Objective This study explores effective pathways for talent echelon development during the upgrading of key specialties in tertiary hospitals, aiming to provide references for talent cultivation and disciplinary advancement in similar institutions.

Methods Taking the transformation of a cancer center into a cancer hospital in a tertiary hospital in Guangdong Province as a case study, and grounded in human capital theory, talent life-cycle theory, and collaborative governance theory, a talent cultivation model of “stratified and categorized training + multidimensional collaborative support” was implemented. This model established a full-cycle growth framework covering early-career talents, core backbone staff, and disciplinary leaders, supported by six dimensions: human resources, clinical practice, scientific research, education, information technology, and organizational culture.

Results After more than four years of practice, the hospital achieved dual improvements in both the quantity and quality of high-level talents, made significant breakthroughs in scientific research outcomes, sustained enhancement in clinical service capabilities, and a notable rise in the hospital’s overall strength.

Conclusion The promotion of the“stratified and categorized training + multidimensional collaborative support” model can effectively address talent supply and cultivation challenges during specialty upgrading and facilitate the synergistic development of “talent–discipline–hospital.” This model should be dynamically optimized according to the hospital’s actual context, with future efforts focusing on cultivating digital literacy and an international perspective among talents, thereby providing robust human resource support for high-quality hospital development.