Timeline

The timeline of the China Medical Board's history may be considered according to phases of its country work and successive generations of its leadership. In its 96 years of work, the China Medical Board has experienced four phases of its work. In 2008, the China Medical Board embarked on its current phase of work.

2008 — China health for the 21st century

In 2008, CMB launched a fresh initiative to strengthen scientific excellence in “critical capacities” among Chinese and Asian institutions to address the premier health challenges of the 21st century — equitable access to primary and preventive health services in market-driven economies so that all can access and benefit from the advancement of knowledge. This will entail capacity strengthening in the fields of health policy, health systems, and the associated research and educational activities to advance equity in health in China and Asia.

1980–2007 — China and Asia

The China Medical Board returns to China and supports 13 Chinese medical universities throughout the country, in parallel with 13 institutions in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Mongolia, and Nepal. the China Medical Board support to these universities focused on strengthening education and research in medicine, nursing, and public health.

1950–1980 — Asia-wide program

The China Medical Board separated from PUMC, which became an independent governmental institution in China. The China Medical Board continued its mission of strengthening medical education and research in countries of East and Southeast Asia, including Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

1928–1950 — Peking Union Medical College

The China Medical Board was established as an independent foundation, retaining collegial relations with the Rockefeller Foundation. As an independent philanthropy, the China Medical Board's primary work was ownership and direct operations of the PUMC in China , which was governed by its own board.

1914–1928 — Rockefeller Foundation program

The China Medical Board was the second major program of the newly established Rockefeller Foundation (1913). The first was the International Health Board established for hookworm eradication. The China Medical Board building the Peking Union Medical College was the largest project in Rockefeller Foundation history in terms of adjusted dollars invested.

History of Presidents

Lincoln C. Chen
2006-present

M. Roy Schwarz
1997-2006

William D. Sawyer
1988-1997

Patrick A. Ongley
1973-1988

Oliver R. McCoy
1959-1973

Harold L. Loucks
1946-1959

Henry S. Houghton
1934-1946

Roger Sherman Greene
1914-1934

The executive leadership of the China Medical Board has a straight line of succession for over 50 years since 1954, with the following Presidents or Directors and their terms:

Lincoln C. Chen	CMB President	2006–present
M. Roy Schwarz	CMB President	1997–2006
William D. Sawyer	CMB President	1988–1997
Patrick A. Ongley	CMB President	1973–1988
Oliver R. McCoy	CMB President CMB Director	1969–1973 1959–1969
Harold L. Loucks	CMB Director CMB representative	1954–1959 1946–1954
Claude E. Forkner	CMB resident director	1943–1946
Henry S. Houghton	CMB acting resident director CMB resident director CMB acting resident director	1934–1936 1936–1943 1943–1946
Wallace Buttrick	CMB general director	1917–1918
George E. Vincent	Chairman and General Director (also served as president Rockefeller Foundation)	1919–1924
Roger Sherman Greene	CMB resident director CMB director CMB general director CMB director	1914–1921 1922–1924 1925–1927 1929–1934

From 1914 to 1954, CMB experienced varied leadership and organizational structure. CMB was first started as a program within the Rockefeller Foundation (1914–1928) and then became an independent organizational entity in 1928. During the period 1914–1954, the China Medical Board operated as a funder and operational supporter of the Peking Union Medical College, which had also its in-residence executive leadership in China.