Dr. Wei Zhang

Dr. Wei Zhang is a chief surgeon in the Department of General Surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) in Beijing — one of China's most prestigious and internationally recognised academic medical centres. With 20 years of surgical experience, Dr. Zhang is an accomplished general and hepatobiliary surgeon practising at the highest tier of China's academic medical system.

PUMCH is affiliated with Peking Union Medical College and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, placing it at the apex of Chinese medical research and clinical care. It attracts complex cases from across China and internationally, and Dr. Zhang's practice reflects this case complexity — encompassing major hepatobiliary procedures, gastrointestinal oncological surgery, and advanced laparoscopic techniques.

China is an emerging medical tourism destination, particularly for patients from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and increasingly from the Middle East and Central Asia seeking treatment in China's academic medical centres. Dr. Zhang has experience managing international patients at PUMCH's international medical services department.

His surgical philosophy emphasises precision, minimal invasiveness where feasible, and multidisciplinary collaboration with oncology, gastroenterology, and radiology teams for complex surgical oncology cases.

Dr. Zhang completed his medical degree at Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) — China's most elite medical school, known for its rigorous eight-year MD programme. He completed his general surgery residency and subspecialty training in hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal surgery at PUMCH. He earned his PhD in surgical oncology from Peking Union Medical College, with research on hepatocellular carcinoma surgical outcomes. He completed a visiting fellowship at a major European surgical centre (Hannover Medical School) focused on liver transplantation and advanced hepatobiliary surgery. He holds the position of Chief Surgeon and is a member of the Chinese Medical Association and the Asia-Pacific Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.

Dr. Zhang's surgical practice centres on hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal oncology. In hepatobiliary surgery, he performs hepatectomy (liver resection) for hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases using anatomical and non-anatomical resection techniques, and biliary surgery for bile duct stones, choledochal cysts, and biliary strictures. He performs both open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration.

In gastrointestinal surgery, he performs gastrectomy (subtotal and total) for gastric cancer, colorectal resection for colon and rectal cancer, and appendicectomy. For pancreatic disease, he performs the Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) and distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic tumours and chronic pancreatitis.

His laparoscopic surgery expertise covers all major abdominal procedures performed minimally invasively, including laparoscopic hepatectomy, laparoscopic gastrectomy, and laparoscopic colorectal resection. His research contributions include publications on hepatocellular carcinoma surgical outcomes in Chinese populations.

PUMCH has an established International Medical Services department serving international patients from across Asia and beyond. Dr. Zhang is experienced in managing international patients requiring complex hepatobiliary or gastrointestinal surgery. Pre-operative video consultations can be arranged through PUMCH's international office for review of imaging and surgical planning. He consults in Mandarin and English. Beijing is a major international aviation hub accessible from virtually all global destinations.

Dr. Zhang holds the position of Chief Surgeon at PUMCH, reflecting peer recognition of his surgical excellence. He has been awarded research prizes by the Chinese Society of Surgery and the Chinese Medical Association for his contributions to hepatocellular carcinoma surgical research. He is a respected member of the Asia-Pacific Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (A-PHPBA) and has presented at international hepatobiliary surgery congresses.