Renowned maternity hospital embarks on new chapter with name change

The Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital has changed its second name to Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Tongji University, marking a leap towards high-quality development and innovation in reproductive health.

The hospital, which started as an obstetrics hospital, has evolved into a research-oriented gynecology and obstetrics specialty hospital with comprehensive development in medical treatment, teaching and research.

Under the name change, the hospital aims to pioneer a comprehensive lifecycle management approach for maternal and child health, focusing on gynecology, obstetrics, and reproduction. 

"We are set to transform and elevate our hospital, turning it into a source of innovation in reproductive health technology," said Dr Wang Yu, president of the hospital. 

“We will focus on the comprehensive health issues of women and children, centering on gynecology, obstetrics, and reproduction as our main disciplines,” Wang said, marking the institution's commitment to becoming a "Healthcare Haven" for women's health across all stages of life.

Founded in 1947, the hospital is one of the earliest provincial and municipal maternal and child health institutions in China and among the first batch of baby-friendly hospitals in the country. Its obstetrics department is one of the first national clinical key specialties.

In recent years, one in every five newborns in Shanghai was born in this hospital, making it the top institution in Shanghai and one of the leading ones nationwide for deliveries for nine consecutive years, living up to its reputation as the "Shanghai Cradle."

Against the backdrop of increasingly diverse medical needs in maternal and child care, the hospital has actively transformed and upgraded to become a "Healthcare Haven" offering high-quality medical services throughout the lifecycle for women. 

"Standing at a new starting point, our hospital will further deepen international academic exchange and cooperation, making significant contributions to Shanghai's development as an international metropolis and a medical center in Asia," Wang said.