodenal cancer, gastrointestinal lymphoma, various benign gastrointestinal tumors, massive gastrointestinal bleeding, acute abdomen, gastrointestinal fistulas, complications of peptic ulcers, esophageal stricture, achalasia, superior mesenteric artery syndrome, adult congenital megacolon, short bowel syndrome, internal and external abdominal hernias, benign and malignant diseases of the rectum and anal canal, and inflammatory bowel disease. 2. Pioneered the standardized and radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer in China, and was the first to perform super-extended radical gastrectomy (D4) and Whipple procedure for advanced gastric cancer. To date, detailed clinical data from thousands of cases of standardized radical gastrectomy have been accumulated, maintaining the largest series of D4 gastrectomy cases in China. The overall 5-year cumulative survival rate for gastric cancer patients in our department exceeds 50%, significantly higher than the national average (37.7%), surpassing outcomes in Europe and America, and approaching those in Japan. 3. Our department's standardized lymph node dissection for gastric cancer holds considerable international influence, and we actively promote standardized radical gastrointestinal tumor surgery nationwide. In recent years, Professors Zhan Wenhua and He Yulong have been invited to perform surgical demonstrations and deliver academic lectures at numerous major medical centers across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. 4. Established the earliest comprehensive and systematic clinical database for gastrointestinal tumors and a strict postoperative follow-up and re-examination system in China. The database has accumulated detailed data from over 5,000 cases of gastrointestinal tumors, enabling treated cancer patients to benefit from rigorous follow-up. This database also supports the generation of higher-quality domestic and international research reports. The department enjoys a high reputation within the Chinese gastrointestinal surgery community. 5. Standardizes total mesorectal excision, low anterior resection with sphincter preservation, and function-preserving radical resection for rectal cancer. Performs colonic J-pouch anastomosis and pull-through radical resection for rectal cancer. These approaches have improved the overall radical resection rate and sphincter preservation rate for rectal cancer, enhanced survival rates, significantly reduced recurrence rates, and improved postoperative quality of life. Pioneered prospective randomized controlled trials in China, achieving favorable defecatory function outcomes following sphincter-preserving surgery for low rectal cancer. 6. Holds an internationally leading position in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and has participated in the development of international guidelines for adjuvant therapy of GISTs. In 2004, our department led and organized a multicenter prospective study involving 16 renowned teaching hospitals across 10 major Chinese cities on adjuvant therapy for high-risk GISTs. The study results were presented at the European Cancer Conference (Istanbul, Turkey, October 2006), the 7th International Gastric Cancer Congress (Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 2007), and the 43rd American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (Chicago, USA, June 2007). 7. Routinely performs laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer and gastric cancer, endoscopic treatment for early-stage gastric and colon cancers, and combined endoscopic-laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal tumors. 8. Routinely provides critical care for surgical patients and perioperative enteral and parenteral nutritional support. 9. One of the earliest departments in China to establish a multidisciplinary team (MDT) treatment model, with nearly 20 years of MDT operational experience. Actively promotes and exchanges this model within the Asia-Pacific region and is currently an Asia-Pacific MDT Training Center. A stable and mature disciplinary team led by the Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery Department has been formed. Weekly MDT meetings held every Monday provide optimal individualized treatment plans for each gastrointestinal cancer patient. 10. The department is dedicated to promoting a comprehensive treatment model for gastrointestinal tumors centered on surgery, accumulating treatment experience from thousands of patients. The application and updating of preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, intraoperative chemotherapy, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and subsequent treatment regimens for tumor recurrence align with domestic and international treatment guidelines (e.g., the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology from the USA, the ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines from Europe).