Shenzhen Special Zone Daily: Visiting Shenzhen Four Times a Year with His International Medical Team, theLeading Authority in Neurosurgery Said: The Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen Will Be Developed into a General Hospital of Excellence Within Five Years

Since May of last year, in less than a year, he has led his international team to Shenzhen on four occasions for medical engagement. As the team leader of the German side in cooperation with the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen (Shenzhen Samii Medical Center), he has accelerated the pace of collaboration with Shenzhen.

Start work right away despite experiencing jet lagHe Wants to Bring More Cutting-Edge International Medical Techniques to Chinese Physicians

In the field of neurosurgery worldwide, Prof. Madjid Samii is acclaimed as the “World’s Leading Authority in Neurosurgery.” He is the Lifetime Honorary President of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), which has named an honorary medal after him. This medal represents the highest honor awarded to neurosurgeons worldwide.

As the long-standing friend of the Chinese people, he was the first foreign neurosurgeon to obtain a license to practice medicine in China, and he has been granted the “Friendship Award” by the Chinese government and holds the title of “Honorary Citizen” of Shenzhen. For over 20 years, he has trained more than 1,000 neurosurgeons in China, making remarkable contributions to advancing the research and clinical treatment standards of neurosurgery in the country.

The Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, also known as the “Shenzhen Samii Medical Center”, named after Prof. Madjid Samii, is a project under Shenzhen’s “Three Famous Healthcare Projects” aimed at building it into a famous hospital. As the proverb goes, ”Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”. “We must have a broad international perspective and understand the world’s most cutting-edge medical technologies,” said Prof. Madjid Samii. He believes that only by inviting more world-class experts to China for academic exchanges and providing Chinese doctors with opportunities to grow alongside their global peers through international education can the country cultivate more outstanding local doctors, thereby accelerating the improvement of medical standards and addressing patients’ healthcare needs. For this reason, each time he visits Shenzhen, he not only personally provides consultations and performs surgeries for patients but also actively conducts teaching activities. Through case presentations and live-streamed surgeries, more Chinese doctors are able to observe and learn the surgical skills and clinical thinking of an “international master.”

Although well into his eighties, Prof. Madjid Samii remains sprightly and vigorous. He continues to see patients in the clinic and perform multiple, very difficult neurosurgeries one after another under intense workload. During this visit to Shenzhen, he worked as if he had no jet lag at all, despite having a very tight 72-hour schedule.

Together with his team member, Prof. Amir Samii, he gave a highly informative continuing education course in neurosurgery, providing a thorough, systematic introduction to the latest cutting-edge techniques and concepts in treating neurosurgical conditions such as spinal tumors and brain tumors, which drew thousands of doctors from across the country to learn online.

Prof. Amir Samii, a member of the team, said: “With the support of the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission, the neurosurgery of the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen (Shenzhen Samii Medical Center) has achieved a very high technical standard, including advanced facilities such as hybrid operating rooms and neuronavigation systems. The progress we have observed over these four visits has been truly remarkable. We are delighted to see that the team at the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen—including young doctors and nurses—has rapidly grown and can now work alongside us, skillfully applying these technologies in their practice. When we returned to the operating room this time, it felt like being back in Hannover. Even when we are not here, the team has continued to make progress, as we hold weekly online discussions on new cases and receive reports of completed surgeries. We are extremely proud to witness the progress of the neurosurgy team at the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, and to know they are delivering high-quality care to patients in Shenzhen and across the country.”

Going from focusing solely on neurosurgery to covering a broader range of medical specialties

Advancing the Hospital Towards “Large General Hospital with Strong Neuroscience”

During this visit to Shenzhen, Prof. Samii introduced a brand new model of collaboration—bringing in a multidisciplinary team of experts for the first time to promote joint development across specialties and to further the hospital’s strategy of “large general hospital with strong neuroscience.” His team this time included not only neurosurgery specialists, but also otolaryngologist Prof. Thomas Lenarz and general surgery specialist Prof. Moritz Schmelzle.

Prof. Thomas Lenarz is a distinguished otolaryngologist with an impressive 42 years of medical experience. He is based at the Department of Otolaryngology at Hannover Medical School Hospital in Germany. He once served as the head of Otology, Audiology, and Neuro-otology at the University of Heidelberg. He is also the founder of the Hannover Hearing Centre, a premier institution that integrates patient care and research to address hearing loss. Prof. Lenarz’s expertise extends well beyond clinical practice. With an extraordinary portfolio of 898 scientific publications, he has made significant contributions to advancing otolaryngology. His research encompasses diverse topics, including the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on otolaryngology patients and the benefits of various cochlear implant electrode surfaces. 

Prof. Moritz Schmelzle is a renowned expert in abdominal tumors and transplant surgery. He serves as the head of the Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery at Hannover Medical School and the head of the Transplant Center as well. Prof. Schmelzle specializes in laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques and is deeply engaged in scientific research focused on cell transplantation and organ repair.

Led by Prof. Madjid Samii, the two visiting experts engaged in close, in-depth discussions with the expert teams from the E.N.T. Department and the General Surgery Department at the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen (SSMC), as well as with specialists from other hospitals across Shenzhen. Together, they conducted multiple academic exchange activities, discussing key issues in their respective fields and sharing the latest research findings and clinical experience.

Prof. Thomas Lenarz noted: “For patients with hearing impairments, the demand for medical care is enormous—this is one of the most critical disability issues that humanity faces. With the progress of neuroscience-related projects currently under development at the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen (SSMC), there is great potential and opportunity to establish a world-class hearing center here. We can contribute extensive expertise, collaborating with industries that provide technological treatment solutions as well as biotechnology companies, to introduce biological therapies into this field, serving not only Shenzhen but also the whole of China. Together with Prof. Madjid Samii, we are exploring a scenario where hearing can be restored through the implantation of the central auditory implants. We also hope to bring these achievements here and to work tirelessly toward providing better treatment for patients in need.”

Prof Moritz Schmelzle observed: “The Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen (SSMC) is a modern hospital, and within a very short period of time, it has the potential to become a medical center of world-class standards. In the future, the hospital will provide all the technological support needed—such as robotic surgery and artificial intelligence—to further improve medical services. My ongoing focus is on complex oncological procedures, including esophageal, gastric, hepatic, and pancreatic cancers, as well as organ transplantation. I am also pleased to contribute my efforts to the patients of the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenzhen (SSMC) and to share knowledge and expertise with the energetic and young abdominal surgery team of this hospital.”

Prof. Madjid Samii said: “Our goal is to make the E.N.T. Department one of the best in China. We hope that all patients with hearing problems can come to Shenzhen for treatment, giving each individual the opportunity to improve their hearing and better integrate into life. We also hope to establish an internationally leading General Surgery Department in Shenzhen, equipped with the most advanced technologies and robotic surgical systems, and to train our young Chinese doctors.” He added that “once these two departments are successfully established, we will develop all other different specialties as well. I believe this development will influence not just the hospital but also have a broader impact. Over the next 5 to 10 years, beyond supporting neurosurgery, our plan is to bring more specialties to the highest level. That is why I have invited more world-class international experts to join us. With concerted efforts, I hope that within five years, we will establish a general hospital excelling across all fields of medicine.”

Video source: Shenzhen Live, Shenzhen Media Group  

News source: Shenzhen Special Zone Daily