On April 1, 2025, as part of the prestigious “100 Distinguished Experts on Campus” lecture series, Nanjing Medical University (NMU) had the honor of welcoming back Prof. Markus W. Buchler, a world-renowned pancreatic surgeon and honorary doctoral recipient. Prof. Buchler delivered a thought-provoking academic lecture titled “Evidence-Based Surgery”.
The event was attended by representatives from Science and Technology Office, the School of International Education, the Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, and BenQ MedicalCenter, and attracted over 200 participants both onsite and online. Dr. Miao Yi, Honorary President of BenQ Medical Center, presented Prof. Buchler with a certificate of appreciation for his lecture.
Drawing on Germany’s extensive surgical research network, Prof. Markus W. Buchler delivered a lecture on “Evidence-Based Surgery”, underscoring its growing significance in modern healthcare systems. He highlighted the central role of clinical trials in shaping evidence-based surgical practice. Using studiescomparing transverse and vertical incisions in major abdominal surgeries as an example, Prof. Buchler illustrated how such trials can impact postoperative pain and complication rates. He noted that traditional surgical practices have long relied on the personal experience, intuition, and conventional wisdom of individual surgeons. However, with the advancement of medical research, randomized clinical trials and evidence-based approaches are playing an increasingly pivotal role--not only in reducing reliance on subjective judgment, but also in enhancing the scientific rigor and precision of surgical treatment.
The lecture concluded with a lively Q&A session, during which NMU faculty and students engaged in in-depth discussions with Prof. Buchler on topics such as the significance of evidence-based medicine and the growing influence of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
About the Alumnus
Prof. Markus W. Buchler is the first—and so far, the only—recipient of an honorary doctorate from NMU, awarded on July 1, 2016. He currently serves as Director of the Botton-Champalimaud Pancreatic Cancer Centre, and has held numerous prestigious positions, including President of the European Surgical Association, Chair of the European Pancreas Center, and Director and Chair of the Department of Surgery at Heidelberg University Hospital. He has also served as President of the German Society of Surgery, the European Pancreatic Club, and the International Hepato-PancreatoBiliary Association, and is a founding organizer of the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS).
Prof. Buchler has published over 2,700 academic papers, received more than 90,000 citations, and holds an H-index of 159. In 2022, he was ranked Germany’s most-cited scientist in the field of medical research.
(Drafted by Zhong Mingli; Photographs by Ma Liping; Reviewed by Yu Baolong and Shi Danni; Translated by Zhang Bei)
