China

The Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital was founded in 1892 by Dr. William Macklin, a Disciples of Christ medical missionary. Early support for the hospital was provided by the Disciples churches in the United States and Canada and the United Christian Missionary Society. The hospital played a critical role during World War II; especially during the Nanjing Massacre, when the Japanese army killed more than 300,000 innocent Chinese people in 1938. The hospital grew, as did its sister institutions, the Nanking University, Ginling Women's College and Nanking Theological Seminary. Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the seminary was reorganized as the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, under the Chinese Protestant Church. It serves as that church's major center for ministerial education. The university, college, and Drum Tower Hospital have become public, state-supported institutions and have prospered with the gradual growth in Chinese wealth and stability.

Today, the Drum Tower Hospital (named for its location beside the ancient drum tower of the city) provides medical services to the residents of Nanjing and neighboring provinces and cities. Nearly 2,100 staff members, 223 of whom are doctors, provide excellent medical care to people in need.

Shortly after the year 2000, Drum Tower Hospital acknowledged its mission roots and expressed an interest in renewing its relationships with Global Ministries. Though the hospital is now a public institution, the missionary founder, Dr. Macklin, and the church in the U.S. were recognized in anniversary celebrations in November 2002, which recognized 110 years of the work of the hospital. A bronze bust of Dr. Macklin sculpted by Wu Weishan, a local artist with an international reputation, was unveiled in a prominent site on the hospital campus.

Today Global Ministries maintains a close and cordial relationship with the Drum Tower Hospital and has facilitated professional exchanges between the Drum Tower Hospital and hospitals in the United States. In 2003, two Drum Tower physicians spent three months at a hospital in Washington, DC, to learn more about specialized care in intensive care units. A third doctor spent three months at a hospital in Boston to learn more about his specialty. Global Ministries provides support toward the living expenses these doctors will have during their time in the United States.

One of the most exciting aspects of this program is the developing partnership between Nanjing and its sister city, St. Louis, Missouri. In 2004, the President of the Drum Tower Hospital, along with two of his associates, visited the Washington University Medical School. Likewise, Dr. Hani Soudah, of the Washington School of Medicine, visited the Drum Tower Hospital in 2003. These experiences led to the establishment of a formal exchange agreement between the two hospitals. This agreement was signed in Nanjing on September 24, 2004, at a dinner that also celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the sister city relationship between Nanjing and St. Louis. The Governors of Missouri and Jiangsu Province were present, along with the Mayors of St. Louis and Nanjing. .

While the Drum Tower Hospital is now a state-supported institution, it survives on a limited budget. Global Ministries is committed to supporting the hospital's medical and education services that are provided on a local and global level. To continue the legacy of the Drum Tower Hospital, while ensuring that it can provide the highest quality care to people in need, Global Ministries is accepting donations for the following important initiatives:

• Professional medical exchanges between Drum Tower Hospital and hospitals in the United States
• Much-needed renovations and repairs to the 112-year old building
• Expansions to the building to increase the number of beds from 1,400 to 3,000.

As a result of these efforts, we anticipate the following outcomes and results:

• Increased physician learning through professional exchanges
• Improved medical services as a result of this learning
• Increased ability to meet the medical needs of the Nanjing people
• Increased fellowship between the peoples of China and the U.S.