Mrs. Wang Zhengyan, a 68-year-old former rural physician and recipient of China’s prestigious National Moral Model award, returned to Tongji Medical College of HUST on 17th April, 2025, encouraging students to “balance compassion with precision” in their study and medical practice.

From Village Clinics to National Honor: A Doctor’s Journey

Speaking to 150 students and faculty, Mrs. Wang recounted her 40-year career in grassroots healthcare. Starting out as a medical practitioner working in a county hospital, the honorary president of Wuhan Hankou Hospital emphasized resilience: “I vividly remembered that I tried hard to learn textbook stuff by heart in midnight. Practicing medicine asks for lifelong learning.”

Her philosophy is: “Treat patients, not charts.” She championed a saying of renowned surgeon Prof. Qiu Fazu: “Examine the person first, then read the X-film. Cold data can never be a substitute of human communication.”

Retirement? Not yet. “Silver-Haired” Mission Continues

Now running a community Silver-Haired Medical Experts Studio, Mrs. Wang focuses on accessible care and health literacy. “Every single neighborhood deserves ‘doorstep’ expertise,” she said, beaming with excitement. Her advice to students goes: “Theory thrives only when rooted in clinical practice.”

Legacy of Empathy: “We Are Comrades-in-arms in Battling Disease.”

Mrs. Wang’s words struck a chord with the audience. Chen Junyi, a graduate student of year 2024 majoring in medical management said: “Her humility reminds us that true success lies in serving China’s healthcare needs, not in pursuing personal goals.” Gao Yuan, a pharmacy major on a graduate program of 2023 added with awe: “At 68, her relentless pursuit puts our complacency to shame.”

Emphasizing actionable steps for future doctors, Mrs. Wang encouraged them to hone diagnostic skills with “detective-like precision,” to work at grassroots clinics or hospitals where they can also achieve a lot”, to be good at communication and empathetic when dealing with patients. “When talk to your patients, you should let them feel the warmth” she stressed, “because doctors and patients are comrades-in-arms in fighting disease.”