The Zhu School of Gynecology in the United States

Written by Dr. Rongda Zhu 

Edited by Fen Xie

English Translation by Daniel Cai and Sarah Xie

Dr. Nansun Zhu, the eldest son of Dr. Xiaonan Zhu, formerly served as an attending surgeon at Shanghai First People’s Hospital. In 1957, he traveled to Hong Kong to visit his uncle, Mr. Hegao Zhu. In 1958, he immigrated to the United States under the O-1 Visa as a specially recognized medical professional. Through years of rigorous study, he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree and obtained licensure as a surgeon. He later served as an attending surgeon at hospitals in both Chicago and New Jersey.

In 1971, prior to President Nixon’s visit to China, a New York Times journalist James Reston underwent emergency appendectomy with acupuncture anesthesia in Beijing. Upon returning to the United States, he wrote a short article based on his personal experience, which was published on the front page of The New York Times. This sparked a surge of interest in acupuncture across the U.S., and would later be intensified by President Nixon’s own visit to China and his delegation’s witness of a chest surgery under acupuncture anesthesia. The entire procedure was broadcast via satellite to the world, pushing the American and Western fascination with acupuncture to new heights. In 1973, Nevada passed the first acupuncture law in the U.S., which was followed by other states. 

This legislation inspired Dr. Nansun Zhu, a Western-trained surgeon from a TCM family, to study acupuncture in Hong Kong for six months. After returning to New Jersey, he opened an acupuncture clinic in Ridgewood, treating more than 70 patients a day.

Among Dr. Nansun Zhu’s numerous patients was a prominent American football star, who had endured persistent leg pain despite various treatments. After receiving a series of acupuncture sessions from Dr. Zhu, the athlete experienced complete pain relief and a full restoration of leg function. After several acupuncture sessions with Dr. Zhu, the pain disappeared, and full leg function was restored. The case attracted substantial media attention, including a full-page feature in a local newspaper.

Drawing on his background in Western medicine, Dr. Nansun Zhu integrated modern biomedical expertise with the theoretical framework and therapeutic principles of traditional Chinese acupuncture. Dr. Zhu successfully treated a broad spectrum of conditions—including asthma, hypertension, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, allergic rhinitis, and even infertility. Through these outcomes, he amassed extensive clinical experience and played an instrumental role in elevating the visibility and credibility of traditional Chinese acupuncture within the broader field of integrative medicine.

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Dr. Rongda Zhu

Dr. Rongda Zhu, the youngest son of Mr. Zhu Xiaonan, immigrated to the United States in 1990. Before that, he served as an attending physician in the Department of Gynecology at the Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine Outpatient Center and held additional training in Western internal medicine. In 1994, he obtained his New York State acupuncture license after passing the state licensure examination. In 1996, he was appointed to the faculty and clinical team at the New York College of Health Professions (formerly: New York College of Wholistic & Research), where he taught a range of core subjects, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Gynecology, Microneedling Techniques, Medical History and Case Analysis, Warm Febrile Disease Theory, and Clinical Practicum. He also founded several specialty clinics within the college, including those focused on TCM Gynecology, Herbal Instruction, and Post-Stroke Rehabilitation. Dr. Zhu served two terms as Dean of the Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, playing a pivotal role in cultivating a new generation of TCM and acupuncture professionals in the United States.

Dr. Rongda Zhu formally retired from clinical practice in 2012, but maintained active patient care until 2021. Since 2022, he has engaged in volunteer teaching of Chinese Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology to both TCM students and practitioners in English. More recently, Dr. Zhu joined a gynecological mentorship initiative, providing in-person advanced instruction to five doctoral and master’s candidates. The curriculum emphasizes the English editions of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine, Dr. Qingzhu Fu’s Gynecology, and  Dr. Xiaonan Zhu’s Clinical Experiences in Gynecology. Through these sustained efforts, Dr. Rongda Zhu continues to dedicate himself to preserving and transmitting the Zhu family’s legacy in Chinese gynecology.