I. Discipline Overview

The Department of Gynecology at The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University was established in 1936. Under the leadership of predecessors for nearly 90 years and through the efforts of several generations, it has continuously developed and expanded. Today, it has become a large-scale, high-quality discipline with a strong faculty team, integrating clinical practice, teaching, and scientific research, enjoying a high reputation within the province and nationwide.

As a leading team in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological diseases in Jilin Province, it is currently a National Clinical Key Specialty Construction Project, one of the first batch of National Cancer Center Ovarian Cancer and Cervical Cancer Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment Quality Control Pilot Units, a National Health Commission "Belt and Road" Gynecological Endoscopy Training Base, a Chinese Medical Doctor Association Gynecological Endocrinology Training Base, a co-initiating unit of the Northeast Three Provinces Gynecological Alliance, and the leading unit of the Jilin Provincial Gynecological Alliance. It also hosts the Jilin Provincial Cross-Regional Collaborative Sci-Tech Innovation Center for Cervical Disease Diagnosis, Treatment and Novel Biological Screening Technology Research, and the Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory for Targeted Diagnosis and Treatment of Gynecological Oncology. Furthermore, as a crucial part of the affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, it undertakes construction tasks for the National Regional Medical Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology jointly built by the National Health Commission and the Jilin Provincial People's Government, the National Key Specialist Base for Standardized Residency Training in Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Branch Center of the National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric and Gynecologic Diseases, the only comprehensive tertiary hospital in Northeast China approved by the National Health Commission as a flagship integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine department for Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Jilin Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetric and Gynecologic Diseases, and a provincial high-level obstetrics and gynecology construction project funded with 250 million RMB.

With the full operational commencement of the Yatai New Campus of The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, the Department of Gynecology, as a traditional strength of the hospital, has officially formed a historic new pattern of "one hospital with three campuses" – Yatai, Ziqiang, and Qingnian – embarking on a new chapter. It is poised to deeply implement the great national health strategy and provide comprehensive protection for women's life and health.

The department currently has a construction area of 10,787 m², consisting of inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, and research laboratories. Subspecialties including Gynecologic Oncology, General Gynecology, Gynecological Endocrinology, and Gynecologic Pelvic Floor develop in tandem. It boasts a strong team of experts, medical staff, technicians, and faculty, including 67 doctors, 149 nurses, 18 technicians, 2 adjunct professors, 9 doctoral supervisors, 20 master's supervisors, 19 full senior titles, and 11 associate senior titles. Doctors with doctoral degrees account for 84% of the total, and those with master's degrees or above account for 96%. There are 272 open beds. The annual outpatient volume exceeds 266,000 visits, annual inpatient admissions exceed 16,000, and annual surgical procedures exceed 12,000. Medical care, nursing, and research laboratories jointly promote comprehensive discipline enhancement and sustainable development. Additionally, it undertakes the diagnosis and treatment of complex cases and the rescue of critically ill patients within the province. As the director unit of the Jilin Provincial Obstetrics and Gynecology Quality Control Center, it leads colleagues in Jilin Province to develop new diagnosis and treatment technologies, update concepts, formulate guidelines, and is responsible for the training, inspection, and guidance of hospitals and doctors at all levels across the province.

II. Medical Features

1. Subspecialty Development Fuels High-Quality Department Growth

(1) Gynecologic Oncology
Since its establishment, the department has emphasized the development of the Gynecologic Oncology subspecialty, which has maintained a leading position in Jilin Province for decades. It pioneered various new technologies, research, and ideas in the province, broadening perspectives in gynecologic oncology for Jilin, Northeast China, and Inner Mongolia. It was among the first in China to establish a "One-Stop Intelligent" cervical cancer prevention and control platform and an ovarian cancer single-disease standardized diagnosis, treatment, and management platform, achieving full-cycle, full-process信息化 intelligent management from prevention to treatment and follow-up for cervical and ovarian cancer, contributing significantly to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of gynecological malignancies in Jilin. It treats approximately over 4,000 patients with gynecological malignancies annually. It focuses on refining internal specialist structures, establishing groups like the "Endometrial Cancer Group," "Ovarian Cancer Group," and "Cervical Cancer Group," focusing on precise diagnosis and treatment of gynecological malignancies. It established the first remote and hierarchical diagnosis and treatment platform for female reproductive system malignancies in Northeast China, significantly improving the diagnosis and referral rates for gynecological malignancies in primary hospitals. It provides systematic treatment (e.g., neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, subsequent adjuvant therapy, targeted therapy, genetic testing, genetic counseling) and long-term management (e.g., intravenous hyperalimentation, port implantation, PICC implantation) for malignancies of the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterine body, ovary, and fallopian tube. It emphasizes humane intervention and scientific communication, fully embodying medical humanism. For women with malignancies who desire fertility preservation, it provides individualized treatment plans to meet both survival and fertility needs. It pioneered a multidisciplinary team (MDT) platform for fertility preservation in young women in the province, enabling a provincial response to national fertility policies and maximizing resource integration across departments of the tertiary general hospital. An MDT for complex and severe gynecologic malignancies has been formed, led by gynecology and involving related disciplines (urology, endocrinology, general surgery, emergency medicine, critical care medicine, rehabilitation, anesthesiology, pharmacy, laboratory medicine, radiology, pathology, transfusion medicine, cardiology, hematology, medical oncology, radiotherapy, etc.), improving efficacy, reducing complications, prolonging survival, and enhancing quality of life, leading the overall advancement of obstetrics and gynecology in Jilin.

(2) Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Techniques
It pioneered minimally invasive treatment for gynecological malignancies in the province (e.g., laparoscopic lymphadenectomy for endometrial/cervical/ovarian/vulvar cancer, radical hysterectomy, fertility-sparing radical trachelectomy for cervical cancer), with mature techniques. In 2016, it率先开展单孔腹腔镜手术 (pioneered single-port laparoscopy - LESS) in the province, now mature and普及化 (widely applied), reducing incision pain and leaving minimal or even no visible scars, meeting contemporary aesthetic demands. The proficient application of the fourth-generation Da Vinci robotic surgical system in gynecological surgery opens a new chapter, providing more efficient and high-quality medical services.

As early as 2000, the department率先开展宫腔镜诊疗 (pioneered hysteroscopic diagnosis and treatment) in the province, establishing a dedicated hysteroscopy room. After over 20 years of development, it handles most complex cases in Jilin. Annual hysteroscopic surgeries reach over 4,000. Surgeries for cesarean scar pregnancy, cervical pregnancy, complex/multiple submucous myomectomy, removal of intramural myomas with >70% protrusion into the cavity, multiple/complex endometrial polypectomy, uterine septum resection, endometrial ablation, etc., account for over 85% of total hysteroscopic procedures (Grade III/IV surgeries). Painless hysteroscopy, surgery, and cervical conization under anesthesia improve patient acceptance, compliance, reduce pain, increase satisfaction, and facilitate complex surgeries.

(3) Specialized Gynecological Endocrinology Diagnosis and Treatment
Gynecological endocrinology is fundamental to women's health, covering issues from adolescence, reproductive age, to menopause spanning over thirty years. In 2016, the department established the first Gynecological Endocrinology Group and specialized clinic in Jilin, staffed by experts with years of clinical experience and specialized training domestically and internationally. It mainly treats various menstrual disorders (e.g., dysfunctional uterine bleeding, amenorrhea, irregular bleeding); ovarian function decline and related diseases (e.g., premature ovarian insufficiency, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, postmenopausal osteoporosis); abnormal pubertal development (e.g., precocious puberty, delayed puberty); disorders of sex development (e.g., Turner syndrome, androgen insensitivity syndrome, genital malformations, congenital adrenal hyperplasia); and other endocrine disorders (e.g., hyperprolactinemia, various abnormal uterine bleeding). It provides comprehensive, patient-centered treatment options, establishes health records, and develops sustainable plans based on individual circumstances, forming unique diagnostic features and a development model, becoming the most capable specialized gynecological endocrinology unit in the province.

(4) Gynecologic Pelvic Floor Disorders Subspecialty
This is the first and only subspecialty in Jilin Province focused on diagnosing and treating pelvic floor dysfunction disorders (PFDD) and reproductive tract anomalies. It performs various surgeries related to PFDD, such as laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy, vaginal iliococcygeus suspension, laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, anterior pelvic floor reconstruction, anterior-middle compartment reconstruction, total pelvic floor reconstruction, as well as vaginoplasty, vulvoplasty, and others. It admits almost all severe pelvic organ prolapse patients from the province and surrounding regions, alleviating suffering and significantly improving the quality of life for patients with PFDD and reproductive tract anomalies, ensuring the health of women in Jilin. With the two-child policy, postpartum voiding difficulties, urinary incontinence, and other PFDD issues have increased. In recent years, the department has also initiated a series of electrophysiological and physical therapies related to postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation, achieving satisfactory results and patient recognition. To further advance the subspecialty, it collaborates with urology, rehabilitation, and other relevant departments to establish a multidisciplinary诊疗模式 (diagnosis and treatment model) focusing on PFDD, female genital anomalies, and obstetric pelvic floor rehabilitation, adhering to individualized treatment principles, now leading the field in Jilin.

(5) Promoting Standardized Cervical Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Implementing Individualized Care
As the Jilin Provincial Cross-Regional Collaborative Sci-Tech Innovation Center for Cervical Disease Diagnosis, Treatment and Novel Biological Screening Technology Research, the department was the exclusive provider of colposcopy in the province as early as 1997. With deepening understanding of cervical diseases, a Cervical Disease Group was established, equipped with a dedicated colposcopy room and full-time physicians. It keeps pace with medical advancements, ensures screening quality, and improves the diagnostic accuracy of high-grade lesions under colposcopy. Over the past three years, the annual number of colposcopies has increased yearly, averaging over 12,000 annually, undertaking most complex cervical disease cases in the province.

Since 2000, the department has conducted cervical HPV testing using the internationally recognized standard HC2 method for high-risk HPV. With increased understanding of HPV and cervical diseases, it added P16 immunocytochemical staining and folate receptor-mediated special staining of cervical epithelium to triage high-risk HPV-positive patients after initial screening, aiding clinical diagnosis and enabling precision medicine. Using colposcopy-directed biopsy as the gold standard, it systematically screens and diagnoses patients. Outpatient services provide type-specific LEEP procedures for CIN lesions, adopting individualized surgical approaches, greatly improving the diagnosis and cure rates of precancerous lesions, preserving fertility. It pioneered individualized HPV treatment in the province with good clinical efficacy, reaching a leading provincial level. For patients with positive margins after conization requiring further treatment, photodynamic therapy may be used based on the condition. For patients diagnosed with cervical malignancy, comprehensive treatment primarily involving surgery and radiotherapy, supplemented by chemotherapy, is provided. Treatment is standardized and individualized based on clinical stage,病理类型 (pathological type), lymph node status, and other factors.

2. Integrated Medical-Nursing Management Model for Characteristic Gynecological Day Surgery

With advancements in minimally invasive techniques and supported by medical insurance and hospital policies, the department has established a day surgery area within the gynecology ward. It has comprehensively developed an integrated medical-nursing management model for characteristic gynecological day surgery, covering bed setup, nursing team, surgery levels, surgeons, and management. This model has been promoted across the province, greatly facilitating flexible admission scheduling for patients, shortening hospital stays, significantly reducing medical costs, alleviating patient burden, and enhancing the healthcare experience.

3. Characteristic Research Laboratory Construction, Supporting Collaborative Medical Development

The research laboratory was founded in 1963, among the first in China to develop cytogenetic laboratory techniques. In the 1990s, it was among the first to develop molecular genetic laboratory techniques and prenatal diagnostic techniques. It holds an advanced domestic level in cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and precision tumor testing. It is divided into four sections: Clinical Lab (body fluid testing), Immunology Lab (various antibody testing), Microbiology Lab (secretions testing), and Cytogenetics Lab (chromosome testing). It possesses advanced testing instruments imported from Germany, the USA, the UK, Japan, and other countries. It offers 37 routine test items related to gynecology, obstetrics, reproductive medicine, and prenatal diagnosis centers. The laboratory's annual test volume reaches 240,000. In 2022, it successfully passed two rounds of national laboratory quality assessments, with all five major techniques participated by the Ob-Gyn research laboratory qualifying, achieving a 100% pass rate. The Ob-Gyn research laboratory remains committed to providing high-quality services with standardized techniques and quality assurance.

III. Teaching and Research Level

As a cradle for medical talent cultivation, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which includes the gynecology discipline, undertakes teaching tasks for undergraduates, seven-year and eight-year program master's students, and international students (full English teaching). It was approved as a master's degree granting point in 1978 and a doctoral degree granting point in 1986, training an average of 45 master's students and 4-6 doctoral students annually. It undertakes nearly 200 credit hours of theoretical courses in "Obstetrics and Gynecology" for undergraduates yearly, with an undergraduate training scale exceeding 500 students.

It was awarded the first batch of provincial standardized residency training bases for Ob-Gyn in 2011, the first batch of national standardized residency training bases for Ob-Gyn in 2014, and the first batch of national key specialist residency training bases in 2020, enrolling over 60 trainees annually.

As a National Ovarian Cancer Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment Pilot Unit, Chinese Medical Doctor Association Gynecological Endocrinology Training Base, National Health Commission "Belt and Road" Gynecological Endoscopy Training Base, Jilin Provincial Quality Control Center, and Jilin Provincial Cross-Regional Collaborative Sci-Tech Innovation Center for Cervical Disease Diagnosis, Treatment and Novel Biological Screening Technology Research, it trains over 80 visiting physicians annually through various training programs and academic conferences, significantly enhancing the overall level of disease diagnosis and treatment for doctors within the province.

While engaged in medical and teaching work, it emphasizes scientific research, undertaking numerous national and provincial/ministerial level research projects, forming a research echelon and direction with team characteristics. It has received funding from the Ministry of Health Science Foundation, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and Ministry of Education Foundation multiple times. In recent years, it has undertaken 4 NSFC projects and over 70 provincial/ministerial level research projects, with total funding exceeding 15 million RMB. It has published over 200 papers, including more than 70 SCI-indexed papers, nearly 10 books, and over 10 invention and utility model patents. It has won multiple provincial/ministerial scientific and technological achievement awards, provincial education department teaching achievement awards, and Jilin University medical achievement awards (including one first prize and one second prize of the Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award).

From a new starting point, embarking on a new journey, and facing new challenges, all medical staff in the Department of Gynecology will remain true to their original aspirations, unite and strive, dedicate themselves courageously, and welcome patients from within and outside the province who are attracted by its reputation with passionate service,高尚的医德 (noble medical ethics),精湛的技术 (exquisite skills), and advanced internationally aligned diagnostic and treatment methods, striving hard to write a new historical chapter.