Friends from Afar: A lifelong journey in Chinese healthcare

Born in New York, Roberta Lipson has called herself a proud resident of Beijing since 1979 and has helped advance China's healthcare industry for over four decades. In recognition of her contributions, she received the "Beijing Great Wall Friendship Award," the highest honor given by the Beijing municipal government to foreigners. As the founder of United Family Healthcare and vice chair of New Frontier Health, she has been a pioneer in bringing private, patient-centered healthcare to China.

Her journey in China began out of her fascination with the country's potential, which she witnessed in her university days when then U.S. President Richard Nixon began normalizing relations with China. Despite initial doubts from her family, Lipson pursued Chinese studies and followed her passion for medicine, leading her to establish a company importing medical equipment to China at a time when medical resources were still rare in the country. She brought the first B-scan ultrasound and the first magnetic resonance imaging machine to China's medical industry.

Over the past 46 years, Lipson has witnessed and participated in key moments of China's opening up and dedicated herself to promoting people-to-people exchange across borders. By participating in youth forums and providing internship opportunities, Lipson has also inspired many young people around the world to come to China.

Videographer: Zhao Wenting

Director: Chen Hongyu and Zhao Ying

Video editor: Chen Hongyu