Chief Medical Officer Named for First UPMC-Managed Hospital in China
By: Sarah Katz
James Wang, M.D., a neurosurgeon with nearly 40 years of experience in the U.S. and China, has been named chief medical officer of Chengdu Wanda UPMC Hospital. Wang brings global clinical and leadership expertise to the facility, which is currently under construction.
Owned and financed by Wanda Group, one of China’s leading conglomerates, the more than 500-bed hospital will be the first in China to be modeled after and managed by a leading American academic medical center. Services will encompass patient-focused Centers of Excellence for cancer care, orthopaedics and sports medicine, neurology and neurosurgery, heart and vascular treatments, ophthalmology and digestive disorders, which will be integrated into UPMC’s global network.
“Our close relationship with UPMC means that we can bring world-class care to patients in Chengdu,” said Wang. “If we have a complex case in Chengdu, we can pick up the phone and seek advice from our colleagues and experts in the United States. With this hospital, I hope we can create a new medical model in China.”
Wang received his medical degree at Beijing Medical University and went on to earn a master’s degree in neurosurgery from Beijing Capital Medical College. He later traveled to the United States to continue his education at institutions that include the National Institutes of Health and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Wang continues to hold the position of clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Washington in Seattle.
In addition to his clinical work, Wang has extensive experience leading a team of physicians in China, where he was named vice president of Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital in 2014 when the hospital opened and served until 2022.
“Dr. Wang’s clinical expertise and his leadership experience make him exceptionally well-suited for this role,” said Randy Jernejcic, M.D., chief executive officer of Chengdu Wanda UPMC Hospital. “His experience establishing a world-class physician team will help ensure the Chengdu hospital will provide the best of Eastern and Western medicine to our patients.”
One of Wang’s top priorities is to build the physician team not just in neuroscience but for the other Centers of Excellence as well. He plans to hire physicians not only from China, but also from the United States and Europe for both long-term positions and short-term fellowships.
“This is a unique opportunity for many physicians. We rarely see doctors from overseas practicing in China,” Wang said. “Our hospital will be closely aligned with UPMC’s clinical guidelines and procedures, and we plan to put an emphasis on continued education for the medical staff. Practicing at Chengdu Wanda UPMC Hospital will provide numerous opportunities to learn and gain international experience.”
Physicians interested in practicing at Chengdu Wanda UPMC Hospital can apply at Careers.UPMC.com.
