A gathering of outstanding talents, debating the Way in Jinling.

August 23–25

The 8th International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Summit for Developing Countries

Joint Conference of the Jiangsu–Shandong–Anhui Rehabilitation Medicine Specialist Alliance

and the Annual Meeting of the Rehabilitation Medicine Branch of the Jiangsu Provincial Society of Research Hospitals

and the Annual Meeting of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Branch of the Nanjing Medical Association

The 2024 conference was held at the Nanjing International Youth Conference Hotel.

This conference is themed “Technology Leads, Innovative Rehabilitation.”

Experts and scholars in the field of rehabilitation from both China and abroad have been invited.

Gathering to Discuss and Debate

It presented a splendid academic feast.

The conference will last three days.

An opening ceremony and keynote address, along with six plenary sessions and 18 thematic sub-forums, were organized.

It aims to deeply integrate new‑type productive forces with rehabilitation medicine.

Focusing on neurology, critical care, and cognition

as well as the application of technologies such as artificial intelligence in the field of rehabilitation

Held numerous engaging academic lectures and exchanges.

Jointly promote the advancement and development of the field of rehabilitation medicine.

Summit Opening: Kicking Off in Nanjing, Joining Hands to Celebrate a Grand Event

On August 23, 2024, under the joint chairmanship of Lu Xiao, Dean of the School of Rehabilitation Medicine at Nanjing Medical University, and Li Yongqiang, Vice Dean of the same school, the 8th International Society of Physics and Rehabilitation Medicine Summit for Developing Countries was officially inaugurated.

At the opening ceremony, Professor Li Jian’an, Honorary Dean of the School of Rehabilitation Medicine at Nanjing Medical University, delivered a heartfelt address. He reviewed the origins of the International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s Summit for Developing Countries, which was established to promote the widespread adoption of rehabilitation medicine in underdeveloped regions worldwide. He underscored China’s pivotal role and immense potential among developing nations and expressed his hope that more experts from developing countries would participate in the future. In addition, he extended his gratitude to the attending leaders, experts, and young scholars for their contributions, while calling for the continued advancement of the discipline and the next generation, and wishing the conference every success.

Subsequently, Ding Qiang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Professor Lü Ling, President of the Jiangsu Society for Research‑Oriented Hospitals; Wang Yonghong, President of the Jiangsu Medical Association; Lan Qing, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nanjing Medical University; and Zhou Mouwang, Director of the National Center for Quality Control in Rehabilitation Medicine, each delivered remarks. They extended a warm welcome and heartfelt gratitude to the distinguished leaders, guests, and experts who had traveled from afar, while also commending the vital role that rehabilitation medicine plays in promoting human health, enhancing quality of life, and advancing the integrated development of related disciplines. Furthermore, they paid high tribute to all colleagues who have devoted themselves tirelessly and selflessly to the field of rehabilitation medicine.

Summit Theme: Wisdom Inspires, Together We Transcend

What can human-body extremely weak magnetic field measurement and functional imaging technology bring to medicine?

Under the current health insurance system, what opportunities and challenges does rehabilitation medicine face?

What are the new developments and new tasks in national medical quality control?

......

At the plenary session of this conference, experts delivered insightful presentations and engaged in lively discussions on these issues.

First, Academician Fang Jiancheng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of the Academic Committee at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics shared with us that human-body ultra‑weak magnetic field measurement and functional imaging technology has opened up new avenues for early screening and diagnosis of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, research on mental disorders, and metabolic analysis of tumor cells, among other clinical applications—its profound significance leaving the attendees thoroughly inspired.

Subsequently, Li Jian’an, an International Member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine and Honorary Dean of the School of Rehabilitation Medicine at Nanjing Medical University, innovatively proposed a function‑oriented health‑insurance model under the theme “Value-Based Healthcare and the Value of Rehabilitation,” emphasizing a focus on clinical outcomes to better serve patients. This perspective sparked profound reflection and vigorous debate among attendees regarding the future direction of the health‑insurance system.

Subsequently, Director Yue Shouwei of the Intelligent Rehabilitation Equipment Research Center at Shandong University underscored the pivotal role of establishing a comprehensive rehabilitation service system in enhancing the quality of healthcare, highlighting the importance of implementing tiered medical care and staged rehabilitation, refining talent training and certification mechanisms, and standardizing the technical procedures of rehabilitation therapy.

Finally, in light of the new circumstances and emerging tasks facing medical quality control in China, Director Zhou Mouwang of the National Center for Quality Control in Rehabilitation Medicine conducted an in-depth discussion and analysis, offering his unique insights into the future direction of the industry.

Our voice

At the Consciousness Disorders Forum on the afternoon of August 24, several experts exchanged insights on recent advances in the assessment of disorders of consciousness. Liu Su, Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, presented an overview of several internationally widely used scales, highlighting their comparative features as well as their respective strengths and limitations. She also discussed a domestically developed scale—the Nanjing Scale for Persistent Vegetative State in China.

Subsequently, Gao Zhiqiang, Executive Vice President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital and an expert with 40 years of experience in the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and clinical research of neurological disorders, delivered a compelling presentation at the conference on the development process and future prospects of the “Nanjing Scale for Disorders of Consciousness” (also known as the Chinese Nanjing Persistent Vegetative State Scale, CNPVSS).

He provided a detailed account of the scale’s performance, which has undergone rigorous validation for reliability and validity. By comparing it with internationally recognized instruments such as the GCS and CRS‑R, he highlighted CNPVSS’s unique advantage in minimizing interference from the language subscale, as well as the further refinements made in its sixth revision to the subscale content and scoring criteria. This scale not only aligns closely with the clinical realities of Chinese patients but also reflects Nanjing Zijin Hospital’s sustained commitment to advancing research in the field of disorders of consciousness. Moreover, it embodies the collective efforts of the hospital—guided by numerous experts over many years—to develop a consciousness‑assessment tool tailored specifically to the Chinese population.

In addition, the conference featured an outstanding chairmanship by Wang Changbao, Assistant to the President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital and Regional Director of the Qinhuai Campus, at the Orthopedic Rehabilitation Forum, as well as the steady organization of the Critical Care and Cardiopulmonary Forum by Gao Hongliang, Head of the Rehabilitation Therapy Center. Under their expert guidance, the participating scholars and experts engaged in lively and in-depth discussions on the latest advances and pressing issues in their respective fields, lending the conference a rich academic atmosphere.

Our scene

As night fell, the welcome reception for the 8th International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s Summit on Developing Countries began in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

At the outset of the welcome ceremony, President Ge Jiangping of Nanjing Zijin Hospital delivered a speech, extending a warm welcome and heartfelt gratitude to the guests in attendance, and wishing the summit every success.

Nanjing Zijin Hospital prepared two splendid performances for this welcome reception. First to take the stage were Taiji practitioners clad in flowing robes, whose graceful, fluid movements showcased the art’s unique blend of softness and strength, as well as its harmonious interplay of stillness and motion, thereby embodying the core principles of “balance and harmony” central to rehabilitation medicine.

Immediately afterward, a one-of-a-kind medical‑staff fashion show made a stunning debut. Dressed in crisp, well‑tailored uniforms, the healthcare professionals strode down the runway with confident steps and professional poise, exuding self-assurance. They are precisely this kind of people: in their work, they honor life and save the dying; beyond it, they cherish life and create beauty.

Technology drives innovation, and innovation empowers rehabilitation.

Over these three days, experts and scholars from all corners of the country have gathered together,

Shared cutting-edge research findings,

It explored the hottest industry topics,

It has injected new vitality and inspiration into the development of rehabilitation medicine.

From the solemn opening ceremony to the incisive keynote addresses, and through the spirited exchanges at each thematic forum, every segment was ablaze with the sparks of wisdom and passion.

We are witnessing the rapid and continuous advancement of rehabilitation technologies,

Experience the continuous evolution of rehabilitation principles,

Gain a deeper understanding of the critical importance of rehabilitation in enhancing patients’ quality of life.

We will remain committed to exploring and advancing the field of rehabilitation medicine.

Providing patients with higher-quality rehabilitation services.

To contribute to the advancement of rehabilitation medicine.