The public health system.

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I went to visit the Tianjin Bureau of Public Health today. I was fairly certain that when I get back to the office, someone will ask me questions. So I tried to take some careful notes.

One of the things that struck me the most was that I cannot comprehend the size of this city. I come from a county of 1 million. There are 14 million here. And the list of hospitals that the Bureau of Public Health manages is dizzying. I lost track after they went through the first twelve.

Here's something that's fascinating for me personally. They are just starting a CME and medical resident system here. I've met plenty of international MDs who come to the US for their residencies. I wondered if I would have been one of them if I stayed in China? It seems like enough students come over to the USA for graduate school so they can diversify and compete in this crazy nation. Maybe I would have ended up in the USA one way or another.

I asked the director today if they conducted health education or health promotion programs here. The answer was kind of convoluted but eventually I got that they didn't. And they want to...eventually. Then the director asked me if I wanted to come back to Tianjin and show them how to do it!

!!! Did you hear that Dr. G? I may not be coming back to work after all!

Just kidding. I like being able to breathe fresh air. And speak the language.

Another thing they mentioned: Goal of China is to attain health indicators of top developed countries by 2020.

And I think they are crazy enough to do it.

Just look at their insane progress throughout the past 50 years.

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