[A review of the influence of the 1956 Senior Teacher Training Program on Medical History]

The 1956 Senior Teacher Training Program on Medical History, hosted by the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Health, was the first teacher training program on the history of medicine in higher education in P. R. China. It was designed in the context of "Learning from the Soviet Union" for teaching reformation, "Integrating Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine" and performing the policy of "Blossom of Hundred Flowers and Contention of Hundred Schools of Thought" (by Mao Zedong for encouraging a variety of thinking conflicts) after the birth of the New China. The teaching management for the program was well organised, with a strong staff, and outcomes. A few of the trainees from this program were engaged in teaching and research of the history of medicine, and made outstanding academic achievements and promoted the teaching and research of the history of medicine in Chinese universities in the second half of the 20^th century. This program also provides a valuable reference for teacher training programs as well as teaching and research of medical history today.