Life-long studying is the best investment on yourself. In this ever-changing time, Medicine is developing at a high speed as new methods and thoughts are spouting up. However, it is never too late to learn. Prof. Yao Zhensong, Director of Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Baiyun Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, has always been adhered to the original aspiration of “cease to study and you cease to live” ever since he graduated from medical school and became a doctor. And Gloryren is honored to invite Prof. Yao Zhensong for this special interview. In this interview, Prof. Yao Zhensong shared with us his experience in Medicine, the importance of further study in different hospitals around the world, the gains of visiting Schön Klinik München Harlaching, Germany and the suggestions to young doctors.
1. When did you determine to be a doctor? And why did you choose Spine Surgery?
I applied for medical school after College Entrance Examination, and I finally studied in Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I majored in Orthopedics and Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Mmedicine(TCM) during my undergraduate education study. After graduation, I worked in the Second Hospital Affiliated with the Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, the undergraduate education just like the introduction to medicine. As I became a doctor, I realized that there were so much to learn about Orthopedics. While I kept learning, I found that Spine Surgery, the sub-specialty, has a lot of challenges, opportunities and things I want to know as well. In around 2000, after post-graduate graduation, I was determined to work in Spine Surgery.
2. How did your early experiences shape your achievements?
Achievement is an overstatement for me as a normal specialist. In my opinion, the development of every person is a step-by-step process. Sometimes I regard myself as a very lucky person, because during my life and career, I have gained strong supports from my teachers and colleagues. All in all, my career is somewhat a smooth journey.
In my view, it may be my original aspiration leading my development. Just like what I have mentioned before, I was determined to study medicine after the College Entrance Examination, and I applied for Orthopedics and Traumatology in undergraduate education. So from the perspective of Medicine, once you apply for a medical school that you basically define your life and devote yourself to Medicine.
Since I have become a medical student, my goal is to be a good doctor and to better help patients. So I studied hard in university. I took the first place for 5 consecutive years during undergraduate study and won the first-class scholarship. I also won the Guizhou Provincial Excellent Graduate in my graduation year. Then I was accepted on merit to work in the Second Hospital Affiliated with the Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
After 3 years of work, I realized that my knowledge and what I had learned from university were not enough to support me to be a good doctor. Thus I think that further study is a must. Then I passed the post-graduate examination and got enrolled in Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine(GZUCM) to study Orthopedics and Traumatology. During the 3 years of post-graduate study, I made full use of my time. I was one of the Top Students for 3 consecutive years. Besides, I have won the Excellent Graduate Scholarship, Deng Tietao Scholarship, Zeng Xianzi Scholarship as well as the Outstanding Postgraduate of Guangdong Award. After graduation, I was very lucky to be invited to work in the Orthopedics Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. The theoretical accumulation has underlain the preliminary foundation of my career.
In addition, during my clinical practice, I have received professional supports from many mentors in different specialties, such as Traumatology, Spine, Joint and two advantaged specialties of GZUCM- Femoral Head Necrosis and Hi