Pediatric Nephrology, Rheumatology and Immunology Department

I. Historical Overview

The Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Rheumatology and Immunology was established in September 2013 through the expansion and specialization of the Departments of Pediatric Internal Medicine at the former Main Campus and the West Coast Medical Center. The Department of Pediatric Internal Medicine of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao Medical University has a long history; it was already established when the German authorities first founded the Governor’s Office Hospital in 1900. Through the efforts of Professor Gu Renkai, Professor Wei Shuzhen and other members of the older generation of medical experts, the Department of Pediatrics of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao Medical University gradually became a center for pediatric medical care, teaching and scientific research in eastern Shandong. In 1993, with the approval of the State Council, pediatrics became an authorized master’s degree-granting discipline and began admitting master’s students; in 1995, our department became a key discipline for development at the provincial level. In 1997, in accordance with national requirements, the Department of Pediatrics was abolished, and the Department of Pediatrics of our hospital established the Institute of Pediatrics, laying a foundation for the training of specialized personnel and the further development of scientific research. The Institute of Pediatrics is now a Key Laboratory of Shandong Province. In 2005, after passing the rigorous review of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, pediatrics became the second doctoral degree-granting discipline of the Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Qingdao University, and doctoral students began to be admitted in 2007.

After the unremitting efforts of several generations, particularly those of Professor Zhang Qiuye, Professor Li Zipu and others, the trend toward specialization of the patient population has become increasingly evident in recent years. The growing number of patients requiring specialized care has placed higher demands on the department’s specialized diagnostic, treatment and nursing services. With the strong support of the hospital leadership, in 2013, Pediatric Internal Medicine was reorganized and specialized on the basis of the Departments of Pediatric Internal Medicine of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao Medical University and the West Coast Medical Center, and a separate Pediatric Cardiology, Nephrology and Immunology unit was established, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, rheumatic and immune diseases, and immunodeficiency diseases.

II. Personnel Structure

The Pediatric Cardiology, Nephrology and Immunology unit has a strong complement of personnel and has developed into a comprehensive, high-level medical, teaching and research group headed by a doctoral supervisor and supported by a large number of highly qualified young and middle-aged technical professionals. The discipline currently has 10 specialist physicians, including 3 with doctoral degrees and 7 with master’s degrees; 2 hold the title of professor and 2 the title of associate professor. There is 1 doctoral supervisor and 2 master’s supervisors. There is 1 member of the Immunology Group of the Pediatrics Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, 1 member of the Cardiovascular Group of the Pediatrics Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, 1 member of the Pediatrics Branch of the Shandong Medical Association who is also deputy head of its Cardiovascular Group, 1 head of the Nephrology and Immunology Group of the Pediatrics Branch of the Shandong Medical Association, and 1 deputy chair of the Youth Committee of the Pediatrics Branch of the Qingdao Medical Association. Professor Zhang Qiuye is also an editorial board member and peer reviewer for well-known domestic academic journals, including the Chinese Journal of Pediatrics, the Chinese Journal of Practical Pediatrics and the Journal of Pediatric Pharmacy. The discipline has a well-structured personnel system. Its academic leader is in the prime of his or her career and is a doctoral degree holder with a senior professional title at the full-professor level, recognized in the relevant academic field for high academic attainments and outstanding achievements and capable of leading the discipline to achieve its established goals. Overall, the discipline ranks among the advanced disciplines in Shandong Province.

III. Clinical Services and Technologies

The department currently provides diagnosis and treatment for pediatric cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, rheumatic and immune diseases, and primary or secondary immunodeficiency diseases. The cardiovascular diseases treated include congenital heart disease in children, arrhythmias, Kawasaki disease, infective endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, pericarditis, heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell therapy for pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy was among the earliest such treatments undertaken in China. The kidney diseases treated include various forms of nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, acute renal insufficiency, hematuria and proteinuria. Pediatric renal needle biopsy has been introduced, and peritoneal dialysis can be provided for acute and chronic renal insufficiency. The rheumatic and immune diseases treated include allergic purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, dermatomyositis and rheumatic fever. Plasma exchange has been introduced for the treatment of severe systemic lupus erythematosus. Stem cell infusion, extracorporeal hemoperfusion and immunoadsorption are planned to begin soon for the treatment of severe and refractory lupus.

IV. Scientific Research and Achievements

Members of the department have received 2 second prizes and 3 third prizes for scientific and technological progress in Shandong Province; 1 first prize and 4 second prizes for scientific and technological progress in Qingdao; 2 second- and third-prize awards from the Provincial Department of Education; and 2 second prizes for outstanding achievements in soft science in Shandong Province. More than 120 academic papers have been published, and 8 books have been edited as chief or associate editor. The department has served as chief editor for 2 monographs and as associate editor or contributing editor for 7 books.

V. Teaching and Personnel Training

The department currently undertakes teaching in pediatrics at Qingdao University, as well as clinical observation and internship supervision for undergraduate and junior college students. The department also has 1 doctoral supervisor and 2 master’s supervisors and participates in the postgraduate training program in pediatrics at Qingdao University. Our department is a designated standardized training institution for pediatric physicians in Qingdao and undertakes the standardized training and rotational training of pediatric physicians in the city.

VI. Specialty Development

1. Pediatric Nephrology

The department provides diagnosis and treatment for various forms of nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, acute renal insufficiency, hematuria, proteinuria and other conditions. Pediatric renal needle biopsy has been introduced, and peritoneal dialysis can be provided for acute and chronic renal insufficiency.

2. Pediatric Cardiovascular Diseases

The department provides diagnosis and treatment for congenital heart disease in children, arrhythmias, Kawasaki disease, infective endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, pericarditis, heart failure, cardiomyopathy and other conditions. Umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell therapy for pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy was among the earliest such treatments undertaken in China.

3. Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology

The department provides diagnosis and treatment for allergic purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, dermatomyositis, rheumatic fever and other conditions. Plasma exchange has been introduced for the treatment of severe systemic lupus erythematosus. Stem cell infusion, extracorporeal hemoperfusion and immunoadsorption are planned to begin soon for the treatment of severe and refractory lupus.

4. Pediatric Immunodeficiency Diseases

The department provides diagnosis and treatment for primary and secondary immunodeficiency diseases in children.

VII. Patient Guide

Department Location

1. Outpatient services: Shinan Campus: 2nd floor of the Outpatient Building; West Coast Campus: 1st floor of the Outpatient Building

2. Wards: Shinan Campus: 3rd floor of Dexian Building; West Coast Campus: 8th floor of Block A of the Ward Building

Contact Information

Shinan Campus: 82911693; West Coast Campus: 82919565