Yan Junhong (1929-), Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Former Chief Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital

Introduction

She brought new life into the world in both cities and villages, protecting mothers and infants with wisdom and compassion. A leading expert in obstetrics and gynecology in China, she dedicated her career to women’s health, earning renown for her clinical excellence, selfless dedication, and role as a medical mentor. Her pioneering research on oral and long-acting injectable contraceptives gave women greater control over their health. She mentored generations of doctors, many of whom became leaders in their fields. She faced immense hardships but never wavered from her calling.

The Path to Medicine

Yan Junhong was born on September 23, 1929, into the comfortable Zunde Tang family compound in Suzhou. Her parents were progressive for their time, insisting all their children receive a quality education. Her mother, an intelligent woman from a scholarly family, was a profound influence. Having given birth to ten children, three of whom died young, her mother once remarked, “With such a big family, it would be best if someone became a doctor.” The words stayed with Yan.

In 1942, Yan witnessed her mother die from peritonitis after a ruptured appendix. This tragedy solidified her resolve to study medicine. While her siblings pursued other fields, Yan was the only one who chose medicine. Her family initially opposed her decision, believing the seven-year program at the prestigious St. John’s University was too arduous for a young woman.

Yan was fiercely independent and refused to use her family’s connections to advance. She excelled in the demanding pre-medical program, graduating a year early in 1950. To support herself, she tutored math, once proudly declaring, “I was very good at math!” She understood that a career in medicine required sacrifice and was prepared for the challenge.

For the Doctor’s Dream

After graduating in 1953, Yan began her residency in obstetrics and gynecology. Despite a modest salary, she required little and found fulfillment in her work. As a young physician, her life was consumed by the hospital; she even forwent visits to nearby Nanjing Road, dedicating all her energy to her patients.

In the 1950s and 60s, a severe physician shortage in China led to community-based medical assignments. Yan was often the first choice for these missions, serving in rural areas and factories. In 1958, she helped establish a hospital branch in a Shanghai township, providing care to rural women and gaining a deep understanding of their hardships. Upon her return, she led preventive health initiatives in the community, earning the hospital numerous municipal awards.

Beginning in 1966, her career faced severe tests. In 1969, she was sent to the remote, impoverished mountain region of Huangtian in Anhui. Conditions were brutal; to ward off rampant fleas and lice, she wore six bottles of DDT insecticide on her body daily. One night, she walked nearly 20 kilometers through the mountains to rescue a woman in obstructed labor. Performing a C-section with rudimentary tools, she saved both mother and child. The baby was named “Haisheng” (“Born of the Sea”) to honor the Shanghai doctor.

Instead of gratitude, her dedication was met with political suspicion. She was accused of “class retaliation” and forced to report her “bourgeois thoughts” to superiors. On another occasion, she saved a hemorrhaging mother with a second surgery made possible by blood donations from PLA soldiers, only to face more slander. “Hardship I can endure; responsibility I dare to take,” she said. “But this kind of irresponsible slander is truly unbearable.” To protect herself, she began meticulously documenting every instrument and medicine bottle she used.

In 1972, Yan was diagnosed with breast cancer. She faced the news with the rationality of a seasoned physician, stating, “I truly wasn’t afraid.” She underwent a radical mastectomy and over two years of chemotherapy, cooperating fully with her treatment and demonstrating remarkable composure.

After the Storm, a New Dawn

Not long after recovering from her illness, Yan Junhong returned to work, immersing herself in the medical education she loved. As the Cultural Revolution ended and the environment gradually warmed, she took on a critical task: compiling the first national Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynecology for Trial Use in Medical Colleges after the turmoil. She was deeply involved in every aspect of the compilation, from conceptualizing the content to organizing the chapters. Yan Junhong leveraged her extensive medical knowledge and practical experience to ensure the textbook’s scientific rigor and practical utility. For her, compiling a textbook was not just about imparting knowledge, but also about distilling and elevating her many years of clinical experience. She hoped to pass her wisdom to a new generation of medical students, helping them avoid the pitfalls she had encountered.

Yan Junhong was a meticulous and passionate educator. She focused on the textbook’s scientific accuracy, reliability, and accessibility. She understood that the dissemination of medical knowledge was crucial for improving healthcare standards and that high-quality textbooks were the foundation for training excellent doctors.

In scientific research, Yan Junhong also achieved significant success. In 1963, she took over the Shanghai First Family Planning Research Institute for Women and began researching oral contraceptives. This was an era of immense social upheaval in China, and Yan Junhong faced not only scientific challenges but also immense political pressure. She and her team pressed forward with their research under difficult conditions. However, the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution severely disrupted this important project, forcing a halt to their work.

In 1979, Yan Junhong seized the opportunity to regroup. After the Cultural Revolution, she was transferred to the Beijing Family Planning Research Institute to continue her research. At this new starting point, she focused on developing long-acting contraceptive injections (Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Injection). Under the guidance of Professor Pan Jiaxiang, then Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yan Junhong led her team in actively conducting a key project for the National Sixth Five-Year Plan.

At that time, the spring breeze of reform and opening-up was blowing across China. Yan Junhong’s research was no longer confined domestically; she collaborated with the Dutch pharmaceutical company Organon on a four-phase clinical study of a long-acting contraceptive injection administered once every six months. The results of this research filled a gap in the field in China. The new method was promoted and applied nationwide, significantly improving contraceptive effectiveness and convenience, and providing women with a more reliable choice.

During the National Seventh Five-Year Plan, Yan Junhong and her team once again demonstrated their innovative spirit. They dedicated themselves to researching an intrauterine device (IUD) containing Medroxyprogesterone Acetate. The highlight of this research was their pioneering work in placing progesterone directly within the IUD, which significantly improved the effectiveness of traditional IUDs.

In this process, Yan Junhong and her team not only pioneered new applications for PVC materials to create various types of IUDs but also embedded Medroxyprogesterone Acetate and Levonorgestrel within them. Through extensive clinical trials, they validated the effectiveness of this new type of IUD. Yan Junhong’s groundbreaking research attracted international attention. Building on her work, the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as countries like the Netherlands and France, further developed the Levonorgestrel-releasing IUD, making a significant contribution to the global advancement of contraceptive technology.

Entering the 1980s, Yan Junhong continued to innovate. In 1981, she participated in a National Eighth Five-Year Plan key project led by Professor Huang Zhuling of Xinhua Hospital, focusing on the mechanism of intrauterine bleeding associated with copper-containing IUDs. This research provided valuable data for the design and use of IUDs, offering new insights for the field.

Furthermore, Yan Junhong contributed to authoritative monographs such as the Encyclopedia of Chinese Medicine, Long-Acting Contraceptive Injections, and the Manual of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As an editor-in-chief or editorial board member, she leveraged her extensive experience to ensure the authority and practicality of their content. Her work on the obstetrics and gynecology chapters in the Encyclopedia of Chinese Medicine provided systematic theoretical guidance for practitioners. In Long-Acting Contraceptive Injections, she detailed the research and clinical application of this method, providing a valuable reference for professionals. The Manual of Obstetrics and Gynecology served as a practical guide for doctors and students, compiling the latest research and clinical experience.

A Model in Medical Education, A Paragon of Patient Care

Yan Junhong placed great emphasis on cultivating medical talent, training many outstanding doctors and researchers. Professor Li Weiping, former Executive President of Renji Hospital East Campus, was her last PhD student. Professors Lin Jianhua and Di Wen were also her PhD students; their achievements reflect Yan Junhong’s immense contributions to medical education.

She was a meticulous mentor who focused not only on imparting medical knowledge but also on shaping her students’ professional ethics and clinical skills.

Even after retirement, Yan Junhong’s passion for medicine endured. She was rehired at Renji Hospital, allowing her to continue utilizing her skills and experience. Before 2008, she still insisted on seeing outpatients, starting her day at 8 a.m. and remaining busy with consultations until the end of the day. With each patient, she conducted meticulous examinations and patiently answered their questions. Despite her busy schedule, she always ensured every individual received sufficient attention and care.

Her outpatient work was renowned for its thoroughness and patience. Regardless of a patient’s condition, she would spend thirty minutes or more with them, ensuring they clearly understood their diagnosis, treatment plan, and necessary precautions. With her perfectionist spirit and passion for medicine, Yan Junhong provided patients with the highest quality of care. Her thoroughness not only made patients feel cared for but also elevated the standard of care at the hospital.

Yan Junhong’s medical ethics and skill earned widespread praise. One patient commented: “Doctor Yan is like a grandmother, very kind and considerate, always thinking of the patient. Unlike some doctors who get impatient after a few questions, Doctor Yan explains things tirelessly until you fully understand. She is truly a doctor with great medical ethics!”

Throughout her life, Yan Junhong maintained a humble and grateful attitude. She often spoke of her teachers and mentors, expressing deep admiration and gratitude for their guidance. She believed her accomplishments were inseparable from their teaching. She also expressed special thanks to the doctors and nurses she worked with, acknowledging that she could not have achieved everything alone.

Recalling her words from the beginning of her medical journey: “Studying medicine is truly not easy.” Whether in the accumulation of knowledge or the tempering of practice, Yan Junhong consistently maintained a down-to-earth attitude and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The path of medicine requires steady, incremental effort and persistence to forge an unyielding dedication, ultimately allowing the longing for medicine cherished in youth to blossom brilliantly.

Editor: Chen Qing @ ShanghaiDoctor.cn

Note: Chinese Sources from “The Path of Benevolent Medicine” which was published in 2024. It records 90 important medical figures in the history of Renji Hospital. Yewen Renyi (ShanghaiDoctor.cn) team was one of the major writers of the book and is authorized by Renji hospital to create English version on the website of ShanghaiDoctor.cn