School of Stomatology at Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) held its 2026 First Lecture for New Students at the Qiu Fazu Auditorium. The event brought together three distinguished experts in stomatology: Academician ZHANG Zhiyuan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Prof. CAI Zhigang from School of Stomatology of Peking University, and Prof. MA Hailong from Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

Prof. XIA Jiahong, President of Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College of HUST, delivered opening remarks. He noted that this year marks the hospital's 160th anniversary and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the training of stomatological professionals as a key clinical platform for the school. He expressed three expectations for the incoming Class of 2026: to uphold their original aspirations of a physician, to hone professional skills through building up solid theoretical and clinical foundations, and to persistently pursue disciplinary excellence by cultivating innovative thinking.

The academic lecture session featured three presentations. Prof. ZHANG Zhiyuan gave the opening lecture titled "The Present and Future of Medical Students", drawing from his own experiences as a clinician and educator. Using a three-tiered framework of Medical Artisan, Physician, and Medical Leader, he outlined the path from technical mastery to disciplinary leadership. He emphasized that professional excellence stemmed from dedication, diligence, responsibility, and a drive for self-improvement, describing medical practice, teaching, and research as an integrated loop with the ultimate mission of safeguarding lives and driving innovation.

Prof. CAI traced the evolution of dental medicine across the world and in China, highlighting the inception and rise of the Chinese dental medicine system after 1949. He pointed to trends toward consumer upgrades in functionality and aesthetics, as well as digital transformation, while analyzing practical challenges such as uneven regional distribution of medical resources. Prof. MA, a distinguished alumnus of the School of Stomatology's Class of 2012, focused on clinical challenges of oral cancer and the latest research findings. He discussed bottlenecks associated with high recurrence rates and multiple surgeries, presenting his team's breakthroughs in identifying immune evasion mechanisms. He also shared insights on balancing clinical practice and research, encouraging new students to seize opportunities.

During Q&A session, students asked questions about career development, research skills, and clinical enhancement, and the experts nicely answered the questions.

The conference concluded with enthusiastic applause. The lectures charted a clear course for the Class of 2026 and provided faculty and students with valuable opportunities for academic exchange. The School of Stomatology remains committed to upholding the university motto of Integrity, Scholarship, Truth-Seeking, and Innovation, striving to contribute to the advancement of the discipline and the oral health of the people.