Feature Article - November 11, 2011

Esteemed Chinese Cardiologist Dayi Hu visits LIMR and LMC

Renowned cardiologist Dayi Hu, M.D., FACC, FESC, of China, visited the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research and Lankenau Medical Center November 11, 2011, to meet with the cardiologists, surgeons, and researchers throughout Main Line Health and to present a cardiology grand rounds lecture.

Dayi Hu, M.D. is Chief of the Heart Center at Peking University People’s Hospital and Dean of the Clinical Research Institute at Shanghai’s Fudan University. He is also President of the Chinese Society of Cardiology (CSC), President of the China Committee of Cardio-Cerebral-Vascular Diseases of GSC, a past President of the Chinese College of Cardiovascular Physicians (CCCP), and a member of The International Academy of Sciences for Europe and Asia (IASEA).

A pioneer of radio-frequency ablation technology in the treatment of tachyarrhythmia, Dr. Hu has specialized in preventive cardiology, electrophysiology, pacemaker implantation, and interventional therapy of coronary artery disease. He also actively studies the treatment and prevention of hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and channelopathy. Professor Hu has made tremendous contributions in promoting Chinese cardiac pacing, electrophysiology, and preventive cardiology, and has been a huge proponent of health education in China.

Dr. Hu began his day at Lankenau with Francis Sutter, D.O., System Section Chief, Cardiac Surgery, MLH, and Campus Division Chief, LMC, where he observed a robot-assisted CABG surgery with several other key LMC team members. Throughout the day, Peter Kowey, M.D., System Chief, Division of Cardiovascular Services, MLH and President, MLH Heart Center introduced Dr. Hu to many of the Heart Center physicians and Lankenau Medical Center leaders.

Dr. George Prendergast, Ph.D., President and CEO of LIMR, then bestowed the first-ever honorary LIMR professorship upon Dr. Hu. “This was a marvelous opportunity to host a visit from such a prominent leader in medicine and public health in China,” Dr. Prendergast stated. “It was a pleasure to introduce Dr. Hu to LIMR’s research advances and capabilities, and we are looking forward to several potential collaborations with Dr. Hu and his colleagues in China.”

In the afternoon, Dr. Hu presented a talk on the state of Chinese cardiology entitled “Cardiovascular Disease in China: Challenges and Opportunities.” Afterwards, Barry Mann, M.D., LMC Medical Director, presented Dr. Hu with a magnificent painting of a robotic CABG procedure.

Professor Hu is also the editor-in-chief of the Chinese Journal of Cardiology, and has been the editor-in-chief or major translator of 39 professional books, three of which have been published in the United States. He has published 427 papers in journals at home and abroad.

Dr. Hu has been recognized with a number of awards, including the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology (twice) and the Chinese Physician’s Award. He is also the principal investigator of the China Heart Survey, a Steering Committee member, and has been involved with many international clinical trials such as ROCKET, BEAUTIFUL, GARFIELD, SHIFIT, SAVE, ACE, MAGELLAN, SIGNIFY, ALECARDIO, Dal-HEART, and TIMI 54.