The first AIDS patient in mainland China was found, and the famous infectious disease expert Wang Aixia died of infection | Disease | China

Obituary

Comrade Wang Aixia, a renowned infectious disease expert in China, member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, former director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and professor of infectious diseases, passed away on July 1, 2023 due to illness at the age of 91.

The body farewell ceremony is scheduled to be held at 7:10 am on July 5th at the farewell hall on the basement floor of the surgical building of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

This obituary is hereby issued.

Beijing Union Medical College Hospital

July 2, 2023

Contact phone number:

sixty-nine million one hundred and fifty-six thousand eight hundred and eight

Professor Wang Aixia's Life

Wang Aixia is a renowned infectious disease expert and medical educator in China, a member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, a first-class professor at Peking Union Medical College, the fifth chairman of the Infectious Disease Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and an expert group expert of the Central Health Commission.

▲ Wang Aixia from middle school

Wang Aixia was born in Shanghai in 1932. She was admitted to the Medical Department of Shanghai First Medical College in 1951 and graduated in 1956. In the same year, she entered the internal medicine department of Beijing Union Medical College Hospital, where she served as a resident physician, chief resident physician, and attending physician. She studied under internal medicine experts Professor Zhang Xiaoqian and Professor Li Bangqi. I worked as a visiting scholar at the Walter and Elisa Hall Institute of Medical Research&Farfield Hospital in Melbourne, Australia from 1980 to 1982. In 1987, he was appointed as the chief physician and professor at Beijing Union Medical College Hospital. From 1984 to 1993, he served as the Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Medicine at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. From 1984 to 1997, he successively served as the leader of the Infectious Diseases Group and the director of the Infectious Diseases Department at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. From 1993 to 1997, he served as the Director of the Foreign Guest Medical Department at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. From 1997 to 2008, served as an expert in the expert group of the Central Health Commission. In 2017, he was appointed as a first-class professor at Peking Union Medical College, and in 2019, he was elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Since 1995, he has successively served as the director of the Society of Infectious Diseases and Parasitic Diseases of the Chinese Medical Association, consultant of the Ministry of Health's STD AIDS Expert Advisory Committee, expert of the National 973 Program Human Immunodeficiency Virus Biology and Immune Response Mechanism Research Expert Group, evaluation expert of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, deputy editor in chief of the Chinese Journal of Anti infective Chemotherapy and other social part-time jobs.

In 1978, Wang Quan, Li Bangqi, and Prof Edward W. Hook and Wang Aixia take a group photo in front of the auditorium of Peking Union Medical College. This is the first time that the Infectious Diseases Department of Peking Union Medical College has invited foreign experts to China for academic exchange

Wang Aixia has devoted her life to the medical treatment, teaching and scientific research of internal medicine, especially infectious diseases. With her quick thinking, hard working spirit, diligent learning and solid practice, she has made great achievements in the field of infectious diseases in China, and has made outstanding achievements and contributions in clinical work, teaching, scientific research, health care and other work. She is a banner in the field of infectious diseases in China.

Wang Aixia found the first AIDS patient in mainland China and the first person infected with AIDS virus sexually transmitted by Chinese people; In 1995, a national standard for the diagnosis and treatment of AIDS was formulated, and in 2001, he presided over the revision of the national standard; Established the first P3 laboratory in Chinese hospitals; In 1996, the preparation of G-CSF monoclonal antibodies and test kits won the third prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award; "Research on Clinical Diagnosis and Immunopathology of HIV/AIDS" won the second prize of the Chinese Medical Science and Technology Progress Award in 2002, and was the first to conduct research on the trend of bacterial changes in hospital infections in China. "Research on the Changes of Pathogenic Bacteria in Hospital Infections and the Clinical Rational Application of Antibiotics" won the third prize of the Beijing Science and Technology Progress Award in 2003; Lead the prospective epidemiological investigation of hepatitis C after blood transfusion, and take the lead in raising awareness of cross infection of hepatitis C caused by blood transfusion. Hosted over 20 clinical pharmacological trial projects, published over 100 papers, edited and co edited multiple monographs, and served as the editor in chief of the Modern Medical Bacteriology discipline in the Encyclopedia of China. In 2007, he was awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award by Peking Union Medical College Hospital. In 2013, he was awarded the "Outstanding Contribution Award" by Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

In August 2001, Professor Wang Aixia went to Wenlou Village, Henan Province to diagnose and treat patients, and held a training course for medical personnel

Wang Aixia is an outstanding medical educator who has devoted a lot of effort to medical education, not only focusing on talent cultivation, but also on moral education. She has always been known for her strictness towards students and young doctors, just like a skilled gardener who meticulously nurtures young seedlings, cultivating a large number of medical talents for Beijing Union Medical College Hospital and even the medical community in China. She has been responsible for teaching eight year medical students at Peking Union Medical College until she withdrew due to physical reasons in her late eighties. She has trained many master's and doctoral students, and launched the continuing education classes for infectious diseases in Peking Union Medical College. In 2006, she was awarded the title of Outstanding Teacher in Beijing, and in 2007, she was awarded the title of Famous Teacher in Peking Union Medical College.

Wang Aixia has unlimited love, enthusiasm, and persistent pursuit for the medical profession. She takes saving the lives of patients and relieving their pain as her own responsibility. The first lesson she teaches students is to "value the lives of patients the most.". She not only values acquiring knowledge from literature and books, but also values the accumulation and application of knowledge in clinical practice. She often teaches younger generations that "if you are a doctor, you must go to the patient's side.". Her advanced skills in clinical diagnosis, especially in the diagnosis of unexplained fever, have often impressed her colleagues and are known as the "living dictionary" of difficult cases.

Professor Wang Aixia and colleagues from the Department of Infectious Diseases

Professor Wang Aixia is an outstanding representative and shining pearl among the first batch of medical students trained after the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Her life was a life of practicing the spirit of harmony of rigor, refinement, diligence, and dedication. Although Professor Wang Aixia has left us, she will always be the shining light on our path forward, guiding us forward.

Deeply pay tribute to the respected Professor Wang Aixia!

Professor Wang Aixia will last forever!