DOCTOR

Zhang Yuanfang graduated from Shanghai First Medical College in 1963 and began working in the surgery department of Zhongshan Hospital the same year, holding positions as a surgical resident, attending physician, associate chief physician, professor, and director of the urology department. From February 1980 to April 1982, he furthered his studies in urology, dialysis, and kidney transplantation in Yugoslavia. In 1990, he was appointed as a doctoral supervisor. From October 1992 to August 1994, he studied urology and molecular biology in the United States. In March 1995, he transferred to Huashan Hospital and served as its president from March 1995 to December 2003. Since 1992, he has held various positions, including member of the 4th Urology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, vice chairman of the 5th and 6th Urology Branches, chairman of the Urology Branch of the Shanghai Medical Association since December 1998, chairman of the Andrology Society, and vice chairman of the Shanghai Laser Society. He has served as an editorial board member for the “Chinese Journal of Surgery” and “Chinese Medical Journal,” and as deputy editor-in-chief of the “Chinese Journal of Urology.” He has authored several books, including “Andrology Therapeutics,” “Modern Urology and Andrology,” “Modern Urology Theory and Practice,” and “Practical Urology and Andrology.” He has also co-authored “Practical Surgery,” “Modern Surgery,” and the postgraduate textbook “Surgery: Frontiers and Controversies.” He has published over 300 papers and received numerous awards, including the National Science and Technology Progress Award First Prize and the Ministry of Education Science and Technology Progress Award Second Prize. He has been a national science and technology award review expert and has mentored 50 master’s and doctoral students. Currently, he serves as vice chairman of the Urology Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association and president of the Shanghai Social Medical Institutions Association.

Prologue to Huashan Hospital: 

    "From the first hospital founded by Chinese in Shanghai in 1907 to today’s premier tertiary Grade A comprehensive hospital in the city, Huashan Hospital has weathered over a century of trials and triumphs. Together, we marvel at Huashan’s magnificent achievements and commemorate the profound significance of its 110-year history. Majestic as the Western Peak, Huashan stands tall, its spirit enduring and radiant, just as the Yellow River flows like a silken thread from the horizon… 

     The reason Huashan, named after the Western Peak, remains steadfast through the ages is its ability to amplify the Huashan spirit, which embodies the essence of heaven and earth. This spirit will be passed down from generation to generation of Huashan people. Here, you will witness milestones engraved with the most memorable ethos of Huashan, forever standing tall in the hearts of its people. This is dedicated to commemorating and thanking all those who have contributed to Huashan’s 110-year legacy."

    This is the prologue to the medical museum at Huashan Hospital. As Director Zhang Yuanfang gazed at the artifacts and exhibits, he was lost in thought. At Fudan University’s Shanghai Medical College, he had walked a six-decade-long path in medicine.

    In 1958, Shanghai Medical College took a bold step by selecting a group of outstanding students directly from three Shanghai high schools to become medical students. Zhang Yuanfang’s school, Shanghai Rihui High School, was among them.

    "At that time, six students from our school were chosen to study at Shanghai Medical College, and I was one of them. When I first entered the college from high school, I was a bit worried. I was unfamiliar with medicine, and the thought of handling specimens and interacting with various patients, especially during the first phase of learning anatomy and physiology, was intimidating. At first, I forced myself to learn, to go to the dissection room, but gradually, I grew to love medicine," Zhang Yuanfang recalled.

    After years of diligent study, Zhang Yuanfang graduated with excellent grades. He was then assigned to the surgery department of Zhongshan Hospital as a resident physician. During his three years as a resident, he devoted himself entirely to his work, often spending 24-hour shifts at the hospital.

    "Those three years were undoubtedly tough, but they were instrumental in my growth. As a resident, besides performing many procedures myself, I also had to write medical histories, conduct lab tests, and handle everything personally. The training was rigorous. Sometimes, after long surgeries, I would still have to report to work on time the next day. Back then, we only had half a day off each week," Zhang Yuanfang shared. This experience deepened his love for patients, sense of responsibility, and dedication to improving his skills.

    At that time, China’s medical field was relatively underdeveloped. After completing his residency, Zhang Yuanfang joined a medical team to support rural areas, starting in Qingpu, a suburb of Shanghai, where he and his team took on the healthcare responsibilities for the entire county.

    "By then, I was already a Party member. Shanghai Medical College organized a group of three to five of us as team leaders to manage the entire medical team. Our members came from six hospitals, including Zhongshan, Huashan, Eye Ear Nose & Throat, Oncology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Pediatrics, spread across various locations in Qingpu. As part of the leadership team, I often had to visit different medical teams to understand their work and compile reports for the city. Additionally, in emergencies requiring surgery or resuscitation, I would sometimes have to step in to assist. Transportation was difficult back then—mostly by boat or on foot, as buses were scarce. Looking back, it was tough, but we were young, so it wasn’t a big deal."

    In 1974, following organizational requirements, Zhang Yuanfang went to Jiangxi for another two years. He felt that his ability to work independently greatly improved during this time. "By then, I had been in general surgery for over a decade and could perform many surgeries, whether in general surgery, thoracic surgery, orthopedics, urology, or obstetrics and gynecology—even pancreatic cancer surgeries. Although the medical facilities were poor, the locals trusted Shanghai’s medical expertise, so many counties would invite us for consultations. Even Jiangxi Medical College’s affiliated hospital sought our advice."

    Despite the hardships, Zhang Yuanfang considered this experience a valuable asset for himself and his colleagues, and it was during this time that he developed the ability to handle challenges independently. Later, whenever he faced difficulties, he would draw on this experience to motivate himself, believing that he could endure any hardship.

    In 1976, as China was rebuilding, the government decided to send a group of experts abroad to learn from the world. Yugoslavia was developing rapidly at the time, so Zhang Yuanfang was selected as an expert in the medical and health field to study there. He focused on urology, kidney transplantation, and hemodialysis, spending two years in Yugoslavia. These two years broadened his horizons, enriched his knowledge, and laid the groundwork for his future contributions to urology.

    When it comes to the development of urology in China, Zhang Yuanfang is a pivotal figure who bridges the past and the future. Today, the specialization and division of urology departments in many hospitals can be attributed, in part, to the growth of the Urology Research Institute led by Zhang Yuanfang. 

    After returning from Yugoslavia, Zhang Yuanfang immediately immersed himself in the development of urology departments at hospitals, first at Zhongshan Hospital and later at Huashan Hospital. At that time, the urology department at Huashan Hospital was small, with few doctors, but it made significant innovations in specialized areas such as urodynamics, bladder function research, nephroptosis, and varicocele. 

    "Back then, the strongest urology departments in China were mainly in Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. Beijing and Tianjin both had urology research institutes, but Shanghai did not. So, I thought we should unite the major hospitals under Shanghai Medical College to establish a urology research institute. This way, we could leverage the strengths of all parties. Shanghai had abundant resources, and everyone was very collaborative, allowing us to bring together experts from Shanghai Medical College. We also invited urology experts from Shanghai Second Medical College to serve as consultants, collectively building Shanghai’s urology brand. Although our institute was small at first, we cooperated well and progressed rapidly." 

    From the 1980s onward, Chinese urology made significant leaps, such as the localization and industrialization of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), which had epoch-making significance for urology.

     "In the early 1980s, Germany introduced ESWL, and we were all amazed by this technology. It could break kidney stones with shock waves applied externally, greatly reducing patient risks. Previously, many stones had to be removed through surgery."

    After thoroughly understanding this technology, Beijing and Shanghai independently developed China’s own lithotripters within two to three years, quickly bringing them into clinical use. Gradually, some factories began mass-producing these devices, benefiting countless patients across China.

    Under Zhang Yuanfang’s leadership, the Urology Research Institute introduced many new technologies, drugs, and methods closely aligned with clinical needs, achieving breakthroughs in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer, significantly advancing the field of urology.

    "The development of prostate cancer treatment was also crucial for us. Starting in the 1990s, we conducted clinical research on prostate cancer, not only achieving early detection but also improving early diagnosis and treatment through advancements in radiology and interventional (biopsy) techniques. Previously, prostate cancer surgery was very challenging and only performed in countries like the United States and Europe. Many Chinese patients were diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in low survival rates. In fact, Chinese doctors are very skilled. As technology improved, we began performing early-stage prostate cancer surgeries with increasing success rates, even surpassing some foreign countries in certain areas, which made us very proud."

    Today, urologists in China have mastered minimally invasive endoscopic surgeries using laparoscopic techniques, a result of the collective efforts of China’s urology professionals. The gap with foreign countries has narrowed significantly, and some Chinese surgeons even perform surgeries abroad. Zhang Yuanfang believes that the development of urology after the reform and opening-up has far surpassed the difficulties of the early post-liberation period. Surgeries have become increasingly minimally invasive and precise, and robotic surgery has also become widespread in urology, all of which brings him great satisfaction.

    "In the past, when I was a doctor, urology departments only had 20 to 30 beds. Now, it’s different. Some hospitals have 100, 200, or even 300 beds dedicated to urology. Some large hospitals have very strong urology departments with increasingly specialized divisions—some focus on tumors, others on the prostate, stones, or andrology. Shanghai, which treats patients from all over the country, has provided the conditions for the development of urology in the city. It can be said that Shanghai’s urology team is very strong, and urologists from different hospitals in Shanghai communicate and collaborate extensively. For example, urology is a strong discipline in hospitals affiliated with Fudan University Medical College and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Additionally, the Second Military Medical University (now Naval Medical University) and its affiliated hospitals have top-tier urology departments from a clinical perspective and have achieved many miracles. Other institutions, such as Tongji University School of Medicine and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, also have unique strengths in urology."

    In 1995, Zhang Yuanfang, who had already achieved remarkable success in urology, faced a new challenge and opportunity: leading one of the best hospitals in Shanghai and even the entire country—Huashan Hospital. 

    From the very beginning of his tenure as hospital director, Zhang Yuanfang felt that Huashan Hospital was united in spirit, with a strong academic atmosphere and medical ethics. This provided a solid foundation for everyone to focus on development, opening up possibilities for groundbreaking progress.

     At that time, some excellent doctors returned from abroad, and Zhang Yuanfang fully supported them in advancing research, developing clinical practices, and excelling in teaching. He believed that talent was the key to the hospital’s development, and creating favorable conditions for talent was the cornerstone of the hospital’s growth.

    "During my time as director, in addition to developing disciplines and research, and recruiting talent, my top priority was to renovate the hospital and improve its overall environment. This was the task I set for myself. At the time, Huashan Hospital had the smallest area among all tertiary Grade A hospitals in Shanghai, yet it served the largest number of patients. Therefore, it was essential to carefully plan and meticulously renovate the hospital. Our hospital was located at the border of Xuhui and Jing’an districts, and power shortages were a critical issue. So, the first thing I did after taking office was to upgrade the hospital’s power substation. At the same time, the hospital needed expansion. The current location of the outpatient department and the infectious disease ward were originally residential areas. The construction of the outpatient building and the new Building 12 was connected to the rear garden, but we didn’t own the land rights for the garden, which posed difficulties. Eventually, Huashan Hospital purchased the garden, allowing the outpatient building and Building 12 to be completed smoothly. This significantly increased the hospital’s area, and the Huashan Garden provided a relaxing space for doctors. The improved environment made it easier for Huashan Hospital to attract talent and fostered better development."

    Zhang Yuanfang placed great emphasis on the hospital’s culture, insisting that doctors strive to be pure medical professionals. He believed that as doctors, they should uphold professional ethics and not let greed tarnish their white coats.

    "I want to say that doing our utmost to cure patients is our duty, not a transaction. When patients tried to give me red envelopes, I firmly refused. I always said that the hospital pays my salary, and the state provides my stipend. Saving lives is my responsibility, and I absolutely cannot and will not trade lives for money!"

    Under Zhang Yuanfang’s leadership, the hospital underwent rapid development over eight years, expanding its area several times and providing higher-quality medical services to patients from across the country.

    Now, nearly 20 years have passed since Zhang Yuanfang stepped down from his leadership position in 2003. During these two decades, he has remained deeply attached to the hospital and its patients. To this day, he continues to see patients, mentor students, and conduct weekly ward rounds. "Everything for the patients, everything for the medical profession" has long been the deepest imprint in his heart, one that will never fade.

Zhang Yuanfan