The Department of Dermatology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University was established following the relocation of the former Shanghai First Medical University to Chongqing and is one of the pioneering clinical departments founded during the early stages of the inception. In the early 1960s, the department set up specialized laboratories, including a pathology laboratory and a mycology laboratory, becoming one of the earliest dermatology departments in the country to establish dedicated clinical laboratories. In January 1962, the Dermatology Teaching and Research Section was formally founded. In 1986, the department was authorized to confer master’s degrees, and in April 2004, the Dermatology Beauty Treatment Room was established, which later evolved into the Laser Beauty Department, alongside the initiation of a beauty training course. In 2005, it was granted the authority to award doctoral degrees. In 2011, the department was recognized as a key discipline by the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission. Currently, it is a national clinical drug trial base, a national dermatology and medical cosmetology demonstration base, a vice-chairman unit of the Dermatological Technology Development Branch of the National Health Industry Enterprise Management Association, a monitoring and evaluation base for adverse reactions to cosmetics in Chongqing, a member unit of the Dermatology and Venereology Laser Technology Research Center of Chinese Medical Association, an exemplary demonstration unit for the Global Psoriasis Monitoring Project, and a research base for eczema, dermatitis, and skin allergies in China.
Under the leadership of Professors DONG Shaohua, YUAN Chengyan, ZHANG Fating, LI Guiming, LI Hui, and CHEN Aijun, and through the concerted efforts of several generations of medical staff, the department has witnessed rapid advancements in medical technology, professional team, department scale, and academic influence. As of 2022, the department boasts over 50 specialized technical personnel, including 9 senior professionals, 4 associate senior professionals, 3 doctoral supervisors and 4 master supervisors. Of the staff, 15 hold doctoral degrees, and 6 have furthered their education at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, Munich University, University of Chicago, New York University Medical Center, and the University of Washington.
The department discharges nearly 1,300 patients per year and sees 180,000 outpatients annually. It is equipped with an independent Laser Beauty Department, surgical treatment rooms, laboratories, and a pathology room. The department regularly hosts nationally renowned experts and senior professionals in outpatient clinics. It has developed five comprehensive sub-specialties: Laser Beauty, Dermatological Surgery, Dermatopathology, Allergic Skin Diseases, and Immunodermatology. On the basis of these specialties, the department has established thirteen specialized outpatient clinics, including those for acne/vitiligo, rosacea, laser beauty, eczema/atopic dermatitis, skin tumors, chronic urticaria, chronic pruritus, minimally invasive/injection dermatology, superficial scars/hair loss, pigmentary nevi/skin lumps, pediatric/adolescent dermatology, psoriasis, and complex skin diseases. These clinics have positioned the department at the forefront of dermatological care in Chongqing and have had a significant impact across neighboring provinces like Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.
The department has consistently placed emphasis on talent education, training, and the establishment of a robust talent pipeline, forming a teaching and research team spanning three generations. It has been designated as one of Chongqing’s first “Excellent Courses” and has undertaken over 60 national and provincial research projects, including 11 funded by National Natural Science Foundation. The department has published nearly 500 papers, more than 100 of which are SCI-indexed papers, and has organized various academic conferences, including the “23rd National Dermatology and Venereology Academic Annual Meeting” hosted by the Chinese Medical Association, the Sichuan-Chongqing Dermatology Conference, the Liangjiang High Summit Forum on Laser Beauty Technology, and the Chongqing Difficult Case Discussion. The department boasts a number of outstanding academic talents, including individuals selected for the “Chongqing’s High-End Young and Mid-Aged Medical Talents”. Department members hold prominent positions in national and influential academic bodies, such as the “Standing Committee and Secretary-General in Dermatology and Venereology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association” and “Vice-President of the Sixth Committee of Dermatology Physician Branch of the Chinese Medical Association”. Many have been invited to present at esteemed international conferences such as the “World Dermatology Annual Meeting”, the “European Dermatology Annual Meeting”, and the “East Asia Dermatology Annual Meeting”. Currently, the department has trained and is mentoring over 100 graduate students, including 13 international students, and more than 60 professional trainees, many of whom have become key contributors to the local healthcare sector.
Leveraging the strengths of its established dermatological surgery and laser beauty teams at the Yuanjiagang Campus, the department has integrated with other specialties, such as Oral Medicine, Plastic Surgery, and Geriatrics, to establish the “Chongqing Medical Aesthetic Center” at the Jingwei Campus. The center is equipped with cutting-edge aesthetic devices, including Thermage, radiofrequency, and gold micro-needle systems. It leads the field of anti-aging aesthetics and has developed a comprehensive, one-stop service platform for aging management in public hospitals in Chongqing and the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The platform offers full lifecycle services, including aging indicators detection, facial rejuvenation, hair restoration, aesthetic therapy, micro-surgery, stem cell therapy, and body shaping. By combining “first-class talents”, “state-of-the-art facilities”, and “advanced technology”, the center provides distinctive, high-quality, and comprehensive medical beauty services to those seeking aesthetic treatments.