The Second Military Medical University (SMMU), formerly the People's Medical College of the East China Military Commanding Region, was founded in September 1949, and named in July 1951. Now it is the CPLA key institution of higher learning for training graduates and the key university supported by the state "Project 211".

The SMMU is composed of five major leading bodies: the Training Department, the Political Department, the School Affairs Department, the Scientific Research Department and the Graduate School; twelve subordinate establishments: the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, the Department of Naval Medicine, the School of Pharmacy, the Department of Health & Hygiene Services, the Department of Nursing Science, the Department of Foreign Training, the Graduates Management Brigade, the Cadet Brigade,Changhai Hospital,Changzheng Hospital, Hepatobiliary Eastern Hosptial and Nanjing School of Military Medicine.

There are over 10 specialities or disciplinary orientations covering the full spectrum of clinical medicine, naval clinical medicine, pharmacy, nursing science, anesthesiology, public utility management, psychiatry and mental health, medical laboratory technology, medical laboratory testing and medical imaging technology.It is the unique medicine training base of overseas students, The University has a professional staff of over 10,000, including 776 holding full senior professional titles, two members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, four members on the Discipline Evaluation Team of the State Council, 13 young and mid-aged national prestigious experts,104 foreign visiting professors,28 members undertaking the director of international scholarship organization,245 experts enjoying the state special allowance, 377 Master graduate tutors and 134 Ph.D. graduate tutors. There are over 5,800 graduating students including 371 graduates for Ph.D. and 744 for M.D.

International academic exchange of the University is extensive and fruitful. Sending visiting scholars sbroad and attending international conferences are annual routine work of the University. It has established exchange and cooperative relationships with more than 34 countries and regions by sponsoring many large and important international symposia, inviting foreign scholars to give lectures, conducting cooperative research and organizing training programs for overseas students.