This coming year, we will be highlighting personal stories from our members, celebrating the guidance and support they’ve received from ISCD mentors throughout their journey in the bone health field. ISCD mentors inspire and ensure the next generation grows and thrives in our community. Understanding the importance and impact of these stories, we want to bring them to life. View more stories.
Mei Dong, MD, PhD, CCD
Chief Physician
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University
From Mentee to Mentor — My ISCD Journey Began with One Invitation
I first encountered ISCD in 2015, shortly after completing my PhD in Japan and returning to Inner Mongolia, where I was actively engaged in clinical care and research in osteoporosis. At the time, ISCD stood out to me as a globally respected authority in bone densitometry and metabolic bone disease. Still, I wasn’t quite sure how to take the first step into such a distinguished academic community.
That all changed when Dr. Li Wang introduced me to Dr. Yanling Zhao, who was hosting a bone density course in Tianjin. Dr. Zhao, a highly respected leader in the field, was also a generous and inspiring mentor. She welcomed me into the ISCD community, encouraged me to pursue certification, and personally guided me through my first ISCD conference. More importantly, she showed me—through her actions and commitment—that a clinician from any region could have a meaningful voice in advancing global standards of osteoporosis care. Her mentorship gave me both confidence and direction.
Since then, I’ve continued to grow with ISCD. Over the past several years, I’ve become deeply involved in education and international collaboration. Today, I have the privilege of serving as Chair of the ISCD China Panel, leading a dedicated team of experts—including mentors like Dr. Yanling Zhao, Dr. Li Wang, and Dr. Huipeng Shi—who are committed to expanding ISCD’s educational reach and clinical impact across the region. In 2024, I was honored to be named ISCD’s Clinician of the Year—a recognition I share with the mentors and colleagues who have guided and supported me throughout this journey.
Mentorship turns potential into purpose. I am grateful to have received such guidance, and I now do my best to extend that same support to the next generation of clinicians and researchers—helping them connect, contribute, and lead within ISCD. Because ISCD is more than an academic community—it is a network of people who believe in empowering one another.
L to R: Yanling Zhao, Heidi Kecskemethy and Mei Dong
