Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital: A Model of Innovation, Collaboration, and Healthcare Advancement in China

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), affiliated with the Zhejiang University School of Medicine, stands as a beacon in China’s healthcare landscape. Sir Run Run Shaw declared at the outset that he wanted “to create a modern and international hospital in China, based on Western hospital management concepts and operational models, and serving as a domestic benchmark. ” This vision was wholeheartedly endorsed by the hospital’s international partner, the renowned Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) in California.

Over three decades of remarkable progress, SRRSH exemplifies the convergence of visionary philanthropy, international collaboration, cutting-edge innovation, compassionate patient care and dedication to excellence. Its approach of successfully integrating Western practice and Eastern cultural values in the 1990’s resulted in both national and international acclaim.

A Philanthropic Vision: Pioneering East-West Integration

Established in 1994 through the generous donation of the Shaw Foundation and with steadfast support from the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, SRRSH was born of Sir Run Run Shaw’s profound devotion to his homeland and his aspiration to elevate medical standards throughout the nation. Through its groundbreaking partnership with the renowned LLUH, the hospital pioneered world-class expertise and service philosophy alongside advanced medical techniques and care standards, establishing a new paradigm for public hospitals in China.

Sir Run Run Shaw and Lady Mona Shaw were personally invested from the project’s inception, conducting site inspections and selecting the hospital’s location after multiple visits throughout Zhejiang Province. During the 1980’s, they demonstrated unwavering dedication, holding weekly meetings with LLUH partners and serving as exemplars in bridging cultural differences and ensuring adherence to international standards.

The collaborative process was meticulous and transformative. Under Sir Run Run Shaw's leadership, the SRRSH team strived to achieve the highest international standards whilst incorporating a humanistic approach to medicine. Through thoughtful design elements such as the welcoming atmosphere of the outpatient hall, SRRSH demonstrated from its very inception that patient-centred, humanistic care would remain at the heart of its mission.

From Learning to Leading: Cultivating a Unique Culture

During the initial five years since its inception SRRSH operated as a modern public hospital co-managed by LLUH. Supported by the Shaw Foundation’s substantial investment, Chinese and Western teams collaborated extensively in joint initiatives and this led to remarkable early achievements. The hospital acquired pioneering medical equipment and facilities, including China's earliest endoscope cleaning and disinfection systems in early 1990’s.

SRRSH pioneered the “Shaw Hospital Model”, uniquely integrating Chinese and Western cultures. This encompassed implementing attending physician responsibility systems, providing individual patient consultation rooms, and establishing “painless hospital” concepts. Such innovative management systems and patient-centred care models were revolutionary in mainland China at the time. These practices embodied Loma Linda’s holistic care philosophy of treating both the physical bodies and souls of patients – Treat the patient, not just the disease. Adopting Loma Linda’s philosophy “to make man whole”, SRRSH developed its core value of “giving you sincerity, confidence and love”, establishing foundational principles of honesty, respect, commitment, unity, and excellence in delivering care.

The collaboration of the hospitals evolved from a mentor-mentee relationship to an equal partnership. Today, LLUH continues its participation as a consultant, with annual expert exchanges totalling 1,200 LLUH specialists and over 400 SRRSH professionals abroad. The SRRSH-LLUH International Training Academy for Healthcare (SALITAH) was launched in 2023, further cementing this enduring partnership.

Building Reputation: From National Recognition to International Accreditation

Three decades of development have demonstrated SRRSH’s meteoric and sustained progress. Today, the hospital operates seven campuses with 4,300+ beds and 8,500+ staff, evolving into a comprehensive tertiary first-class hospital which has served more than 52 million domestic and international patients.

Nationally, SRRSH has achieved consecutive A++ rankings in tertiary hospital assessments for five years, ranking ninth nationally in 2022 — the youngest hospital to achieve such distinction.

Internationally, the hospital maintains full alignment with international standards, earning numerous prestigious recognitions:

• 2006: First mainland Chinese public hospital to achieve Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, subsequently maintained through four renewals
• 2017: China's first Mayo Clinic Care Network member
• 2019: First hospital in Asia to achieve Magnet Hospital Certification for nursing excellence

Radiating Impact: Proliferating Excellence Across Borders

SRRSH has long valued international exchange. Through diverse, high-quality global medical collaborations, SRRSH engages in medical exchange programmes with 37 globally renowned universities and medical institutions in cooperation with the World Health Organisation, resulting in a total of 7,000 mutual visits. It has become China’s preferred institution for overseas medical students and resident training, with international exchanges spanning the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, South Africa, and beyond.

In the recent decades, SRRSH has further expanded its capacity to mentor others, promoting the “Shaw Hospital Model” throughout China and beyond. Nationally, it has established relationships with over 40 hospitals across Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Xinjiang, and other regions. With its support, the city of Aral in Xinjiang successfully completed the construction of a modern, large-scale hospital — Alar Hospital, affiliated with SRRSH — in less than three years, creating a hub of medical innovation and excellence in southern Xinjiang.

International outreach continues with sustained vigour. Through the “Belt and Road” Minimally Invasive Surgery Academy, SRRSH actively disseminates cutting-edge innovations in minimally invasive surgery to overseas peers. It organises international training programmes, conferences, and technology exchanges that promote advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques and research achievements to medical professionals from Belt and Road countries. Recently in 2024, the West Lake Conference for Minimally Invasive Surgery — Belt & Road Medical Training Programme was held at SRRSH in Hangzhou, offering tailored training for surgeons and healthcare professionals from 19 countries. This collaborative synergy has been the defining characteristic since SRRSH's opening.

A Legacy of Excellence and Future Vision

SRRSH embodies more than institutional success — it represents profound achievement when visionary philanthropy meets commitment to human dignity. What began as one man’s dream to bridge East and West has evolved into a beacon that illuminates the path forward for global healthcare collaboration.

Today, as SRRSH continues to pioneer intelligent healthcare solutions and nurture the next generation of medical professionals from across continents, it stands as Sir Run Run Shaw’s most enduring legacy — his belief that the combination of philanthropy, compassion and the striving for excellence can uplift humankind.