### Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University (formerly First Military Medical University) The Department of Pediatrics at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University (formerly the First Military Medical University), was officially established in 1955 (during the period of the 216th Hospital of the People's Liberation Army). It integrates clinical care, teaching, and research, with comprehensive strength ranking among the top in Guangdong Province. It is a Guangdong Provincial Key Clinical Specialty, a doctoral degree-granting site, and a National Standardized Residency Training Base. The department includes subspecialties in Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Hematology, Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, and Pediatric Critical Care. Its main specialized features are pediatric kidney disease, pediatric leukemia, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and pediatric solid tumors. The Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Center of Nanfang Hospital was established in 1985, making it the earliest unit in South China to perform hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Stem cell transplantation has been successfully applied to treat hematologic malignancies, congenital diseases, and non-malignant hematologic disorders. In particular, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe β-thalassemia is at a leading level both domestically and internationally. Currently, over 100 pediatric transplantations are performed annually. As of the end of May 2022, a total of 1,361 cases of various hematopoietic stem cell transplantations have been completed. In September 2017, the pediatric team of Nanfang Hospital received the highest award in Chinese pediatric medicine, the "Soong Ching Ling Pediatric Medicine Award." In 2017, the department initiated precision diagnosis and treatment for solid tumors, including brain tumors, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, hepatoblastoma, nephroblastoma, and osteosarcoma. It was the first in China to implement intensive chemotherapy supported by autologous stem cell transplantation for brain tumors, as well as autologous stem cell transplantation and targeted therapy for refractory and recurrent solid tumors. The department is one of the few pediatric brain tumor chemotherapy units in China. The Department of Pediatrics is the affiliated unit of the Guangdong Thalassemia Prevention and Treatment Association, the chair unit of the Pediatric Nephrology Expert Committee of the Guangdong Pharmaceutical Association, the chair unit of the Thalassemia Prevention and Treatment Professional Committee of the China Maternal and Child Health Association, the vice-chair unit of the Guangdong Pediatric Kidney and Rheumatology Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Alliance, a designated unit for the Guangdong Pediatric Asthma Standardized Outpatient Clinic, and a demonstration training base for standardized diagnosis and treatment of pediatric asthma in primary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The department currently has 141 medical staff, including 51 physicians, 3 senior-level professionals (professors), 6 associate senior-level professionals, and 18 intermediate-level professionals. There are 2 doctoral supervisors and 3 master's supervisors, serving as sites for doctoral and master's degree authorization. The department has 107 beds, divided into two areas: 19 beds in the transplant laminar flow ward, 78 beds in the general ward, and 10 beds for critical care. In research, the department has obtained dozens of national and provincial/ministerial-level projects, published dozens of SCI papers on transplantation in authoritative international journals, and received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, the Guangdong Provincial Health Department Science and Technology Plan, and the "Ninth Five-Year" Youth Fund of the Military. It has participated in one National 863 Project and conducted two international collaborative studies, achieving a series of research results. The department has established long-term and stable cooperative relationships with renowned medical schools and institutions, including Children's Hospital Los Angeles (University of Southern California), City of Hope, Brigham and Women's Hospital (Harvard Medical School), the Sheffield Kidney Institute (University of Sheffield, UK), and the Children's Cancer Institute (University of New South Wales, Australia), earning a certain reputation both domestically and internationally. ### Subspecialty and Subspecialty Introductions #### I. Pediatric Nephrology Subspecialty and Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology Subspecialty The Pediatric Nephrology Subspecialty and Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology Subspecialty are distinctive subspecialties of the Department of Pediatrics at Nanfang Hospital. They were established in 2018 under the leadership of the discipline leader, Director Sun Liangzhong, and Associate Chief Physician Li Min. Various specialized techniques have been developed, including pediatric renal biopsy, pediatric (automated) peritoneal dialysis, pediatric hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and the management and evaluation of pediatric kidney transplantation. The diagnosis and treatment of various complex and critical pediatric kidney diseases and rheumatologic/immunologic diseases, as well as genetic kidney diseases (including cystic kidney disease), are at an advanced level domestically. The department holds a certain academic influence both domestically and internationally. #### II. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Subspecialty The department began pediatric bone marrow transplantation in 1980 and established the Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Center in 1985, making it the earliest unit in South China to perform hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Stem cell transplantation has been successfully applied to treat hematologic malignancies, immune system diseases, and non-malignant hematologic disorders. In particular, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe β-thalassemia has reached an internationally advanced level. The department uses advanced domestic and international collaborative group chemotherapy protocols to treat leukemia and has completed clinical research on CAR-T cell therapy for refractory and relapsed ALL. Over 100 pediatric transplantations are performed annually, with a total of 1,361 cases completed as of the end of May 2022. In September 2017, the pediatric team received the highest award in Chinese pediatric medicine, the "Soong Ching Ling Pediatric Medicine Award." #### III. Pediatric Solid Tumor Subspecialty The department has initiated precision diagnosis and treatment for solid tumors, including brain tumors, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, hepatoblastoma, nephroblastoma, and osteosarcoma. It was the first in China to implement intensive chemotherapy supported by autologous stem cell transplantation for brain tumors, as well as autologous stem cell transplantation and targeted therapy for refractory and recurrent solid tumors. The department is one of the few pediatric brain tumor chemotherapy units in China. #### IV. Pediatric Critical Care Subspecialty The subspecialty is well-equipped with specialized and full-time medical staff. Techniques such as pediatric bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage have been implemented. Relying on multidisciplinary collaboration and rigorous, optimized operational protocols, the team provides comprehensive, continuous, and effective monitoring and treatment. Technologies such as multiple ventilator support, blood purification, blood cell separation, and ECMO are used for the rescue of various complex critical illnesses and multi-organ failure. #### V. Pediatric Respiratory Subspecialty Specialist outpatient clinics for pediatric asthma and chronic airway diseases have been established. An asthma management team has been formed, including 2 senior-level professionals and 2 intermediate-level professionals. Pediatric pulmonary function testing has been implemented, and standardized management and treatment of asthma patients are provided. In the ward, adjunctive therapies such as nasal irrigation, pneumatic sputum evacuation, and vibration sputum evacuation are performed. ### Scientific Research Platforms and Graduate Training Nanfang Hospital has a central laboratory, a State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure, and an animal experiment center available for student use. In clinical research, each subspecialty has established disease databases with a large number and variety of clinical cases, providing abundant clinical data. ### Graduate Training Measures and Outcomes The department emphasizes the ideological and moral education of graduate students. Supervisors care about the comprehensive development of students in morality, intelligence, and physical health, requiring them to seriously study political theory courses and actively participate in current affairs policy learning, situational education, and public welfare activities organized by the unit. Based on the training plan requirements and the principle of teaching according to aptitude, supervisors develop individualized training plans for each master's student. The training of master's students adopts a balanced approach between coursework and thesis. The entire training process adheres to the principle of integrating theory with practice, enabling students to master the basic theories and specialized knowledge of the discipline, acquire basic scientific research methods, and possess certain practical knowledge and experimental skills. The basic training model involves collective guidance from the supervisor and the discipline group, with guidance methods including supervisor-led or supervisor-led group guidance. The role of the supervisor is to inspire students to think deeply and make correct judgments, cultivating their ability to independently analyze and solve problems. Feedback from previous graduate students indicates that the teaching outcomes are satisfactory. ### Employment of Graduates Over 90% of previous graduates work in pediatrics or hematology departments at tertiary hospitals. ### Other Highlights The department has established long-term and stable cooperative relationships with renowned medical schools and institutions, including Children's Hospital Los Angeles (University of Southern California), City of Hope, Brigham and Women's Hospital (Harvard Medical School), the Sheffield Kidney Institute (University of Sheffield, UK), and the Children's Cancer Institute (University of New South Wales, Australia). Outstanding students may be selected for further study at these institutions.