Heritage Snapshot: Part 247

LOMA LINDA>> Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital’s Center for International Collaboration evolved from the work Sherry Sun started in 2003. During her first visit to Loma Linda University in 2004, she underwent insightful training with LLUMC staff to see how international collaboration programs work on a day-by-day basis. In identifying international partners, the CIC now sees itself as both a window and bridge to the Chinese hospital. During the 20th anniversary celebration in 2014, Sun, the director of the Center for International Collaboration, reported that Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital routinely touts its affiliation with Loma Linda University Medical Center when promoting special events. “We always bring Loma Linda into that, because we feel like we are sisters,” she said. “We are from the same family.” Sun started working at the hospital as a secretary for the vice president of nursing in September 1993, seven months before the hospital opened. She said she still remembers the first couple of days. Lectures, presentations, meetings and rounds were conducted in English because they were led by American doctors. When the hospital first opened, there were more physicians and nurses than there were patients. The patients were pleased, because of the attention they received. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 2, 1994, the staff saw Sir Run Run Shaw and his family, hospital leaders, governors and an administrator from Loma Linda. Some of today’s hospital staff have been there since the beginning and are amazed because they could not even have imagined what the hospital would be like today. According to Sun, long years of collaboration and mentoring has brought the hospital to the high level of care it provides today. She describes people from Loma Linda as both humble and generous. She says that Loma Linda people are just like parents. “We’re a little baby. They wanted to feed you no matter whether you like it or not," Sun said. "They take you as their only child and they knew what to do.” But, according to Sun, that has changed with what she calls “win-win collaborating.” She claims to have learned much from Loma Linda people, including appreciation for a job well done. In identifying it as an “appreciation culture,” she says “we recognize people’s contribution.” The Chinese employees have also embraced the concept of teamwork, how to make a difference working together for the best patient care. Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital has also become known not only for its management, but also for its values, academic contributions and high technology. Sun said she believes its service philosophy of “sincerity, confidence, and love” is comparable to Loma Linda’s “Integrity, Compassion and Wholeness.” The hospital also embraced Loma Linda’s patient-centered care model. According to Dr. Chao He, immediate past president, the institution’s active medical staff numbers more than 230 attending physicians. Every year more than 90 medical students complete their medical education at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, and it has provided clinical experience for students of Loma Linda University. The institution now schedules more than 1.5 million outpatient visits and 50,000 inpatient admissions annually. Dr. He described people from Loma Linda as good people, from a great organization, with an attitude from the heart, advanced methods of philosophy and an ability to help other people. Members of the enthusiastic and dedicated staff of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital are willing to learn new things. They realize that teamwork, a concept emphasized by Loma Linda University, is the most important factor in providing good patient services. On Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, Dr. He sent an email to 49 friends and former colleagues, outlining a major change in the direction of his life, his new responsibilities and how his experience at SRRSH will benefit China in his future endeavors: “I would like to take this opportunity to share my personal news with you. I have accepted an invitation from Taikang Life Insurance Company recently, to work full time in Beijing, beginning January 2015," he said in the email. "First, may I say that working at SRRSH for the last 15 years has meant so much for my career and my development as a human being. I appreciate highly all my dear friends throughout the world, of your generous support and caring to make my personal achievements and SRRSH’s great accomplishments a reality. Secondly, meeting and learning from you in the past is an invaluable asset for me. I am hoping we will be able to maintain this friendship in the future. I expect and welcome your continuous support to SRRSH." He continued, "As you may know, Taikang Life Insurance Company is one of the largest insurance companies in China, but it has set up a vision and blueprint for health care business as a nonprofit organization. It aims to build a health care system, which combines clinic care, education, and research along with a professional training program. Their primary projects have focused on opening a hospital, international service clinics and nursing homes in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. My main responsibility is to assist with medical care development, including personal training, hospital operation, policy and standards establishment, etc. It is a meaningful but a challenging work for me; however, I am very passionate and confident to take this on, as it carries some similarities from my past duties. I look forward to renewing our relationship and gaining support from you again. I sincerely wish you the best for the year 2015."