Commentary (Obituary): Chengshi Shan (1929−2021) A Pioneer in Public Health in China

Chengshi Shan, a retired leader of the China CDC, Vice President and Communist Party of China Secretary-General of former Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine (CAPM) (the predecessor of China CDC), passed away in Beijing on May 3, 2021 at the age of 92.

Shan was born in Huangxian City, Shandong Province (now Longkou City) in August 1929. From November 1948 to August 1949, Shan studied at Changchun Military Medical University. From August 1949 to September 1954, he served as a political faculty member at Changchun Military Medical University and Third Military Medical University, and he worked at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College afterwards. In October 1981, he served as the Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Health of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and, in December 1983, as the Deputy Party Secretary of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Center and later as Party Secretary of the Medical Center (Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine) while concurrently serving as Vice President in 1988 until his retirement.

Shan had dedicated himself to preparing China for the establishment of the public health field and received special government funding to accomplish these goals. He coordinated and carefully led the design of the organizational structure of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Center (later renamed as Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine in 1986), and he worked to establish the leadership structure for the center and its affiliate institutes.

Shan was committed to the development of graduate education and established the Health School of the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine and supported a group of talented individuals. He believed in and trained several of these individuals, mentored their professional careers and personal lives, actively cooperated in the department building process, and solved challenging issues in employee placement. He actively encouraged the leadership team of the academy to discuss major issues and refocus on reforms. He conducted in-depth investigations and studied at grassroots level, deepened personnel and logistics reforms, brought in new projects, guaranteed scientific and technological development, and promoted the development of the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine. Shan was a pioneer for China’s public health field and practice and helped build several of key institutions.

Shan was principled in his methods, truth-seeking, and diligent with his responsibilities. He was hardworking, strictly self-disciplined, and easily approachable. He will be remembered dearly by his peers, students, and all those who continue his work.