On February 26, 2018, Dr. Zhang, Jun, the Secretary of the Party Committee of Tongji University School of Medicine (TUSM), with Dr. Cheng, Yu, the Professor of TUSM and Mr. Zhang, Bingbo, the investigator of TUSM, visited the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Dr. Zhang, Jun had a visit tour in UIUC and felt there was a great academic atmosphere in this top research university. As a comprehensive university and engineering specialty for its strength, Carle Illinois College of Medicine has its unique engineering background. Also, it is the first medical school based on engineering all over the world which using advanced technology to train doctors, integrating innovative thinking into medical education, and combining information technology with medicine. It broke the traditional concept of medical education.

In the afternoon, Dr. Zhang, Jun brought a vivid and unique recruitment meeting to the youth scholars. He introduced the current situation and future planning of TUSM in detail. Meanwhile, he gave them a big picture of TUSM’s four research centers: the Brain and Spinal Cord Innovation Research Center, Stem cell Science and Technology Innovation Center, Heart center and Cancer center. After the meeting, Dr. Zhang, Jun kindly talked to youth elites about the development of medicine and the combination between medicine and engineering. Also, Dr. Zhang, Jun expressed the desire and enthusiasm of TUSM for talents.

Dr. Zhang, Jun seized the opportunity to announce the Third International Youth Scientists Forum - Sub Forum for Medicine would be held in Tongji University during 2nd to 4th April, 2018. Hope the youth scholars in UIUC could participate in this platform for academic exchanges and achievements, and hope it could enhance communications between youth scholars, strengthen the comprehensive understanding of TUSM and attract outstanding talents to join us.

Later on, Ms. Li, Xiuling, the Professor of UIUC Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mr. Lu, Yi, the Professor of Department of Chemistry had a conversation with Dr. Zhang, Jun which about the development of the combination between medicine and engineering. Furthermore, they talked about how to apply engineering technology and chemical theory to practical medical treatment. Besides, they also discussed the support and importance of the research of nanotechnology to the future medicine development and the link between the chemical balance of human body and the basis of medical principles.

During this trip, Mr. Jiang, Dehua, the Scientific and technical counsellor of the Chicago Consulate General in the Ministry of Science and Technology, met Dr. Zhang, Jun and expressed his warmly welcome to TUSM. At the same time, Dr. Zhang, Jun expressed our sincerely thanks and on behalf of the TUSM, teachers and students to Consulate General of People's Republic of China in Chicago, consul Mr. Tong, Yueshan, consul Ms. Zhang, Wanning and Chinese Students and Scholars Association. Thanks for their support to TUSM and hope elite universities in Chicago could strengthen cooperation and academic exchanges with Tongji University with the assistance of People's Republic of China Consulate General in Chicago and CSSA.