On June 21, the 3rd International Academic Conference on Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine for Scoliosis was held in Hangzhou, hosted by the First Affiliated Hospital of ZCMU (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine). Chen Zhong, President of ZCMU, and Feng Hongde, Director of the Comprehensive Management Department of Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Health Commission of Zhejiang Province, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. The conference welcomed experts and scholars from Germany, Mexico, and other countries, as well as renowned experts from across China, including Hong Kong, for academic exchanges. More than 400 professionals from across the nation attended. The conference was co-organized by the Third Affiliated Hospital of ZCMU (Zhongshan Hospital of Zhejiang Province), Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, and Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to ZCMU (Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine).

At the opening ceremony, Chen Zhong praised the First Affiliated Hospital’s innovative contributions to the field of scoliosis. He highlighted the hospital’s Tuina Department, known for its rich history and unique expertise in spinal disorders, which has become a leading force in Zhejiang Province. Chen called for increased investment in talent, infrastructure, and research to further enhance the hospital’s role in advancing scoliosis prevention and treatment through integrated Chinese and Western medicine.

Feng Hongde emphasized Zhejiang Province’s commitment to the spinal health and scoliosis correction of children and adolescents. As the first province in China to conduct a scoliosis census for primary and secondary school students, Zhejiang places significant importance on this issue. Feng stressed the need for the hospital to excel in the prevention and treatment of scoliosis in children and adolescents using traditional Chinese medicine, integrated with Western approaches, and to focus on research and innovation.

The opening ceremony also included an awarding ceremony for the third batch of Zhejiang Province Scoliosis Chinese and Western Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Specialty Alliance Units, with 45 units from across the country joining the alliance.

It is reported that the Scoliosis Chinese and Western Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Center at the First Affiliated Hospital of ZCMU has led the establishment of China’s first Scoliosis Chinese and Western Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Specialty Alliance. This alliance currently includes over 100 member institutions and has significantly advanced the integration of Chinese and Western medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis. As the earliest institution in China to practice traditional Chinese medicine for adolescent scoliosis, the First Affiliated Hospital of ZCMU has collaborated with other hospitals and universities to form a comprehensive scoliosis prevention and control research team. This team has undertaken numerous provincial research and development projects, achieving breakthroughs in the construction of traditional Chinese medicine theories, optimization of integrated Chinese and Western medical technologies, and innovation in diagnostic and therapeutic models. These efforts have formed in a well-developed system for the diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis using traditional Chinese medicine.