To help international students in China broaden their global vision and consolidate their clinical foundations, an academic exchange event for international students of the College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, was successfully held on the Qianwei Campus on the afternoon of November 2. The event specially invited Prof. Xinmin Li, a flexibly-introduced talent of Jilin University, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and Professor of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Canada, to deliver a special lecture entitled Medical Care and Medical Education in Canada. All staff members from the International Student Office of the College of Basic Medical Sciences and all international students of the 2024–2026 batch attended the activity.

       During the lecture, drawing on more than 30 years of experience in clinical practice, scientific research, medical education and international collaboration, Prof. Li introduced the basic framework of Canada’s healthcare system, training pathways for medical students, physician licensing requirements and curriculum design. He also elaborated on the training of clinician-scientists and student development. Combined with the talent cultivation practices at the University of Alberta, he encouraged students to expand their international horizons and keep track of developments in global medical education and healthcare.

       In the interactive session, international students raised active questions about further medical study, career development for international medical graduates, professional qualification certification and career planning. Prof. Li listened carefully to every question and provided detailed, professional advice based on his own educational experience. The session featured lively discussions, and many students commented that they had gained a great deal.

       Prof. Xinmin Li is a flexibly-introduced talent of Jilin University, Professor of Psychiatry and Senior Advisor to the Dean on China Initiatives at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. He graduated from Bethune Medical University (now Jilin University) in 1982. His research focuses on psychiatry and neuropsychopharmacology. He has published nearly 300 academic papers and holds four invention patents. His major research interests cover schizophrenia, mood disorders, pathological changes in cerebral white matter, and innovative therapies for treatment-resistant depression. He also boasts extensive experience in educational cooperation for medicine and health professions, innovation in medical education, faculty and clinician-scientist training, student and staff exchange, research collaboration, and global mental health.