Challenges and Progress of the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Shanghai Children's Medical Center: A 25-year Solid Collaboration With Project HOPE

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of major categories of illness that, if treated, can restore health and improve quality of life. Unfortunately, in many developing countries, health professionals may not have the resources to replenish themselves with modern technology and/or surgery skills to treat a child with complex CHD. Until now, CHD remained a health challenge for many children and families. During the past few decades, due to limited medical resources and operative techniques, only a very small proportion of the children with CHD in our region were able to be operated for lesion repair. However, the situation in the last 20 years has changed dramatically. Treatment for pediatric CHDs has been greatly improved and developed in China. The collaboration with Project HOPE, an international health professional education organization, has promoted the development of our specialty. Specifically, Project HOPE has played an important role in facilitating the collaboration between Shangahi Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, and many world-leading pediatric health care institutions. With contributions from Project HOPE in the last 25 years, cardiovascular surgeons at Shanghai Children's Medical Center have achieved tremendous progress. The landmark of the cardiac center and successful clinical data in treating children with cardiac illness symbolizes the successful collaboration among a state-owned hospital, a non-profit organization-Project HOPE, and multiple international corporations, which have provided valuable resources to facilitate the growth of the hospital into a state-of-the-art tertiary hospital to serve children and families.

Keywords: Congenital heart disease, collaboration, non-profit organization, developing country