Professor Li Ziming, 

Doctor of Oncology, PhD Supervisor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Director of the Oncology Department at the Chest Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

Professional Appointments: 

 -Member of the Youth Committee of the Oncology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association

 - Member of the Youth Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO)

- Standing Member of the Immuno-Oncology Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association

- Member of the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association

Visiting Scholar Experience:

 - Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York, USA (August 2014 – September 2015)

Research Focus:
 - Basic and clinical research on multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment of lung cancer; expertise in minimally invasive tumor ablation for lung cancer.

Awards and Grants:      
 - Recipient of the Shanghai Outstanding Academic Leader, Shanghai Young Talent Award, Shanghai Pujiang Talent Program, and Shanghai Talent Development Fund.

Academic Publications (First/Co-first Author, SCI-indexed):

 - Lancet Oncology

 - Lancet Respiratory Medicine

 - Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

 - Cell Reports Medicine

 - Nature Communications

 - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)

 - Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO)

 - Chest

Research Projects Undertaken:

 - Sub-project of the Key Chronic Disease Research Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology

 - Multiple grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program, Youth Program, etc.)

Preface:

    Destiny moves in mysterious ways. 

   Some say the call to medicine comes not from passion, but from an inevitable pull of fate. Yet the path of healing is never smooth. Many stumble at the start, wavering in uncertainty. Some walk away, weary of the journey; others stay, bound by devotion. And Li Ziming? He is among those who found belonging in the daily grind—not because he chose medicine, but because medicine chose him.

   “My father and mother were both doctors. My mother, a Shanghainese, moved to the north of China at 16, where she met my father. They spent their lives working in local hospitals. I often wonder if my mother filled out my college applications without hesitation because she hoped I could soar higher and farther in this field.”    

    In the summer of 1996, sixteen-year-old Li Ziming watched his mother’s pen hover over the application form. In all five slots, she wrote medical schools—her handwriting as decisive and unyielding as her personality. At the time, Li might not have understood how her unwavering determination would alter the course of his life. He was accepted into Shanghai Second Medical University (now Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine).

    “I felt destined to become a ‘thoracic specialist.’ When there was only one opening left in the respiratory department, I joined the thoracic hospital.” His early years there were a baptism by fire. Night shifts bathed the walls in the green glow of EKG machines, stacks of medical records teetered like precarious towers, and Li navigated the bittersweet rhythm of life on the wards.

    Then, one morning during rounds, he met Professor Lu Shun. That encounter marked a turning point in his medical journey.

    “Life as a junior doctor isn’t easy (laughs)—early mornings, late nights, no shortcuts. Transitioning from textbooks to clinical practice requires a shift in mindset. I owe so much to my mentor, Professor Lu. He was the first to urge me to pursue a master’s degree: ‘You must read literature, write SCI papers. Even though you’re new, start now and keep moving forward.’ Before that, I hadn’t even considered writing SCI papers. My focus was on patient care and prescriptions, not research. Professor Lu gave me clear direction: First, hone your clinical skills and master the basics. Second, approach clinical work with a research mindset. Third, read, write, and prepare for the future.”

    “Today, the medical education system has changed dramatically. Many graduates dive into research projects, writing papers and conducting studies as second nature. But in my generation, most of us lacked both awareness and direction in research. I was lucky—Professor Lu lit the way for this greenhorn.”

    Professor Lu was generous with his insights and experiences. He shared stories from the experience in other countries,. Gradually, Li realized that writing research papers wasn’t about churning out content on an assembly line but using data and analysis to decode the mysteries of disease.

    Under Professor Lu’s guidance, Li grew in clinical skills, research, and patient care.

    “First, the clinical side. Professor Lu’s expertise was unparalleled. He guided me through every case, big or small, sharpening my technical skills. More importantly, he structured the entire clinical teaching process into a cohesive system. I learned a comprehensive understanding of diseases—how to approach textbooks, apply memorized knowledge in practice, and navigate rounds. His patient, methodical teaching has been a lifelong inspiration.”

    Li Ziming’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and perseverance. From a reluctant medical student to a dedicated thoracic specialist, he embodies the belief that medicine is not just a career but a calling—one that demands both heart and mind.

    “In 2006, the Lung Tumor Clinical Medical Center became an independent entity. For the 20 years prior, the development of lung cancer treatment in China had been slow. Some even joked that while breast cancer treatment advanced like a train, and colon cancer like a plane, lung cancer treatment crawled like a snail—the five-year survival rate for patients improved by only about 1%. A lung cancer diagnosis was essentially a death sentence.”

    But around 2005, the emergence of new drugs brought revolutionary changes to lung cancer treatment. Li Ziming encountered his first patient undergoing targeted therapy—wheeled into the hospital but walking out on their own just a week after starting the medication. He was amazed that a small pill could have such a profound effect.

    This marked the beginning of an era of rapid drug development, especially after 2010, when a wave of new medications significantly improved survival rates for lung cancer patients. In recent years, immunotherapy has taken another giant leap forward. Some patients with large tumors, initially deemed inoperable, have seen their tumors shrink through drug therapy, making surgery possible. Remarkably, about 25% of these patients show no signs of cancer post-surgery. “This was unimaginable in the past,” Li reflects.

    Today, the field of lung cancer treatment is advancing at rocket speed. Whether it’s internal medicine, surgery, or radiotherapy, doctors are witnessing remarkable extensions in patient survival. Surgical techniques have undergone revolutionary changes—90% of procedures are now minimally invasive, and the introduction of robotic surgery has opened up even more innovative possibilities. Meanwhile, advancements in CT technology have made early detection of lesions a reality, further boosting patient survival rates.

    In 2014, the department introduced interventional therapy for lung cancer. Previously, interventional methods through the bronchial or arterial routes were less effective. But with the advent of cryotherapy and radiofrequency technology, new doors opened. Li, who has always enjoyed hands-on work, found this to be a fulfilling alternative to his long-held dream of becoming a surgeon.

    “Some tumors don’t respond well to chemotherapy, and surgery isn’t an option. That’s where interventional therapy comes in. With real-time 4D imaging guidance, we can target lesions with millimeter precision, avoiding blood vessels and minimizing radiation. Beyond tumor ablation, it can also address very small nodules. This technology will undoubtedly be widely adopted in the future, solving even more challenges,” Li explains.

    Clinical success stories fuel Li’s motivation. One 78-year-old patient, who had a recurrence three years post-surgery, developed a large, necrotic, and pus-filled mass on his chest wall. Given his age and frail condition, chemotherapy was out of the question. Li devised a treatment plan combining immunotherapy and cryotherapy. After one cycle, the mass nearly disappeared. “Seeing a patient like that go from suffering to relief—it’s an instant sense of accomplishment,” Li says.

    Another 79-year-old patient, a breast cancer survivor, developed a 7-millimeter nodule in her lung. Suspecting malignancy, Li confirmed it through a biopsy. Theoretically, this was an oligometastatic lesion that could be treated locally. Using radiofrequency ablation, Li precisely eliminated the lesion, and the patient recovered well. “Seeing her go from struggling to eat to returning to a normal life—that sense of fulfillment and value is indescribable,” he shares.

    For Li, the essence of clinical work lies in these “instant” moments of success. Every patient he helps, every life he restores, brings him immense joy. “The value and happiness of being a doctor are embodied in these moments. Treating a patient, watching them go from being unable to eat to living a normal life—that kind of achievement is irreplaceable. It drives me to do more, to help more people,” Li concludes.

    Li Ziming rarely has time for himself, jokingly attributing his weight gain to “stress-induced chubbiness.” Despite walking over 10,000 steps daily in the hospital, his weight remains stubborn. On one hand, the endless minutiae of clinical work often leave him too busy to eat. On the other, his research demands significant energy. While he has a genuine interest in research, the pressure of performance metrics pushes him to give it his all.

    “Perhaps in the near future, we’ll transform cancer into a chronic condition like diabetes or hypertension—no longer the terrifying death sentence it’s often seen as. Of course, there’s still a long road ahead, and we’ll face many challenges along the way,” Li reflects.

    One incident stands out in his memory. A patient developed severe pneumonia after taking targeted therapy, teetering on the brink of death. The family was divided—some advocated for giving up, while others insisted on continuing treatment. Based on the patient’s condition, Li believed it was a drug-induced toxicity reaction, not an uncontrollable progression of the cancer. In his judgment, there was still hope. “When there’s hope, a doctor can’t give up,” he says.

    “But saving him wasn’t easy. The patient had already been battling late-stage cancer for a decade, and his condition was critical—he was even on a ventilator. I paid extra attention to this case. Even when I had to travel for a conference over the weekend, I rushed back to the hospital immediately afterward to check on him. I made it a point to see him every day, even on my days off. After two and a half grueling months, the patient’s sheer willpower and our efforts paid off—he pulled through.”

    Scenes like these remind Li of the importance of advancing research. New therapies bring new challenges, but he’s confident that the path will lead to success—it’s just a matter of time.

    In the past, his weekends were often consumed by meetings. While many conferences have moved online, giving him a bit more breathing room, his weekends remain precious. Even at home, he has little time for leisure—his TV hasn’t been turned on in years. His life is almost entirely filled with work and research, leaving barely any time for himself.

    Yet, despite the relentless pace, Li finds fulfillment in his work. “The moments when you see a patient recover, when you know you’ve made a difference—that’s what keeps me going,” he says. For Li, the warmth of medicine lies not just in the science but in the human connections and the hope it brings.

Onsite Interview: 

ShanghaiDoctor.cn: Dr. Li, could you start by sharing the development journey of the MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) department?

Dr. Li Ziming: Certainly. The development of the MDT department has been the result of three generations of effort. The first generation was led by our predecessors, Professor Liao Meilin and Professor Zhou Yunzhong, who laid a solid foundation. The second generation, represented by Professor Lu Shun and Professor Luo Qingquan, made significant strides in both clinical practice and research. Now, in the third generation, I, along with Director Cheng Xinghua, continue to push this field forward. Today, through collaboration between internal medicine and surgery, we’ve been able to cure many cases of lung cancer. If patients can work with their doctors to create the right conditions, the treatment outcomes can be even better.

ShanghaiDoctor.cn: What are your thoughts on perioperative treatment?

Dr. Li Ziming: Perioperative treatment is crucial, especially as China’s domestically developed drugs are gradually gaining international recognition. These drugs are better suited to the Chinese population, allowing us to transition from “following trends” to “setting trends” and eventually “leading trends.” At the same time, we’re continuously improving our clinical and research capabilities to demonstrate our strength in this field.

ShanghaiDoctor.cn: How do you view the “going global” trend in medical technology?

Dr. Li Ziming: I believe the “going global” of lung cancer treatment technologies stems from clinical research. Only with strong results can we gain FDA approval. Therefore, outcomes are critical. We hope to bring China’s medical achievements to the world through clinical research.

ShanghaiDoctor.cn: What do you think is the future direction of medicine?

Dr. Li Ziming: Medicine always evolves from simplicity to complexity, from invasive to non-invasive, with the ultimate goal of achieving trauma-free treatment. For example, we initially chose radiotherapy because surgery was invasive. Humanity desires more comfortable treatment methods. As Director Lu once said, strategy is more important than tactics. Beyond diagnosing and researching, we doctors need to think from a broader perspective.

ShanghaiDoctor.cn: How do you see the progress in the field of lung cancer?

Dr. Li Ziming: Having worked in lung cancer for over 20 years, I’ve seen significant improvements in patient outcomes. I remember in 2002, when Professor Lu attended the ASCO Annual Meeting, he heard someone say, “Breast cancer progress is like an eagle, colon cancer is a horse, and lung cancer is a snail.” Now, lung cancer has become a horse. Basic medical science discovers many things, but clinical practice is where it’s applied. The current system demands that clinicians have both depth and breadth, which is a challenge for our generation of doctors.

ShanghaiDoctor.cn: How do you think new technologies, like AI, will impact medicine?

Dr. Li Ziming: AI will undoubtedly transform the landscape, including lifestyles, work methods, and career development. Major technological shifts will eliminate some jobs while creating new ones. For medicine, this is equally significant. We’re just beginning to understand the changes AI might bring. We can’t avoid the transformation it will bring; instead, we must gradually find answers. While I don’t have a blueprint yet, AI will certainly reduce repetitive, low-level tasks, allowing us to focus more on constructive insights and strategic direction.

ShanghaiDoctor.cn: Innovation is one of the mottos of the Chest Hospital. How do you interpret the word “innovation”?

Dr. Li Ziming: Innovation is essentially the essence of being a doctor. We can’t stick to old ways; we must build on the foundations laid by our predecessors and develop newer, better methods. The first step in science is speculation—daring to hypothesize but carefully verifying. However, speculation can’t be baseless; it must be grounded in logic and evidence. Taking a step forward is speculation, but if that step isn’t validated, it becomes mere fantasy. So, innovation must be grounded, step by step.

ShanghaiDoctor.cn: What is your understanding of life?

Dr. Li Ziming: As an oncologist, I’ve witnessed countless life-and-death situations. Some people wail in grief, beating their chests, but their loved ones are already gone. Others cling to life while family members argue over inheritance at their bedside. Sometimes, death itself isn’t the scariest part; it’s the examination of human nature it brings. No matter how much medicine advances, there will always be incurable diseases, and we must accept that. Today, with so many new technologies and drugs, some patients still don’t respond to treatment. Especially as both a doctor and a family member, the sense of helplessness in such situations is overwhelming. For those patients, seeing new technologies save others but not themselves, the frustration and despair are profound. But as a doctor, I want to remind people that within the white walls of the hospital, beyond life and death, there is also the understanding of loved ones, the support that waits for miracles, gratitude, remembrance, and moving forward.

Editor: Chen Qing 

If you want to contact to Dr. Li or Editor for any help, please be free to let us know at chenqing@ShanghaiDoctor.cn