SCPKU Summer Seminar: Health Care Delivery in China: Rural and NGO Experience

Program Overview: The Stanford Center at Peking University (SCPKU) offers Stanford students a special opportunity for short-term study in Beijing. These three-week seminars are taught by Stanford faculty representing disciplines and schools spanning the entire campus and are specifically designed to integrate course content and program location. 

Program Dates: July 6 to July 27, 2025

Seminar Details: This course, "Health Care Delivery in China: Rural and NGO Experience," provides an in-depth look at the Chinese healthcare system, emphasizing rural eye health. The didactic portion will cover topics including the structure of healthcare delivery, policy and practice of healthcare, and the socioeconomic challenges affecting underserved populations. Students will examine the roles of international and domestic NGOs, such as Lifeline Express and Orbis, in improving healthcare. The course also explores the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with modern approaches and the financial models sustaining vision care initiatives. Through case studies, students will analyze government-NGO partnerships and strategies for addressing health disparities in China’s rural regions. Field trips will be planned to visit a Lifeline Express train, which features a modified surgical center for cataract treatment in rural townships. (www.lifelineexpress.org.hk/en/home)

Course Prerequisites: Undergraduate, Medical students, Master's, and PhD students.  No prior coursework is required.   

Instructor Details: 

Dr. Yang Sun, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Ophthalmology at Stanford University and the Palo Alto VA Medical Center. He is a clinician-scientist and a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigators. Specializing in vision research and eye diseases, Dr. Sun has extensive experience in both clinical care and basic science research. He has worked closely with vision-based NGOs in China, teaching surgery and clinical medicine in rural areas. As an educator and mentor, he is dedicated to training future leaders in vision science and global health initiatives.

Covered Expenses: SCPKU will cover participating students’ international round-trip economy airfare to Beijing and airport transfers up to $1500, lodging and meals for the duration of the seminar, and class-organized travel expenses within China. Students will be responsible for visa and passport application fees, pre-departure immunization costs, health insurance, and all other incidental expenses. Note that withdrawal after the cancellation deadline will incur a fee.