The Department of Gastroenterology of Peking University Third Hospital, whose predecessor was the digestion group of internal medicine, was founded in 1958 and it is one of the earliest national key clinical specialties. Thanks to the unremitting efforts of several generations, the Department of Gastroenterology has developed into the digestive disease research center of Peking University, which is composed of outpatient service, ward, endoscopy center, gastroenterography room, gastrointestinal motility room and pathology laboratory.

In 1958, Prof. Zhitian Zheng came to Peking University Third Hospital from Peking University First Hospital. He established the Department of Internal Medicine. As the director of the department, he led the digestive group to perform gastroscopy, diagnostic laparoscopy, liver puncture and other examinations. Since this department was one of the earliest units to perform digestive endoscopy in China at that time, many well-known experts had come here for study.

In September 1984, the Department of Gastroenterology was separated from the Department of Internal Medicine after the approval of Beijing Medical College with Prof. Yinong Li as the Department Director.

In 1985, a clinical experimental base covering an area of 300m² was established. The whole building had two floors. The endoscopy room was on the first floor, which introduces advanced equipment, including electronic endoscopy, ultrasound endoscopy, ultrasound laparoscopy, et al. The laboratory was on the second floor, including the pathophysiology room, biochemical room, cell culture room, et al. At that time, the establishment of digestive research base was rare in China, which laid a foundation for the development of the department.

In May 1985, the establishment of the digestive disease research center of Beijing Medical University was approved. Prof. Yinong Li made great efforts to assist Prof. Zheng Zhitian in the establishment and development of digestive disease center.

In 2007, the endoscopy training center was established with the investment of Fujifilm Technology Co. A new endoscopy center was opened in 2012. Two wards with 60 beds were opened in 2014. At the end of 2016, the Department of Gastroenterology became one of the earliest ERCP training bases in China.

The Department of Gastroenterology of Peking University Third Hospital has kept many amazing records in China. ERCP technology was first carried out in 1974; double contrast gastroenterography in 1980, magnifying endoscopy and single colonoscopy in 1982 and ultrasound endoscopy in 1985. Early cancer resection by endoscopy was first carried out in 1991 and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in 1995.

In the 1970s, Prof. Zhitian Zheng of the department was the first to find that furazolidone could be used in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease, winning the second prize of Scientific and Technological Progress of Beijing in 1988 and the third prize of Scientific and Technological Progress of the Ministry of Health in 1989. Since 1986, the research on new methods of early diagnosis of gastric cancer, in the charge of Prof. Sanren Lin, had been the national key project in the 7th and 8th Five Year Plan and won the third prize of Science and Technology Progress of the Ministry of Health in 1991 and the third prize of Guanghua Science and Technology Fund in 1992. Since 2006, Prof. Liya Zhou has been undertaking the Scientific and Technological Support project of the 11th and 12th Five Year Plan of China, winning the second prize of Science and Technology Progress of the Ministry of Education in 2014 and the second prize of Chinese Medical Science and Technology progress in 2015. Prof. Shigang Ding, supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation and Haiyuan innovation joint fund, developed a 3D confocal optical field endoscope for the diagnosis of early esophageal cancer and gastric cancer. All in all, we have carried out a number of innovative clinical researches and developed a number of domestic advanced new technologies with a number of national utility model patents obtained. We have undertaken and participated in a number of national and provincial level projects, including National Science and Technology Support Program, National Natural Science Foundation, National Key Research and Development Program, Beijing Capital Characteristic Program and other clinical research projects.

At present, we have the following advanced equipment: electronic endoscope, transnasal gastroscope, Doppler ultrasonic endoscope (ring scan, fan scan, small probe), capsule endoscope, double balloon enteroscope, electronic magnifying endoscopy and endoscopic blue laser image diagnosis system, et al. Our department can complete all endoscopic treatment, including ESD, ERCP, PEG, endoscopic ultrasound biopsy, as well as gastrointestinal radiography, pathology and other related examinations. We can carry out all standardized treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, and has the ability to diagnose and treat difficult and rare diseases.

Under the leadership of the current director Prof. Shigang Ding, the Department of Gastroenterology is developing rapidly. We will establish a diagnosis and treatment network for early cancer and precancerous lesions of digestive tract, as well as biliary tract and pancreatic diseases. We also plan to establish a diagnosis and treatment center for difficult and rare diseases of digestive tract and motility and a clinical and basic research center for diseases of gastrointestinal tract.