Pan Junjie, M.D., Ph.D.
Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Cardiology
Deputy Director, Cardiovascular Intervention Center
Huashan Hospital, Fudan University

Professional Roles and Honors:

Youth Committee Member, Cardiovascular Medicine Committee, China Medicine Education Association

Youth Committee Member, Interventional Branch, Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine

Founder and Leader, Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group

Principal Investigator of multiple projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Recipient of the “Huajing Award” for Outstanding Talent, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University

Selected for the “Zhuoxue Plan” of Fudan University

Expertise:
Dr. Pan specializes in the refined diagnosis and optimized treatment of coronary heart disease, as well as precise stent implantation and drug-coated balloon procedures. He has profound expertise in managing complex vascular lesions and performing high-difficulty stent and drug-coated balloon surgeries. Additionally, he is highly skilled in pacemaker implantation, with extensive experience in both leaded and leadless pacemaker surgeries, performing over 500 procedures annually.

By the end of 2024, the Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group will have been in existence for nearly six years. In this fast-paced era, there is a kind of perseverance that slows down, flowing quietly like a stream, eventually merging into rivers and seas. He continues to illuminate the light of health for people with his medical skills and compassion.

The founding of the Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group traces back to a casual dinner gathering. What began as simple conversations among medical colleagues evolved into a profound discussion. They unanimously realized that the lack of medical resources at the grassroots level required more experts to fill the gap, while the public needed more health education to protect their well-being. Thus, a small dream took root in their hearts and blossomed into reality.

Over the years, the team has grown from nothing, gathering a group of passionate medical experts and selfless volunteers. For him, every free clinic and health education session is a warm encounter. Whether on the muddy paths of Zunyi, Guizhou, or in the humble villages of Lixin, Anhui, the expert group always encounters hopeful eyes and grateful smiles. These experiences have deeply taught them that healing is not just a technical endeavor but also an exchange of hearts. Face-to-face health education touches people more profoundly than any advanced equipment could.

In the past six years, the team has left its footprints in countless towns and villages, bringing professional medical resources and warm care. Though challenges lie ahead, Pan Junjie and his team have never stopped moving forward. They know that every effort extends healthier and longer lives to more people. This unceasing drive, like a guiding light, illuminates a hopeful path of philanthropy.

Founded with Love, Guarding Lives

In this era, cardiovascular diseases lurk like shadows in the bustling cities, silently eroding people’s health. According to the 2023 Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China, the number of cardiovascular disease patients in China has reached a staggering 330 million. Conditions such as stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart failure are spreading at an alarming rate.

“Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the number one killer threatening human health and life worldwide,” Pan Junjie remarked with a heavy tone. “The pain of illness, the burden of treatment costs, and the high mortality rate can all become the last straw that breaks families. Such cases are not uncommon in clinical practice. I wondered if we could shift the focus forward, starting with prevention.”

In the field of cardiovascular diseases, Pan Junjie noticed that many people either have no symptoms or atypical symptoms, which may cause them to miss the optimal treatment window or even suffer sudden death. This made him realize that even if someone appears healthy, their vascular condition might already be fragile. Therefore, widespread education on cardiovascular diseases is essential.

“We see cases of sudden death during marathons every year. These athletes may seem physically fit, but their vascular health might not be as robust. They are unaware that they are on the edge of danger. So, it is urgent to help more people understand their health status,” he explained.

Since starting his career, Pan Junjie has occasionally organized dinners with experts from various top-tier hospitals in Shanghai to unwind. However, he soon found that their schedules were becoming increasingly hectic, making it difficult to gather. A late-night reflection in 2018 sparked an idea: instead of just dining together, why not organize everyone to do something meaningful? Thus, he began preparing for this public welfare team.

“Sometimes, it’s quite challenging to gather everyone for a meal, especially now when everyone is so busy. But if I suggest doing free clinics or health education, everyone is eager to participate. Some even reschedule or cancel professional academic meetings to make time. This was the opportunity that led to the founding of the Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group,” Pan Junjie shared.

In January 2019, the Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group launched its first activity. Pan Junjie vividly remembers the scene, filled with warmth and unwavering determination. The team includes not only cardiology experts but also renowned doctors from dermatology, oncology, and other fields, all of whom are deputy chief physicians or above with doctoral degrees from top-tier hospitals.

“We set high standards for the expert group to maintain professionalism. We cannot spread misinformation; we must ensure responsibility to everyone,” Pan Junjie emphasized.

“After every event, we organize a debriefing session,” he added. “This is to ensure that each activity achieves tangible results. During these sessions, many experts share their experiences and the significance of participating in public welfare activities.”

“During our trip to Zunyi, Guizhou, I was deeply moved. Although there are no official statistics, based on the number of coronary heart disease diagnoses and treatments performed annually at local hospitals, the incidence rate is quite high. Many patients, due to the lack of obvious symptoms and insufficient screening, miss the optimal treatment window. It’s a pity. Our free clinics and consultations have first enhanced local medical workers’ awareness of prevention.”

“The director of the cardiology department at a local district-level hospital was also very willing to discuss complex cases with us,” Pan Junjie mentioned. “This flexible form of collaboration allows grassroots doctors to receive professional guidance promptly.”

2. Changing Public Perception, Dispelling Misconceptions, and Building a Bridge of Warmth

Every professional field has its barriers, and medicine, as a complex discipline, is particularly prominent. On the internet, the cost of acquiring, discerning, and filtering disease-related information is extremely high. In recent years, guided by relevant policies, an increasing number of doctors have chosen to engage in medical science popularization alongside their busy clinical and research work. For patients, especially those with high-incidence diseases, this is a valuable act of compassion that helps reduce the difficulty of discerning disease-related information.

Through both online and offline outreach, more and more volunteers have joined the cause, including medical experts and individuals from various sectors of society. Each has their role: medical experts are responsible for free clinics and teaching, while support volunteers handle organizational work and provide logistical assistance. Pan Junjie recalled, “We also have support volunteers who scout locations, organize events, and sometimes even arrange transportation. These volunteers use their efforts to help us better assist grassroots communities.”

Since the initial spark of inspiration in 2018, the Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group has gradually left its mark across the mountains, rivers, and lakes of the country. In the remote Zhiduo County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, where the average altitude exceeds 4,200 meters, there is a small county surrounded by towering mountains. The residents here live a pastoral lifestyle and have limited contact with the outside world. Due to its remote location and scarce medical resources, the health awareness of the residents is relatively low. Yet, in this forgotten corner of the world, the arrival of the Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group was like a warm beam of sunlight, illuminating the land.

On August 8, 2024, five experts from the Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group overcame the harsh conditions of high altitude and severe oxygen deprivation to reach Zhiduo County. Their goal was to provide health consultations and improve the health literacy of the local residents. During the consultations, Professor Pan Junjie discovered that while the incidence of hypertension was high among the residents, their awareness of self-management was severely lacking. Many would stop taking their medication once their blood pressure dropped and symptoms improved. To address this, Professor Pan used simple, accessible language to educate patients on self-management, guiding them to cultivate a sense of health responsibility: “To truly improve residents’ health literacy, we need to educate and guide individuals to become the ‘first responsible person’ for their own health.”

Through Professor Pan’s patient explanations, the residents began to realize that health is not just the responsibility of doctors but also depends on their daily management. They learned how to monitor their blood pressure, when to adjust their medication, and how to control their conditions by changing their lifestyle habits. This knowledge was undoubtedly a valuable treasure for them.

At the end of the event, although the experts needed oxygen supplementation due to the high-altitude oxygen deprivation, their efforts were met with recognition and gratitude from the residents. This activity not only allowed local residents to access high-quality medical resources at their doorstep but also established a “Zhiduo-Shanghai” communication and collaboration link, contributing to the health of the plateau people.

Pan Junjie also shared the story of his first free clinic in Zunyi, Guizhou. Six months before the event, he and other experts and volunteers began coordinating and meticulously preparing with the local hospital to ensure everything would proceed smoothly. When they arrived at Zunyi County Hospital (now Bozhou District People’s Hospital), they found that the comfortable environment and organized setup made the free clinic particularly meaningful. Pan Junjie said, “The local medical institution’s coordination was excellent. They issued announcements in advance, informing people which experts would participate and how many spots were available. Everything was orderly.”

“Once, during a free clinic in a remote village in Fengxian, an elderly lady came specifically to see us. She told us she didn’t feel unwell but just wanted to meet the big experts from the city. This was a story shared by Dr. Tao Zhonghua from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center during our debriefing session. He said participating in free clinics and public welfare activities gave him a strong sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. It is these shared beliefs that have kept our expert group united and moving forward.”

After more than five years of effort, the Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group has grown into a mature team. Pan Junjie said, “Now, even if I don’t participate in the activities, the team can operate on its own. Everyone feels that this is their mission.” He continued happily, “Recently, we had three events in December, and my involvement has decreased. The team’s coordination is excellent, and everyone is willing to contribute.”

Pan Junjie believes in the power of the team. Through training and science popularization, grassroots doctors and the general public can acquire more medical knowledge, enabling them to better serve patients and prevent diseases. He said, “Training and guiding grassroots doctors amplifies our impact, while science popularization helps the public with prevention, significantly reducing the occurrence of diseases. This dual effect makes our work more meaningful.”

On this relentless journey, the Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group has become a warm light, illuminating every corner of grassroots healthcare. They have not only breathed new life into the diagnostic and treatment techniques of grassroots hospitals but also planted the seeds of health awareness in the hearts of the public. Together with his team, Dr. Pan Junjie has woven a web of hope for society, building a bridge that spans indifference and conveys warmth.

3. From Challenges to Breakthroughs, Setting Sail Again Amidst Obstacles

The difficulties of organizing activities were evident from the start. Pan Junjie vividly remembers the various challenges faced during the initial preparations. Funding and time were the primary hurdles. In the beginning, the team had limited financial support, and Pan Junjie, along with another co-founder Zhao Hua, each contributed 50,000 yuan. Though not a large sum, it was crucial for them.

“Our expert team provides free clinics without charging fees, so this support was significant,” Pan Junjie continued. “We also mobilized volunteers to arrange transportation for the experts, especially for our activities in the distant suburbs of Shanghai. Their support made the entire process smoother.”

The contributions of the volunteers went far beyond this, including finding professional teams to shoot educational videos or continuing to organize various medical science lectures offline. Many of them also generously provided partial financial support.

As time passed, the Qihang New Health Doctoral Expert Group has been operating for nearly six years. Pan Junjie clearly remembers every important milestone and each successful event. He mentioned, “Even at the five-year mark, I felt there were still significant challenges. The main one was how to keep the team energized and united.”

Especially during the early stages of the pandemic, Pan Junjie felt particularly troubled. He thought of many ways to communicate with team members and called on everyone to contribute more. “The biggest challenge was that we don’t have a hierarchical relationship. Everyone is completely equal, so maintaining this unity is particularly difficult,” Pan Junjie reflected.

The support of his teammates strengthened Pan Junjie’s confidence. Later, he found that the team had stabilized, and even if he didn’t attend the events, the team could operate on its own. Pan Junjie explained, “With everyone’s efforts, our team has basically taken shape. Each activity debriefing not only reports results but also allows experts to share their feelings. This sense of unity makes me particularly happy and fulfilled.”

When speaking about the core values of the team, Pan Junjie is always passionate: “Working with the expert team feels completely different from seeing patients or performing surgeries in the hospital. In the hospital, the work you can do each day is relatively limited. But through training grassroots doctors or conducting science popularization, the knowledge and skills you impart can benefit more people. This kind of directional help and care is particularly heartwarming.”

Over the past few years, Pan Junjie and his team have not only conducted free clinics but also carried out a series of science popularization activities. The formats of these activities have evolved from purely online to a combination of online and offline, becoming more diverse. Pan Junjie realized, “Although people now mainly get information through videos on their phones, face-to-face communication still has its uniqueness and effectiveness. It can convey health knowledge and messages more directly and powerfully.”

As the team gradually stabilized and developed, Pan Junjie began to think about future plans. He mentioned, “Based on our judgment of future trends, we believe the demand for medical science popularization under the Healthy China 2030 initiative will continue to grow. We need an evaluation system to measure the effectiveness and progress of our work.”

However, how to achieve this became a headache. Pan Junjie said, “I once thought about doing some surveys, but initially, people came here for the free clinics. If we then gave them questionnaires, they might feel we had ulterior motives, which could make them uncomfortable.”

Faced with this dilemma, Pan Junjie decided to seek broader help. He said, “Actually, previous ideas about leading the team were different. Once disagreements arise, whether the team can maintain its previous enthusiasm becomes a question. Just like after the Zunyi Conference, Zhang Guotao left with his troops. Every team has such people. What’s important is that we respect their choices.”

The significance of the team is not just about whether the members remain stable but whether they can continue to shine in their respective fields. “Actually, seeing them continue to do similar things, I don’t see any problem. We respect everyone’s decisions,” Pan Junjie said.

“In the future, we plan to communicate with more experts and university professors to see if we can find better methods,” Pan Junjie’s voice was full of anticipation. “Healthy China 2030 is a grand goal. If we can find a way to evaluate, our work can be more precise and meaningful.”

He firmly believes in the power of the team. Through training and science popularization, not only can grassroots doctors grow, but the general public can also acquire more medical knowledge, thereby better preventing diseases. “We will strive tirelessly, using our professional strength to inject positive energy into society,” Pan Junjie’s words were filled with determination and warmth.

ShanghaiDoctor.cn

What experiences can you share regarding high-complexity stent procedures for treating complex vascular lesions?

Dr. Pan Junjie

 

My specialty primarily focuses on the treatment of coronary artery stenosis and blockages. Currently, this treatment approach is relatively mature, but it still requires selecting the appropriate strategy based on the actual situation. We also utilize various advanced instruments to assess blood flow, the nature of the plaque, and other factors. Based on these evaluations, we determine whether to use conventional balloon angioplasty, a cutting balloon with blades, a diamond drill bit for grinding, or shockwave lithotripsy, among other methods.

It is particularly important to emphasize cases where the coronary arteries are extremely hard, often described as “vessels as hard as stone.” Through medical imaging techniques such as CT scans, we can observe that the hardness of these vessels approaches the density of bone, lacking elasticity. In such cases, extreme caution is required. We use a high-speed rotating diamond drill bit (approximately 100,000 to 200,000 revolutions per minute) to smooth the hardened areas before proceeding with balloon expansion or stent placement.

Before performing the procedure, I thoroughly explain the benefits and potential risks of each treatment method to the patient. This helps them understand the rationale behind different options and better cooperate with the treatment. Such communication aids in establishing realistic expectations for the patient and reducing unnecessary anxiety and misunderstandings.

 

ShanghaiDoctor.cn

What are your views on the current public awareness and attitudes toward the prevention of cardiovascular diseases?

Dr. Pan Junjie

 

Although the general public has some understanding of healthy lifestyles, there is still a relative lack of in-depth knowledge about cardiovascular diseases. Many people lack sufficient awareness and understanding of preventive measures for cardiovascular diseases. A typical case occurred in November 2024, where a patient’s vascular blockage rapidly progressed from 40% to 95% within just one year due to self-discontinuation of prescribed medication and the use of folk remedies, nearly resulting in a heart attack. Our work not only involved promptly addressing his condition but also repeatedly emphasizing the importance of medication management and public education.

 

ShanghaiDoctor.cn

In your clinical practice, how is humanistic care integrated with cutting-edge technology?

Dr. Pan Junjie

 

Cutting-edge technology serves to assist clinicians in better serving patients. Techniques such as cardiovascular imaging and 3D-printed aortic stents enable doctors to diagnose conditions more accurately and devise treatment plans more effectively. However, these technologies cannot replace the humanistic care that doctors provide to their patients. We need these advanced technological tools, but the power of technology should be used to better aid patients, not to distance ourselves from them. Each patient is unique, and when formulating treatment plans, it is essential to fully consider the individual’s circumstances, including their psychological state, lifestyle, and social factors. High-tech innovations and humanistic care complement each other, together creating a high-quality medical service environment. As Kant proposed in “The Metaphysics of Morals,” “We must act according to the general principle of humanity, treating people as ends rather than means.” In medical practice, this means that when we employ cutting-edge technologies, we must always regard the patient as an end in themselves, not merely as a data point or an experimental means.

 

ShanghaiDoctor.cn

What new experiences or insights have you gained in terms of personal growth and self-reflection?

Dr. Pan Junjie

 

As a doctor, we constantly encounter new challenges and cases in our medical practice, which drives us to continuously learn the latest medical knowledge and techniques. Over the years, I have also been reflecting on and improving my communication skills and teamwork abilities in practice. As a member of the Qihang Health Doctoral Expert Team, facing the challenges of team building and management has required me to constantly reflect on and enhance my leadership and coordination skills. At the same time, I have experienced the inner satisfaction and sense of achievement that comes from helping others. These experiences have also strengthened my belief in the value of public welfare activities and motivated me to continue moving forward on this path. Amidst the busy medical work, I have gradually realized that doctors often overlook their own health. Philosophy has helped me find balance in my thoughts, and I have started to place more importance on the harmony between work and life, as well as the importance of personal health. These experiences and insights, like a steady stream of water, subtly influence and nurture the compassionate heart of a healer.

Interview/Gong Zhiwei     Editor/Chen Qing

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