The Rome Foundation's Role in China

Over the last 2-3 years the Rome Foundation has introduced a major initiative to expand their global educational and research activities including the Rome IV project with Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia. With regard to Asia, the Rome Foundation is pleased to have Meiyun Ke MD (China) join the International Liaison Group to help promote educational activities and serve as a liaison to the Rome Foundation from this geographical area. We are excited about the opportunity to train Chinese doctors so they may better serve their patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs).

This January the Rome Foundation had the honor of hosting its first Chinese Visiting Scholar, Li-Hua Peng, MD. Dr Peng visited Chapel Hill, North Carolina for three weeks to work with Rome Foundation president, Douglas Drossman MD. At his clinic, Drossman Gastroenterology, PLLC and Rome Foundation Board Member, William Whitehead PhD at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders. Dr. Peng is a prominent gastroenterologist and Associate Chief Physician at the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing. She works closely with Yunshang Yang, MD, who is the President of the Chinese Society of Gastroenterology as well as the head of the GI group at the Peoples Liberation Army Hospital. Both are committed to learning more about functional GI disorders and educating healthcare providers in China about these GI disorders since this area of gastroenterology is not well taught in China.

Dr Peng spent time at Drossman Gastroenterology seeing patients with Dr Drossman and his Physician's Assistant, Kellie Bunn. She spent two days per week in clinic and was able to observe and interact with both first-time patients and follow up visits. While in Chapel Hill she also spent time with Dr Whitehead at the University of North Carolina. She was able to participate in his research lab meetings as well as meet with both junior and senior faculty at the University.

With special interest in functional gastrointestinal disorders and motility, Dr. Peng has been a gastroenterologist for 18 years. She came to Chapel Hill so she could gain first hand experience in developing communication skills to enhance the patient-physician relationship and to gain first hand experience understanding and treating patients with complex functional GI and motility disorders using a biopsychosocial approach. As Dr. Peng finished up her time in Chapel Hill she stated, "I will be able to do things a lot differently." She noticed that patient education is very important in the United States, remarking on the many resources and brochures available to patients. "I also plan to train my colleagues about the need for patient education resources so we can better inform our patients."

The Rome Foundation plans to continue this initiative by inviting other clinicians and investigators from China to the academic programs of Rome Foundation members. In addition the Foundation plans to participate in symposia at Chinese GI meetings to increase the knowledge of Chinese Gastroenterologists in general.