OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of clinical genetics specialization development and the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities for hereditary diseases across medical institutions in Shanghai, and to assess the necessity and feasibility of establishing training bases for clinical genetics specialists. METHODS: By employing a cross-sectional survey design, the Clinical Genetics Committee of Shanghai Medical Association has conducted questionnaire surveys from March to April 2025 across 54 healthcare institutions in Shanghai (including 33 tertiary hospitals and 21 secondary hospitals). The survey involved administrative departments and medical personnel from 15 clinical specialties. The survey has covered current genetic disease diagnosis and treatment practices, relevant and specialised disease types, genetic department establishment, testing capabilities, personnel teams, and training requirements. RESULTS: The results revealed that 78.0% of clinical departments surveyed had treated patients with hereditary disorders. Shanghai possesses diagnostic and therapeutic expertise for over 95% of hereditary diseases listed in its rare disease catalogue, reflecting both the practical clinical demand for such conditions and the city's overall diagnostic and therapeutic strengths in this field. Nevertheless, significant disparities exist in the development of genetics departments across different tiers of healthcare institutions. Resources for genetic testing capabilities (including molecular, cellular, and biochemical testing) are also unevenly distributed across different tiers of hospitals. The survey further revealed that only 26.0% of departments believe that their current physician structure fully meets the diagnostic and treatment demands. Over 90% of departments consider standard training for clinical genetic specialists necessary, with 74.0% expressing willingness to participate in establishing training bases. Based on above findings and thorough deliberation, the Clinical Genetics Committee of the Shanghai Medical Association proposes advancing specialist training and discipline development through establishing a standard training system. The committee has drafted a three-year training protocol featuring a "joint training"-centered model, recommending a pilot-first, dynamically optimized strategy for steadily advancing training base development. CONCLUSION Shanghai faces substantial demand for genetic disease diagnosis and treatment, yet exhibits shortcomings in clinical genetics specialization development, resource allocation, and talent pipeline cultivation. To establish a standard training system holds significant practical importance and is underpinned by a broad demand.
Humans ; China ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn/genetics* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Genetics, Medical/education* ; Genetic Testing

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The COVID- 19 pandemic and the subsequent designation of the Philippine General Hospital lead to necessary adjustments in internal medicine residency training. This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on internal medicine (IM) residents in the Philippine General Hospital.

A questionnaire was developed and distributed among internal medicine residents employed in the years 2020 and 2021. Qualitative data was then gathered through on line and face-to-face interviews.

A total of 43 Internal Medicine residents responded. This study found that the pandemic significantly affected internal medicine residents and their overall training. The participants reported changes in the number and profile of patients seen, the limited outpatient clinical exposure, the difficulties of telemedicine, and the reduced interactions with consultants and subspecialty fellows. Infection control protocols and workforce limitations also affected the number of procedures done by the residents. Resident participants reported that they were able to allot more time to studying from the textbook because of the skeletal schedules and decreased number of patients. Other learning avenues were shifted to online conferences and lectures.

The COVID-19 pandemic a lso brought about changes in residents' day-to-day routines, schedules, and rotations. Communicating with patients and relatives was also reported to be more difficult. Lifestyle changes varied among resident s. Socialization also shifted to online avenues and social messaging platforms. Having colleagues who test positive tor COVID and subsequently requiring quarantine lead to constant changes in workforce dynamics. This lead to feelings of anxiety and isolation among its trainees.

However, a number of participants still believed that the pandemic allowed them to become better physicians. This was brought about by a sense of service and pride, camaraderie among colleagues, commitment to finishing the program, financial stability, and administrative support. Still, the participants stated areas for improvement, including more consistent protocol measures, additional financial compensation, added workforce, and more transparent administrative support. All in all, participants felt that they were still able to meet the learning outcomes and minimum competencies. Majority of the participants believed the experiences brought about by the pandemic helped them become a better internist.

Ultimately, the new challenges from the pandemic strengthened the sense of service, resilience and clinical acumen of the residents.

The global shortage of organs for transplantation is a critical public health issue, leading many countries to reassess their organ donation policies. In the Philippines, organ donation rates remain significantly low under the current optin system, where individuals must actively declare their consent to donate. This perspective examines the challenges and limitations of the opt-in system in the Philippines, considering cultural, operational, legal, and ethical factors. It also discusses the emergence and effectiveness of the opt-out system, where consent is presumed unless explicitly denied, and evaluates its potential applicability in the Philippine context. Drawing on international experiences and evidence, this paper argues that transitioning to an opt-out system—supported by appropriate legislation, infrastructure enhancements, and culturally sensitive public education—can significantly increase organ donation rates in the Philippines and better address the nation’s organ shortage.

BACKGROUND

Interprofessional education (IPE) is a kind of education that fosters an environment of teamwork and collaboration among various healthcare professionals, such as midwives, nurses, and doctors. Identifying midwifery, nursing, and medical students’ IPE readiness, perception, and attitude is critical to formally and effectively implement IPE programs in the curriculum.

This study determined the readiness, perception, and attitude for IPE and the relationships between them, including the personal characteristics of the Midwifery, Nursing, and Doctor of Medicine students enrolled in a stepladder and community-based health science tertiary institution in the Philippines.

A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed involving 166 students selected through a stratified random sampling technique who were drawn from the three health programs. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS), Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS), and Interprofessional Attitude Scale (IPAS) were used to assess students’ readiness, perception, and attitude toward IPE, respectively. Pearson’s r-moment correlation, t-test, and one-way ANOVA were used to determine correlations between the variables.

High scores were demonstrated on the students’ readiness, perception, and attitude toward IPE. A significant correlation was found between prior exposure and readiness to IPE. Further, a significant and positive correlation was found between the students’ readiness, perception, and attitude toward IPE. Preparing students for interdisciplinary learning may promote positive perceptions and attitudes.

Midwifery, nursing, and medical students had a high readiness, perception, and attitude toward IPE. IPE readiness, perception, and attitude were correlated to one another. The study recommends formally incorporating IPE in the stepladder and community-based curriculum, such as embedding IPE concepts and competencies in the program specifications.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic forced academic institutions to suspend face-to-face activities, causing a drastic shift to a remote and online setting for learning and teaching. While necessary, the sudden change created a lasting effect on the constituents of medical schools whose curriculum relied on lectures, clinical skills, and hospital experience in teaching its students. This study aims to describe the effect of the rapid digitalization on the medical faculty at the St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine-William H. Quasha Memorial (SLMCCM) in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Members of the medical faculty of the college were invited to participate in focus group discussions (FGDs) where four frames were discussed, namely content, pedagogy, technology, and mindset. Responses taken in the FGDs underwent thematic analysis to find commonalities and patterns among the concerns and comments of the faculty.

Analysis of faculty feedback regarding the four frames revealed a spectrum of responses, encompassing both positive and negative sentiments. Content-related feedback predominantly focused on strategies for effectively segmenting and synthesizing information within the online environment. Pedagogical concerns are primarily centered on adapting teaching methods and delivery styles to the online format. Technological feedback highlighted the perceived advantages and limitations of online platforms and tools, as well as the role of technological support in facilitating the transition to online instruction. Finally, a significant portion of the feedback addressed the psychological effects of the pandemic on faculty members as medical educators, with responses ranging from expressions of fear to statements of confidence.

In the context of the evolving educational landscape, particularly the accelerated adoption of online and hybrid learning models in medical education, faculty recognition of the necessity of digitalization is paramount. Despite the inherent challenges of this transition, the faculty's demonstrated openness to change and innovation presents a significant opportunity for institutional growth. By continuing to invest in these technologies, institutions can not only enhance the medical curriculum but also prepare future physicians for the increasingly digital nature of healthcare delivery.

The academic thought of Professor GAO Shuzhong on acupuncture and moxibustion is investigated systematically and summarized as 5 aspects: establishing GAO 's theory and methodological method of "siguan santong" (four gates and three opens); structuring the theory of "yinyang, qi movement, ascending and descending" pivoted at the umbilicus; deepening the laws of "stereo-layered holographic correspondence in the human body"; proposing "the method of bi-location" of acupoint systems based on meridian and collateral theories; developing the characteristic differentiation theory of acupuncture and moxibustion. These summaries reflect the unique perspective and distinctive features of Professor GAO Shuzhong on the theory of acupuncture and moxibustion, and his clinical thinking; and bring the practical significance for the discipline and academic development of acupuncture and moxibustion.
Moxibustion/history* ; Humans ; China ; Acupuncture/education* ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; History, 20th Century

During the period of the Republic of China, acupuncture faced different opportunities and developments in China and the West. The correspondence between Soulié de Morant, the father of European acupuncture, and FANG Shen'an, a famous acupuncture master of the Republic of China, is of great significance to explore the exchange of acupuncture between China and France, the development of acupuncture in France, the Western learning of Chinese medicine, and the dissemination of academic ideas of acupuncture in the Republic of China. The authors studied Soulié de Morant's collection stored in the Museum of Western Studies of Chinese Medicine of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, and found Soulié de Morant's annotation of Jinzhen Mizhuan (Secrets of Golden Needle), the 1937 edition, and 3 paper letters with FANG Shen'an (2 letters in French and 1 letter in Chinese). After the language translation and collation, based on the correspondence between two masters, in association with the historical background and the narration of CHEN Yemeng, the inheritor of Fang's acupuncture, this paper reviews the process of academic exchanges between them, so as to display the historical development of acupuncture in China and the West.
China ; History, 20th Century ; Acupuncture/education* ; Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; France ; Correspondence as Topic/history*

This paper focuses on the necessity and feasibility of the multidimensional integration of clinic, culture and language in the international education of acupuncture-moxibustion within a cross-cultural context. In view of the current gap between theory and practice, and the barrier of culture and language in the international education of acupuncture-moxibustion, it proposes the specific integration approaches, such as the "trinity teaching method" and "modularization of acupuncture courses", which develops the framework of international education of acupuncture-moxibustion, guided by "cultural exploration" in macroscopic view and implemented through "cultural experience", aiming to achieve a seamless integration of clinic, culture, and language. This initiative not only inherits and promotes Chinese acupuncture-moxibustion, maintains its unique position in global healthcare, but also fosters dialogue and exchange between Eastern and Western medicine. Ultimately, it enhances the international recognition of Chinese acupuncture-moxibustion. By offering fresh perspectives and methodologies, this paper paves the way for a more comprehensive and systematic approaches to international education of acupuncture-moxibustion, presenting the theoretical and practical significance in advancing the globalization of traditional Chinese medicine.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Language ; Acupuncture/education* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Culture ; China

The biography, medical writings and family lineages of Qilu medical masters in the Ming and Qing dynasties were collected and collated, so as to analyze their contributions to expounding acupuncture and moxibustion theories, practicing medical ethics and morals, and academic inheritance in later generations; as well as exploring the valuable guidance to clinical practice of modern acupuncture and moxibustion. ZHAI Liang, YUE Hanzhen, HUANG Yuanyu and LIU Kui were representatives of Qilu masters in the Ming and Qing dynasties. They showed their respects on classics with high inclusion, laid stress on elaboration and innovation in theories and practice of meridians, acupoints and acupuncture technique specially. Based on family heritage and apprenticeship, not only the academic school of acupuncture-moxibustion with regional characteristics had been cultivated, but also the important foundation been laid for the perfection of acupuncture-moxibustion diagnosis and treatment system in later generations. The integration of medical ethics and medical skills showed the spirit of "the benevolence of a doctor". These masters devoted themselves to the collation and research of medical books, collected the classics of medical masters, and wrote a number of easily-learned popular works for clinical application to benefit future generations.
Moxibustion/history* ; Humans ; China ; Acupuncture/education* ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; History, 20th Century ; History, 19th Century

With the development and the application of intelligent acupuncture and moxibustion equipment such as moxibustion robot and acupuncture robot, intelligent technology is constantly involved in the innovation of education. Computer technology represented by knowledge graph is re-constructing, in a structured form, including the fragmented information of the knowledge of acupuncture and moxibustion at all times and in all countries. Its application in the education scene further promotes the optimization of the technology itself. The knowledge fusion for the vertical scene of acupuncture-moxibustion knowledge has impelled us to develop universal entity and relationship extraction techniques. With the help of knowledge graph, the four-diagnosis equipment and acupuncture and moxibustion treatment equipment can be deeply integrated, and the wise information technology be thoroughly applied in the whole process of acupuncture and moxibustion education, so as to give full play to the "emergence" effect of knowledge and thinking, and drive the development of the theories of acupuncture and moxibustion in traditional Chinese medicine.
Moxibustion/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Acupuncture/education* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Knowledge