Zhou Min (politician)

Born in Nantong, Jiangsu, Zhou came from a family with a strong background in medicine. Influenced by her father, the noted traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Zhou Xiaozhai, she began studying Chinese medicine at an early age. After completing her undergraduate studies, she pursued postgraduate education under her elder brother, the distinguished physician Zhou Zhongying, eventually obtaining both her master's and doctoral degrees in traditional Chinese medicine.^[2]

She began her professional career in 1969 as a sent-down youth in Jiangning County, Jiangsu. After working as a laboratory technician and nurse, she was admitted to Jiangsu New Medical College in 1973, where she studied traditional Chinese medicine. Following graduation, she worked as a physician at Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She later pursued graduate studies at Nanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.^[2][3]

In the 1990s, Zhou took on leadership roles in higher education, serving as deputy head of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and dean of the First Clinical Medical College at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, and later as vice president of the university. She transitioned into government service in 1997, becoming deputy director and subsequently director of the Jiangsu Provincial Health Department, concurrently serving as director of the provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.^[4]

From 2004, Zhou held senior political positions, including deputy head of the Organization Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and later head of the United Front Work Department of the same committee. In 2006, she was appointed vice chairperson of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, serving until 2013. Zhou was a delegate to the 15th, 16th, and 17th National Congresses of the Chinese Communist Party, and a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.^[4]