China's Top Departments: Gynecology at Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital

If you or a loved one is facing a gynecologic tumor — cervical, endometrial, ovarian or vulvar cancer, fibroids or ovarian cysts — or struggling with endometriosis, pelvic floor dysfunction or uterine prolapse, infertility, or gynecologic endocrine disorders, and you want treatment that is as minimally invasive as possible, the Department of Gynecology at Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital is one of Shanghai's leading destinations, combining a "Top Priority" key-discipline status with pioneering single-port laparoscopic and da Vinci robotic surgery inside the city's famous "Great Cradle" maternity hospital.

Department Overview

The Department of Gynecology of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital (officially titled "Gynecology (Minimally Invasive Gynecology)") is a signature discipline of the hospital and a Shanghai "Top Priority" Key Clinical Discipline, forming the hospital's academic "twin core" alongside Obstetrics (a National Key Clinical Specialty). Its development focuses on gynecologic oncology, minimally invasive gynecology, and urogynecology / pelvic floor reconstruction, and the hospital states that it is at an advanced level in perinatal care, prenatal diagnosis, gynecologic oncology, minimally invasive gynecology, and urogynecology / pelvic floor reconstruction.

The department primarily treats benign and malignant gynecologic tumors (cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, vulvar cancer, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, etc.), gynecologic endocrine disorders, female reproductive tract malformations, endometriosis, uterine prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction, and infertility. The hospital also runs a separate Cervical Disease Department that works with Gynecology on cervical lesion screening and management.

About the Hospital

• Founded in 1947, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital is a modern tertiary (Class A) specialized maternity and infant hospital integrating clinical care, teaching, and research. It is a National Civilized Unit and one of China's earliest provincial/municipal-level maternal and child health hospitals.
• The hospital has two main campuses (East and West), plus a South campus, with nearly 800 beds and nearly 1,800 staff.
• It became affiliated with Tongji University in 2006; in November 2023 its second name was changed to the "Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University."
• Academic positioning: Obstetrics is a National Key Clinical Specialty; Gynecology is a Shanghai "Top Priority" Key Clinical Discipline.
• Platforms and credentials include the Shanghai Branch of the National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric and Gynecologic Diseases, the APAGE Asia-Pacific Endoscopy Training Base, the Ministry of Health Level-IV Gynecologic Endoscopy Training Base, the Shanghai Critical Neonatal Consultation and Rescue Center, the Shanghai Prenatal Diagnosis Center, and the Shanghai Obstetrics Clinical Quality Control Center.
• Research platforms include the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, and a National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center (Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital Base).
• Known as Shanghai's "Great Cradle," the hospital has ranked first in Shanghai in delivery volume for nine consecutive years, with nearly 30,000 deliveries a year — 1 in every 5 newborns in the city is born here.
• In 2021 the hospital established a Radiation Oncology Department and introduced a medical linear accelerator and brachytherapy equipment, becoming Shanghai's first specialized OB/GYN hospital with a complete treatment system covering surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
• Research strength: ranked in the national top ten of the China Hospital Science and Technology Metric (STEM) list for five consecutive years and in the national top three among specialty hospitals; it received 32 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) grants in 2022 and has led all OB/GYN disciplines nationwide in NSFC grants for six consecutive years.

Clinical Strengths

1. Comprehensive Gynecologic Oncology

The department delivers standardized, precision-driven surgery and comprehensive treatment for gynecologic malignancies such as cervical, endometrial, ovarian, and vulvar cancer, including radical hysterectomy, staging surgery for endometrial and ovarian cancer, fertility-sparing surgery for early cervical cancer, and surgery for gynecologic tumors in pregnancy, as well as surgery for complex endometriosis. The hospital leads a national "Gynecologic Oncology Leading Goose Program" to raise the standard of gynecologic oncology care nationwide, particularly at county-level hospitals.

2. Minimally Invasive Gynecology (Single-Port Laparoscopy · da Vinci Robotics)

Minimally invasive surgery is a core technical hallmark of the department, covering laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, single-port laparoscopy, and da Vinci robotic surgery. The hospital is a Ministry of Health Level-IV Gynecologic Endoscopy Training Base and an APAGE Asia-Pacific Endoscopy Training Base, serving as a platform for training and spreading minimally invasive gynecologic techniques.

3. Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Reconstruction

For conditions such as uterine prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, and pelvic floor dysfunction, the department provides pelvic floor assessment and reconstructive surgery — one of the hospital's signature service areas.

4. Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility

The department manages gynecologic endocrine disorders, correction of female reproductive tract malformations, and infertility, working in coordination with the hospital's Reproductive Medicine Center.

5. Multidisciplinary Collaboration (MDT)

The department practices multidisciplinary team (MDT) care, collaborating with urology, gastrointestinal surgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, radiology, pathology, and nutrition to deliver integrated treatment plans for patients with complex gynecologic cancers.

Faculty and Academic Leadership

Professor Wang Yu (王玉) — President of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital (Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University), Chief Physician and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, doctoral supervisor; a recipient of the State Council Special Government Allowance, a Shanghai Medical Craftsman, and a Shanghai Leading Talent.

• She serves as Chair of the Gynecologic Oncology Committee of the China Medical Education Association, Vice Chair of the Integrated Pelvic Floor Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, a member of the Gynecologic Oncology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Vice Chair of the OB/GYN Branch of the Shanghai Medical Association, and Vice President of the OB/GYN Branch of the Shanghai Medical Doctor Association.
• She has long focused on ovarian cancer research, combining minimally invasive techniques with precision gynecologic oncology. Her "whole-process standardized, precision treatment" approach to ovarian cancer has become a signature strength, and her comprehensive ovarian cancer strategy has been adopted by 28 hospitals across 8 provinces/municipalities in China.
• She is a national leader and advocate of single-port laparoscopy and single-port da Vinci surgery; she has undertaken more than 20 national- and provincial/ministerial-level projects and published over 100 professional papers.
• With support from the Soong Ching Ling Foundation, she established a dedicated gynecologic oncology committee ("Walking with Love").

The hospital has also assembled a strong talent echelon recognized nationally and internationally — including national candidates of the Hundred-Thousand-Ten Thousand Talent Project, National Distinguished Young Scholars, chief scientists of National Key R&D Programs, Shanghai Outstanding Academic Leaders, and Shanghai Pujiang Talent.

Location and Contact

• East Campus: No. 2699 West Gaoke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
• West Campus: No. 536 Changle Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai
• South Campus: No. 391 Yaohua Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
• Website: www.51mch.com

If this department interests you, you may also want to read about gynecology at the Red House and gynecology at Gaoxin Hospital.

Note: this profile is compiled from the hospital's official recruitment announcement (2025), official public materials, and authoritative sources such as Xinhua News Agency; some figures reflect historical data rather than the latest year, and no data has been fabricated.