Department of Cardiology

The Department of Cardiology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) boasts a long and distinguished history, serving as the cradle for the development of cardiovascular medicine in China. In June 1921, PUMCH recorded China’s first electrocardiogram (ECG) using a string galvanometer ECG machine. In 1931, Dr. Chenglang Dong and colleagues at PUMCH established China’s first dedicated cardiology division, comprising a specialized outpatient clinic for heart disease and a clinical cardiac physiology laboratory. Following the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Cardiology Subdivision within the Department of Internal Medicine was re-established at PUMCH in 1948. The outdated string galvanometer ECG machine was upgraded to China’s first 12-lead ECG machine, which was subsequently promoted nationwide—significantly advancing the development of cardiology in China. In 1951, Drs. Wan Huang and Qi Fang pioneered right-heart catheterization in China, enabling diagnosis and assessment of congenital heart disease, rheumatic valvular heart disease, and constrictive pericarditis—laying the foundation for interventional cardiology and hemodynamic monitoring. In 1979, the Cardiology Subdivision was formally established under the General Internal Medicine structure and entered a phase of rapid development. Clinical services expanded to include intravenous thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), radiofrequency catheter ablation and pacing for arrhythmias, echocardiographic diagnosis, coronary angiography and intervention, and cardiovascular clinical pharmacology. In 1993, the Cardiology Subdivision was officially renamed the Department of Cardiology. Entering the 21st century, the Department has flourished across multiple subspecialty areas. Radiofrequency ablation for arrhythmias keeps pace with global advances; the Department possesses mature expertise in managing complex arrhythmias—including atrial fibrillation, non-classic atrial flutter, and scar-related ventricular tachycardia—and implements primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death via implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) for high-risk patients. In coronary intervention, the Department actively integrates internationally advanced techniques and procedural concepts into clinical practice. It pioneered China’s first ‘green channel’ for AMI management and established a 24/7 on-call emergency interventional team. Upholding its tradition of thorough etiological investigation for challenging, complex, and critically ill cases in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases, the Department combines cutting-edge modalities—including cardiac imaging, myocardial pathology, and genetic/molecular diagnostics—to markedly elevate diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities for rare and difficult cardiovascular conditions at PUMCH. Extensive experience has been accumulated in successfully managing critically ill, complex, and rare cardiovascular diseases—forming the distinctive ‘PUMCH approach’. Currently, the Department comprises subspecialty groups focused on hypertension and dyslipidemia, heart failure, atherosclerosis, arrhythmias, pulmonary vascular disease, thrombotic disorders, structural heart disease, cardio-oncology, and cardiac imaging. Each group is staffed by experienced, well-structured expert teams delivering patient-centered care. In recent years, Professor Shuyang Zhang led the establishment of a national rare disease cohort project and registry platform; the cardiovascular rare disease cohort has already taken shape. The Department leads the nation in precision diagnosis and treatment of rare and complex cardiovascular diseases and has cultivated an outstanding cohort of mid-career and young physicians and nurses specializing in cardiovascular rare diseases—facilitating clinical application of novel and orphan drugs for rare disease patients. The Department has long prioritized talent development and cultivation of academic leaders. Past discipline leaders include Professors Wan Huang, Qi Fang, Lan Jin, Ning Wu, Kai You, Baohua Ji, Yuhua Dai, Wenling Zhu, Quan Fang, Shuyang Zhang, Xiaowei Yan, and Ligang Fang. Currently, the Department employs 45 physicians—including 13 professors, 17 associate professors, and 15 attending physicians—as well as 11 technical staff members. It has 6 doctoral supervisors and 10 master’s supervisors, training over 20 graduate students and more than 10 visiting physicians annually. The Department serves as a training base for cardiovascular specialty physicians certified by the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, and as a national training base for coronary intervention and electrophysiology intervention accredited by the National Health Commission Hospital Management Institute. It also operates specialized outpatient clinics for hypertension, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, and pulmonary vascular disease. Annually, the Department admits approximately 4,000 inpatients and sees over 100,000 outpatient visits. Since its founding, faculty members of the Department have held extensive leadership roles across major national medical societies and received numerous national honors—making outstanding contributions to the advancement of the discipline nationwide. Notably, Professor Qi Fang served as Vice President of the Chinese Medical Association and Chairman of its Society of Internal Medicine; Professor Ning Wu served as Chairman of the Cardiovascular Disease Branch and Vice Chairman of the Electrophysiology and Pacing Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Professor Shuyang Zhang currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Internal Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Incoming President of the Cardiology Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Director of the National Committee for Rare Disease Diagnosis, Treatment and Assurance, and Standing Committee Member and Secretary-General of the Cardiovascular Disease Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Today, the entire Department of Cardiology—physicians, nurses, and technical staff—stands united with renewed vigor, marching confidently into a new era and writing a new chapter for PUMCH’s second century.