Recently, Professor Wu Zhong, Director of the Cardiovascular Surgery Department at West China Hospital, Sichuan University (WCHSCU), has been elected as a new member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) for the year 2026. The announcement came during the 106th AATS annual meeting. Professor Wu is the third expert from WCH to receive this honor. This recognition reflects that the clinical standards and academic influence of WCH's Cardiovascular Surgery Department have once again been validated by a leading international academic organization.

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), founded in 1917, is one of the most prestigious and influential international academic organizations in the field of cardiothoracic surgery worldwide. AATS membership is granted through a rigorous selection process involving global nomination and multiple levels of review. The honor is reserved for top experts who have made outstanding contributions to clinical care, scientific innovation, and discipline development. It represents a highly valued international academic distinction in cardiothoracic surgery.

Professor Wu has long focused on the management of severe adult cardiac diseases and minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Under his leadership, the WCH cardiovascular surgery team performs more than 5,000 cardiac surgeries annually, placing the department among the top in China in terms of technical capability and surgical volume. The department has established a distinctive disciplinary system with strengths in complex aortic diseases, severe valvular heart disease, and minimally invasive cardiac surgery. It continues to provide high-level cardiovascular care to patients across southwest China and the nation.