The Peking Union Medical College was founded in 1906 by American and British missionary groups. It was a rare outpost of modern medicine in a nation with one of the highest mortality rates in the world. A decade later, John Rockefeller assumed financial responsibility for the school. A thorough renovation and expansion began in 1915.
The Peking Union Medical College became the Rockefeller Foundation’s single largest expenditure—almost $45 million was poured into the institution. The effects were equally enormous. The college endured through many upheavals and today remains one of China’s most prestigious institutes of higher education. It has served as the model for improving medical training in countries throughout the world.
- History from the China Medical Board, chinamedicalboard.org/centennial