The 10th Joint Conference of the University of Chicago and PUMCH Liver Surgery

Peking Union Medical College Hospital

No.1 Shuaifuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing,China

On September 6th and 7th, The UChicago Center in Beijing, in partnership with Peking Union Medical College Hospital and AME Publishing, successfully hosted its Annual Medical Conference. The conference was established in the inaugural year of the UChicago Center in Beijing and has been hosted consecutively over the past decade, interrupted only once by the pandemic. This year’s Conference focused on Minimally Invasive Surgery and Adjuvant Therapy for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, attracting over 80 participants to attend in person and over 14, 000 online participants.

The two-day conference was attended by renowned medical professionals from various prestigious institutions, including Dr. Shunda Du, professor of surgery and Vice Director at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Dr. J. Michael Millis, professor of surgery and Faculty Director at UChicago Beijing Center, Dr. Yilei Mao, professor of surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and other prominent figures in the field of pancreatic disease treatment.

Day one commenced with vibrant discussions on liver transplantation, MIS liver surgery, and new treatments for HCC with a keynote by Burkhardt Ringe, who detailed the development of surgical techniques in liver transplantation. This was complemented by presentations on intraoperative biliary imaging and pediatric liver transplantation innovations.

The subsequent session showcased cutting-edge advancements in liver surgery and treatment techniques. The presentations covered the integration of HAIC in treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma, the use of fluorescence techniques to enhance precision in laparoscopic liver resections, and updates on the latest evidence from MIS studies. Additionally, specific applications of ICG fluorescence imaging in laparoscopic procedures were explored, alongside the significant progress and innovations in laparoscopic liver resection techniques emerging from Japan.

The second day of the conference opened with a keynote speech by Zhao Hong sharing China’s experiences in perioperative liver cancer management, followed by a wide array of advanced topics ranging from advances in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to robotic Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) surgery.

Afternoon discussions focused on therapies for liver metastases from colorectal cancer, examining surgical strategies, and the role of hepatic ablation and infusion pump chemotherapy. The day concluded with insights into the application of artificial intelligence in liver surgery and advancements in minimally invasive and cellular therapies for HCC.

The 10th Annual Medical Conference of the UChicago Center in Beijing marked a decade of medical excellence and set a new benchmark for excellence and laid the groundwork for future breakthroughs in hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease treatments.