AUTHOR=Li Xi , Chen Ji , Li Qin , Lei Fuyuan , Yi Ping 

TITLE=Addressing the obstacles in cultivating global advocates for traditional Chinese medicine: qualitative perspectives from stakeholder interview analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1703208

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1703208

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=BackgroundIn the context of accelerated globalization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), cultural disparities and heterogeneity in cognitive frameworks have intensified dissemination resistance, resulting in multidimensional challenges in talent cultivation. Delays in terminological translation, cross-cultural communication barriers, ambiguous career pathways, coupled with uneven resource allocation and policy misalignment, significantly hinder the effectiveness of TCM’s international promotion.MethodsBetween May and June 2025, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with four stakeholder groups—students, educators, scholars, and experts (N = 31)—focusing on core challenges in international talent development, role perception, resource coordination bottlenecks, and strategic intervention measures. The analysis employed a “Micro-Meso-Macro” framework to systematically examine interactions among individual practices, pedagogical system restructuring, and institutional tensions.ResultsThe findings reveal that students and educators primarily emphasize linguistic and pedagogical barriers, whereas scholars and experts underscore deficiencies in interdisciplinary paradigms and institutionalized training mechanisms. The central contradiction involves the disconnect between international talent demands and localized educational systems, characterized by homogenized talent cultivation and inadequate adaptation to cross-cultural competencies and international standards. Institutional bottlenecks include short-term resource investments and the lack of effective coordination mechanisms, leading to neglect of foundational infrastructure over the long term.ConclusionAn innovative “dual-track knowledge translation and collaborative governance” framework is proposed. Top-level design should involve government-led establishment of an international TCM dissemination alliance and dedicated funding to enhance infrastructure; universities should develop cross-cultural curricula and a national terminology standard platform, integrated into professional certification systems; mechanism innovation should focus on establishing core competency standards for TCM internationalization, aligning stakeholder interests, and fostering sustainable, ecosystem-based development.