Today marks the 40th Teacher’s Day in China, with the theme of promoting the spirit of educators and building a strong education system. In this vibrant autumn season, Xiangya School of Medicine celebrated by honoring the values of education and fostering high-quality development in medical training as it prepares for significant events marking its 110th anniversary. The School invited retired leaders, esteemed educators, and standout students from Xiangya who recently excelled at the National Undergraduate Basic Medicine Innovation Research and Experimental Design Forum to share their experiences and visions for the future. Notable attendees included Chen Xiang, Executive Vice President of Central South University, and Vice President Li Zhihong, along with the leadership team from Xiangya School of Medicine.

The forum was moderated by Li Zhihong.

During the event, students presented flowers to their teachers. Student representative Zhuang Yan, whose team won the gold medal in the Basic Clinical Track, shared heartfelt words: “On behalf of my team and all students at Xiangya, I’d like to wish our teachers a happy Teacher’s Day. Your patient guidance has helped us grow in our medical studies, your nurturing has boosted our innovative skills, and your dedication has shown us the warmth and responsibility of medical education. We pledge to honor our teachers, carry on the craft, and dedicate our lives to alleviating human suffering and promoting health.”

Professor Wu Minghua, Executive Vice Dean of Xiangya School of Medicine, shared updates on the School's recent advancements, and the retired leaders and educators expressed their pride in Xiangya's achievements in recent years.

“Seeing Xiangya today is like witnessing a transformation; we are steadily moving forward on the path to revitalization,” said Sun Zhenqiu, former Party Secretary of Hunan Medical University and former Deputy Party Secretary of Central South University. He expressed hope that Xiangya will continue to nurture high-quality talent and produce impactful research to benefit a wider society.

Former Party Secretary Hu Dongxu encouraged the new generation of students to embody Xiangya’s values: integrity, courage, diligence, humility, and a commitment to truth and excellence. He urged them to embrace challenges and explore new frontiers.

Lu Guangxiu, Chief Scientist at CITIC Xiangya and former Director of the Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering Research Institute, reminisced about her journey, saying, “Life has its ups and downs; we must always hold onto hope and unite to build a better Xiangya.”

Former Vice President of Hunan Medical University Chen Zhuchu emphasized the importance of strengthening medical research, building a robust talent pool, respecting history, and sharing the positive spirit of Xiangya with society.

Former Vice President of CSU Li Guiyuan expressed his satisfaction with Xiangya's renewed energy and ongoing progress, suggesting a focus on today’s tasks and future planning to lay a solid foundation for further development.

Former Executive Vice Presidentof Hunan Medical University Peng Xinghua also expressed confidence in Xiangya achieving even greater successes ahead.

Chen Xiang highlighted the invaluable wisdom of the retired leaders and teachers, who not only excelled in their careers but also passed on their spirit of dedication and community service to the younger generation. He encouraged the new generation at Xiangya to carry forward and enhance the Xiangya spirit, striving to elevate medical education to new heights!

After the forum, attendees toured the School of Basic Medical Sciences 's public experimental platform and took a group photo in the lobby of the Fuqing Building.

(Reviewed by Li Ruijun, Huang Gengwen, Wu Minghua)