Eight-Year Medical Education Program: Retrospect and Prospect of the High-Level Medical Talent Training in China

Purpose: The 8-year medical education program (EYMEP) is China’s path to training high-level medical talents. In retrospect, this study systematically reviewed the developmental process of China’s EYMEP. The status quo and characteristics, and threats and challenges, were analyzed, along with the program’s prospects.Design/Approach/Methods: This study analyzed relevant textual materials and policy documents dating back to the time of hosting of China’s EYMEP, as well as conducted various specific interviews and field trips.Findings: The exploration of China’s high-level medical talent training has been conducted over a century. EYMEP can be divided into five periods: the Only Host Period, the Duplication Pilot Host Period, the Expansion Period, the Joint Exploration Period, and the In-Depth Promotion Period. Currently, there are 14 universities and institutes hosting the EYMEP approved by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. However, they differ greatly in training ideas and goals, enrollment processes, and training phases. China’s EYMEP is faced with some external threats and internal challenges. In the future, China’s EYMEP should consider five aspects.Originality/Value: In the new era of the reform and development of China’s medical education, a systematic review of the development of EYMEP in China is of great significance to the promotion of high-level medical talent training in China. Meanwhile, the exploration course of China’s high-level medical talent training represented by the EYMEP may be an enlightenment for other countries, especially developing countries like China, in their training of high-level medical talents.