Introduction

The Department of Pediatrics of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital was officially established on August 16, 1948, initiating its outpatient services. In 1952, the department expanded to include inpatient wards at its primary address (No. 251 Yan'an West Road) with 24 beds, which grew to 36 by 1953. Subsequently, in 1956, the hospital relocated to Lane 1400, West Beijing Road (the present site of Shanghai Children's Hospital), facilitating an increase in pediatric beds to 48. In 1958, a specialized pediatric infectious disease ward was inaugurated, elevating the bed count to 60. In 1962, the Children's Hospital of Jing'an District merged with the Department of Pediatrics of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, relocating to No. 807 Julu Road. The department was divided into pediatrics, neonatology, and infectious diseases, boasting a total of 86 beds. In 1991, it was relocated to No. 600 Yishan Road. Presently, the department houses 60 beds in the pediatric ward and an additional 12 beds in the pediatric ward 2.

In 1956, Dr. Song Jie, a pediatrician trained in the United States as a member of the American Board of Pediatrics, assumed the role of Director of the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Song pioneered the use of the GESELL developmental diagnosis method for assessing children's intellectual development in China. Additionally, he introduced the Denver Developmental Screening Method (DDST) to the country. This led to the establishment of standardized norms for intelligence measurement in Shanghai, marking the inception of diagnostic standards for children's intellectual development in China. Between 1981 and 2000, 24 consecutive national children’s intelligence development courses were conducted, addressing the previously unmet need for pediatric intelligence testing in the country. Consequently, the Department of Pediatrics emerged as the leading institution for clinical pediatric intelligence testing in China.

Since 1962, our hospital has been at the forefront of pediatric care in Shanghai, offering specialized outpatient clinics in pediatric neurology, respiratory (asthma), neonatology, cardiology, hematology, nephrology, endocrinology, child development, and gastroenterology. The department has trained numerous renowned pediatricians who have made significant contributions not only in Shanghai but also nationally. Among these notable figures are Professor Wang Zicai, a nationally renowned expert in pediatric neurology and cerebral palsy rehabilitation; Professors Yang Siyuan and Guo Zhongzhen, distinguished experts in pediatric cardiology; Professors Zhang Jianhua, Wu Liangxia and Chen Li, esteemed experts in pediatric respiratory diseases and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine; Professor Shen Bin, a leading authority in pediatric hematology; Director Shi Wenjing, a highly regarded neonatologist; as well as Qiu Yonggui, Chen Shoukang, Jiang Deyu, Lu Shiying, Yan Yumin, Wu Peiting, Wu Wenyan, and other esteemed pediatric experts.

The department has consistently prioritized the physical and mental well-being of disabled children, providing guidance to care providers to offer tailored education, treatment and care based on varying degrees of disability. This contributed to continuous enhancement and expansion of Shanghai Children's Welfare Institute, garnering support from WHO funds. These efforts have been instrumental in the establishment of Shanghai Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children. Furthermore, the introduction of Expert Clinic for Learning Difficulties marked the inception of the nation's first supplementary reading class for intellectually challenged children, significantly benefiting their education. Shanghai Municipal Education Commission has designated the department as the accreditation unit for intellectually challenged children entering school.

As an affiliate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the Department of Pediatrics of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital has persevered through challenges and achieved comprehensive advancements in medicine, education and research. Presently, the department comprises 24 doctors, including 1 chief physician, 9 deputy chief physicians, 8 attending physicians, and 6 residents. Among them, 3 hold bachelor's degrees, 16 have master's degrees, and 5 possess doctoral degrees. Additionally, it has a dedicated team of 52 nurses. The Department of Pediatrics of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital stands out as a leader in outpatient, emergency, and hospital admissions, as well as in the quality of clinical diagnosis and treatment among tertiary-A comprehensive hospitals in Shanghai. Building upon the legacy of previous generations of pediatric experts, the department has developed its own clinical diagnostic and treatment expertise in various subspecialties such as pediatric neurology, respiratory, cardiology, and neonatology. The department offers VIP, expert, general, and specialized outpatient services. It has garnered praise from Shanghai Municipal Health Commission on numerous occasions and has been recognized as a model pediatric outpatient and emergency department within shanghai general hospitals. In recent years, specialized outpatient clinics, including pediatric-endocrinology-nutrition joint clinic, pediatric care specialized clinic, respiratory specialized clinics, and neonatal specialized clinics, have been established.

Specialties

1. Pediatric Neurological Diseases: As a nationally recognized authority in pediatric neurology and cerebral palsy rehabilitation, Director Wang Zicai has held several significant positions, including Deputy Leader of the Shanghai Pediatric Neurology Group, Vice Chairman of the Pediatric Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation Committee of the Chinese Association for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, and Deputy Director of the Pediatric Rehabilitation Committee of the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine. In 2016, he was honored with the Special Contribution Award from the National Pediatric Cerebral Palsy Society, followed by the Rehabilitation Leader Award from the Shanghai Medical Association in 2017. Our department excels in early diagnosis and treatment of cerebral palsy, achieving notable success in diagnosing and treating children aged 3-6 months. Additionally, our department utilizes advanced diagnostics such as brain CT, MRI, and SPECT for comprehensive evaluation and treatment of childhood epilepsy, effectively reducing recurrence rates. We employ psychological test scales and traditional Chinese medicine for diagnosing and treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yielding excellent outcomes.
2. Pediatric Respiratory Diseases: Our department has developed specialized expertise in diagnosing and treating pediatric respiratory disorders, including respiratory infections, asthma, chronic cough, and allergic diseases. We conduct lung function tests, FeNO measurements, and allergen testing to optimize asthma diagnosis and management, achieving high effective control rates. Our comprehensive approach to chronic cough diagnosis, including traditional Chinese medicine interventions, has yielded significant clinical improvements.
3. Neonatal Diseases: Shi Wenjing, a renowned neonatologist nationally recognized for her expertise, currently serves as Director of the Department of Pediatrics. Our department specializes in diagnosing and treating common neonatal conditions, providing comprehensive care for critically ill newborns, premature infants, and high-risk infants. We emphasize early diagnosis and intervention for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, optimizing treatment for neonatal infections, and implementing early rehabilitation interventions for neonatal neurological disorders. Our neonatal ward, renovated in 2020, comprises 15 beds and offers integrated management for newborns during the perinatal period, reflecting our commitment to advancing neonatal care. Through years of dedication, our department's expertise in diagnosing and treating neonatal diseases has become a hallmark of our pediatric services and is currently expanding to include the treatment of extremely premature infants.