News + Accomplishments
From the outstanding achievements of our students to international recognition for our innovative approach, the AIWMU is proud to share the milestones that mark our journey. These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our faculty, the ambition of our students, and the strength of our collaborative partnership. We invite you to explore our recent highlights below.
4th Annual AIWMU Summer Program Wraps Up
We recently concluded the 4th annual AIWMU Summer Program, welcoming 42 students from Wenzhou Medical University (WMU). Throughout the 4-week program, students explored the Canadian healthcare system, global health issues, clinical learning, and advanced biomedical research at the U of A, alongside vibrant cultural experiences. The program ended on August 7th, 2026, with student presentations showcasing key takeaways. More than 40 U of A faculty, mentors, and staff members contributed to a world-class experience that extended far beyond the classroom, fostering meaningful connections, personal growth, and an emerging sense of global citizenship that only comes from true immersion. Our thanks to all!
Excellent Teaching Awards 2025-26
In addition to recognizing excellent WMU faculty contributions during the graduation ceremony of the second class of AIWMU graduates, six U of A faculty were recognized for excellent performance in teaching during the 2025-26 academic year: Drs. Pamela Brett-MacLean, Jonathan Choy, Molly Lin, Sing-Chi Lam, Rabin Persad, and Albert Vu. We are grateful for the contributions of all WMU and U of A faculty who drive the continued, evolving excellence of the AIWMU program!
Second AIWMU Graduating Cohort
The second AIWMU cohort, which entered in 2021, graduated in June 2026. These graduates are currently advancing their education, with many continuing their studies at prestigious universities and hospitals. Notably, outstanding academic performance earned 14 students exemptions from China’s Nationwide Master's Program Unified Admissions Examination. Of this group, three will begin PhD programs at the U of A in the fall, two secured direct admission to other PhD programs, and nine enrolled in clinical master’s programs at leading Chinese universities.
EduLEARN 2026 Oral Presentation
Dr. Brett-MacLean delivered an insightful oral presentation entitled, "Embedding Patient-Centred Communication in the AIWMU Transnational Medical Program: Moving from Theory to Practice in Phase 1" at the EduLEARN conference in Palma, Spain. This presentation highlighted our program's dedication to advancing medical education on a global scale.
👉 [Click here to read the full feature] posted by Wenzhou Medical University!
ASPIRE to Excellence Award 2026
The AIWMU was awarded the 2026 ASPIRE award in “Technology Enhanced Learning”. The award programme, established by the International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE), was developed to recognize world-class excellence in education. By showcasing best-practice in health professions education, the programme can improve education processes and outcomes for institutions globally.
Honouring Outstanding Faculty Contributions (2024–25)
As we celebrated the graduation of our first AIWMU cohort, we were proud to recognize the exceptional dedication of our teaching faculty. Beyond honours presented to WMU faculty colleagues, 10 University of Alberta faculty members were formally recognized for their outstanding teaching performance during the academic year: Drs. Jill Konkin, David Moores, Tim Winton, Liz Rosolowski, David Rayner, Jenny Liao, Jennifer McCombe, Ron Oswald, Suki Dhillon & Jonas Szelewicki. A sincere thank you to all of our dedicated WMU and U of A faculty whose ongoing commitment and expertise have contributed to the success of the AIWMU program!
Inaugural Class of 2020
Students in the AIWMU inaugural class of 2020 graduated in spring of 2025.
Several AIWMU graduates are continuing their education at prestigious universities in Canada, including the U of A. Other graduates have secured post-graduate positions at hospitals such as the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in Harbin, the Shandong Dai Zhuang Hospital in Jining, and the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou.
- 5 students are pursuing PhDs at the U of A in fall, 2025.
- Based on performance measures during the program, 12 students received exemptions from writing China’s Nationwide Master's Program Unified Admissions Examination in 2025.
- 2 students gained direct entry into PhD programs at prestigious universities in China.
- 10 students gained direct entry into prestigious Masters programs in China.
Doubling Class Size, September 2025
In the fall of 2025, the AIWMU welcomed a double class size of 118 students to the program. This expansion exemplifies the sustainability of the program and the shared commitment between the University of Alberta (U of A) and Wenzhou Medical University (WMU) to its success.
ASPIRE to Excellence Award 2025
The AIWMU was awarded the 2025 ASPIRE award in “International Collaboration in Health Professions”. The award programme, established by the International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE), was developed to recognize world-class excellence in education. By showcasing best-practice in health professions education, the programme can improve education processes and outcomes for institutions globally.
New Program - UA-WMU Master of Public Health (MPH) Partnership
The School of Public Health has agreed, in principle, to expand its MPH program to WMU. This partnership would enable students at WMU to complete a U of A MPH degree entirely in China, eliminating the need for international travel or student visa allocation. For the University of Alberta, the initiative offers the potential for increased international tuition revenue and creates a scalable model for global program delivery that could be extended to other faculties within the College of Health Sciences.
Health Humanities and Learning from Patients, June 2025
Dr. Pamela Brett-MacLean brought her international reputation and expertise to the AIWMU program through her health humanities teaching. New this year—the "Patient Immersion Experience" (PIE)—was introduced in the “Foundations” course (AIB 202). Second-year students met with “patients as teachers” at the Wound Care Clinic at the First Affiliated Hospital, gaining early clinical experience while exploring how disease and disability impact patients’ lives. After meeting with patients in groups of three, students shared a “Parallel Chart”—a reflective account about what they learned.
Participation in the 2024 INTED Conference
Deans and faculty of the AIWMU had the chance to participate in the 18th annual International Technology, Education and Development (INTED) Conference in Valencia, Spain in 2024. Our team contributed 5 published conference abstracts and papers to help disseminate new knowledge in education, technology and development around the world.
2024 Outstanding Leadership Award in Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education
At the 10th Conference of the Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Consortium, WMU received the Outstanding Leadership Award in Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education.
Competency-Based Medical Education Pilot, July 2024
In July 2024, a small cohort of Year 5 students participated in a pilot implementation of Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) at the First Affiliated Hospital in Wenzhou. The learning objectives paralleled those used in the MD Program at UAlberta. The first cohort has successfully completed their CBME year. Discussions are ongoing regarding the implementation of Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) at a new affiliate hospital in the city of Lishui.
TSP-AIWMU Success, 2021-2025
As of the end of 2025, 98 WMU faculty members completed one of the “Teaching Scholars Program” (TSP) faculty development non-credit certificates designed for AIWMU (TSP-AIWMU). Most of the AIWMU faculty completed three medical education courses over an academic year to qualify for their non-credit TSP-AIWMU teaching certificate. This faculty development initiative, led by Dr. Carol Hodgson, was implemented online and in some courses, also in-person, and has included faculty from three cities where WMU affiliate hospitals are located, providing training and support to equip AIWMU faculty to effectively deliver the AIWMU’s adapted curriculum, including the pilot Competency-based Medical Education curriculum in Year 5.