To celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, given the actual needs of medical students, focusing on the ideological guidance of medical students, the School of Medicine organized an alumni forum on the theme of the “Dialogue on Youth and Growth across Three Generations of NKU Medical People” on May 27. The holding of the alumni forum, which was also to celebrate the Communist Youth League Day, is an important event of the 11^th NKU Medical Culture Festival. Li Mingming, Secretary General of the Alumni Association of School of Medicine, Xu Meng, Deputy Director of School of Medicine and Vice Dean ofSchool of Medicine, and Zhang Yan, Vice Dean of School of Medicine took part in the event together with 100-plus members of the Communist Youth League at the School of Medicine.

Three alumni of the School of Medicine were invited back to participate in the activity. They were respectively Pan Yuan, a graduate of Class of 1989 and head of Senior Ward Department of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Zhang Zhongli, a graduate of Class of 1998 and head of Pediatric Orthopedics Department of Tianjin Hospital, and Li Zhaoyang, a graduate of Class of 2010 and a dentist of Oral Implantology Department of Tianjin Stomatological Hospital. Focusing on the career development, humanistic spirit and mission of medical students, they conducted a dialogue on youth and growth with the students present.

Picking “heroes in harm’s way” as his keyword, Pan Yuan told the story of medical workers who offered to assist Hubei in fighting against the COVID-19. He was impressed by their patriotism, sense of mission and selfless dedication. Zhang Zhongli talked about his experience of studying and practicing medicine, adding that compassion is something very necessary for a doctor. Li Zhaoyang related his experience of conducting spray therapy and nucleic acid testing, reminding the students in the audience that it is very important to retain an interest and love for what you do.

In addition, the three alumni also responded to the questions that medical students are usually concerned about. Cases in point include “how does a hospital coordinate medical service, medical education and medical research?”, What departments are more suitable for male and female students to work in a hospital?”, and “What about the three most important opportunities for medical students?” Meanwhile, they expressed their blessings to students present and hoped students to study hard, strive to improve their professional and personal qualities, and pursue their dreams bravely. Sun Yixuan, an undergraduate of Class of 2019 majoring in Clinical Medicine, expressed, “What you shared makes me love medicine even more. I hope that I can become a doctor as good as you in the future.”

With the theme of “Dialogue on Youth and Growth”, the forum focused on the growth and career development of medical students and gave full scope to the role of the alumni association as a bridge. Medical students thus gained an opportunity to feel the responsibility and sincerity of doctors and clarify their future career plans. The forum was a success and widely recognized by alumni, students and teachers. Reportedly, the School of Medicine will take this as an opportunity to launch a series of alumni forums and further beef up the career development planning and education for students so as to cultivate medical students with a spirit of dedication and a benevolent heart.