Dr. Jiang Jiyao, Professor of Neurosurgery, Director of Shanghai Institute of Craniocerebral Trauma

Introduction
Life is a clear spring, whose sweetness is tasted only by those who challenge themselves. It is a vast history book, whose depths are plumbed only by those who dare. It is a beautiful song, whose melody is composed only by those who strive.

He dedicated his life to advancing traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment in China, propelling the Department of Neurosurgery at Renji Hospital to the forefront of the field. His research gained international recognition and adoption, profoundly reshaping TBI treatment strategies across China’s medical community. This stands as an indelible contribution to the nation’s neurotrauma care.

The Path to Medicine
Yancheng, an ancient city renowned as the “Salt Capital” for its abundant resources, radiates timeless vitality. Here, lake waters glisten under poetic skies, where blue ripples merge with the horizon, instilling profound tranquility. On summer nights, lotus blossoms line the shores, their fragrance mingling with the evening chorus of white frogs—a place where time slows and hearts find peace.

In 1957, Jiang Jiyao was born here.

As a child, Jiang dreamed of becoming “a brave soldier.” This dream materialized in 1976 when he joined the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), serving as a medic in a military hospital. In that era, contributing to soldiers’ health filled him with deep pride.

Jiang’s duties—changing dressings, administering injections—were simple yet vital. Through these tasks, he discovered medicine’s wonders: not merely a science, but an art centered on life. This sparked an enduring passion.

A turning point arrived in 1978: China reinstated the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao). Among the first military candidates to sit the exam, Jiang’s outstanding scores earned him admission to the Second Military Medical University. Before departing, the hospital’s surgery department Party Secretary imparted words that would forever guide him: “Be a good doctor—a qualified doctor, never a negligent one.”

This maxim crystallized Jiang’s sense of responsibility. Medicine demanded not only expertise but unwavering ethics. He resolved to serve with diligence, never complacent—a principle etched into his heart.

At university, Jiang embraced rigorous training, absorbing knowledge relentlessly. He knew medicine’s path was arduous, but by honoring his healer’s compassion, he could contribute meaningfully to society.

In 1993, building on international studies of hypothermic brain protection, Dr. Jiang Jiyao and Professor Zhu Cheng pioneered the concept of “mild hypothermia brain protection.” Subsequent clinical trials confirmed its efficacy in improving neurological outcomes.

In 1995, Jiang co-founded the Shanghai Institute of Neurosurgery under Professor Zhu’s leadership. By 1996, Changzheng’s Neurosurgery Department was designated a Shanghai Key Discipline. Amid the mid-1990s crisis in severe TBI care, Jiang—supported by Professor Zhu—launched innovative studies. Adapting U.S. TBI protocols, they implemented “standard large craniectomy for trauma,” dramatically improving outcomes for patients with severe TBI, intracranial hematomas, and contusions. Mortality rates plummeted, particularly for multi-hematoma cases.

This breakthrough was incorporated into the 4th Edition of the U.S. Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and adopted globally. It elevated China’s TBI care to international standards, earning the 2001 National Award for Science and Technology Progress (Second Prize).

This achievement was no accident—it was the fruit of teamwork and relentless effort. Guided by Professor Zhu Cheng and driven by responsibility to patients, Jiang merged global innovations with localized solutions. Their work exemplified how international collaboration, adapted to local needs, could transform clinical practice and save lives.

Joining Renji Hospital: A Leap in Development

In January 2003, Jiang Jiyao joined Renji Hospital from Changzheng Hospital of the Second Military Medical University. Recognized as an exceptional talent, he was appointed Director of Neurosurgery. At the time, the department occupied just 23 beds on the 7th floor of the Internal Medicine Building. With robust support from hospital leadership, the department expanded rapidly. By 2007, it relocated to the Surgery Building, established branches at the East and South Campuses, and launched a nationally leading Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit (NSICU). This growth marked not only a physical expansion but a transformative leap toward specialized excellence.

“When I arrived, neurosurgery was an underdeveloped discipline. Today, it’s a National Key Clinical Specialty and a Ministry of Education Key Discipline. We founded the Shanghai Institute of Traumatic Brain Injury. Our team invested immense effort in this growth. During my 13 years as director, I focused on mentoring talented young physicians. Those years were challenging yet deeply rewarding. Now, Renji Hospital is a leader in neurosurgery in Shanghai, sets the standard for TBI care in China, and has earned a voice on the global stage.”

As both physician and department head, Jiang prioritized long-term vision over short-term gains. He invested in infrastructure—expanding bed capacity, acquiring advanced equipment, and building research resources—to create a foundation for sophisticated, patient-centered care. “Only when a discipline achieves refinement and strength can we truly safeguard patients’ interests,” he asserted.

Today, the department features specialized centers, including the Traumatic Brain Injury Center and Cerebrovascular Disease Center. As a National Key Clinical Specialty and founder of the Shanghai Institute of Traumatic Brain Injury, the team continuously advances outcomes for TBI patients.

“Severe TBI mortality rates dropped from ~60% two decades ago to ~20% today—matching global benchmarks. In early awakening of comatose trauma patients, we lead Chinese medical institutions.”

In 2010, Jiang became the first Chinese President-Elect of the Asian-Pacific Neurotrauma Society. From 2011–2014, he served as the tenth President of the International Neurotrauma Society. Concurrently, he established China’s largest TBI database, identifying prognostic factors to improve rescue success rates.

Academically, Jiang pioneered the standardized definition of “clinical therapeutic hypothermia” (33–35°C) and created international protocols for long-term hypothermia techniques. His prospective trials revealed that 5-day therapeutic hypothermia increased severe TBI survival rates from 54.55% to 74.42% and good recovery outcomes from 27.4% to 46.5%.

He spearheaded 12 Chinese TBI “Expert Consensus Statements” and “Guidelines,” standardizing clinical protocols nationwide. Jiang’s work fostered Sino-international collaboration, enabling Chinese experts to contribute to global research and adopt cutting-edge treatments domestically.

A Legacy of Excellence

Jiang’s leadership inspires China’s medical community. His achievements motivate experts to advance TBI care while nurturing young talent. Under his guidance, Chinese neurosurgery embraces innovation.

“Our Renji neurosurgery team embodies the spirit of ‘healing the wounded and rescuing the dying.’ We relentlessly pursue excellence across three dimensions: height, breadth, and depth.”

-Height: As INTS President and Chairman of the Chinese Medical Association’s Trauma Surgery Branch, Jiang’s team conducted landmark TBI trials. Their findings were incorporated into U.S. Guidelines for Severe TBI Management and published in The Lancet Neurology, amplifying China’s global voice.

-Breadth: Renji hosted TBI training workshops for over 1,000 clinicians nationwide. Hands-on workshops disseminated surgical strategies and critical care expertise. The team’s guidelines and textbooks became essential references for Chinese TBI specialists.

-Depth: The department delivers comprehensive TBI care—from early coma awakening to post-op rehabilitation. It cultivates young talent, with teams excelling in national competitions.

Through Jiang’s vision, Renji Hospital transformed neurosurgical care in China—turning challenges into breakthroughs and excellence into tangible hope for patients.

“Patient Recovery Is My Greatest Achievement”
For Jiang Jiyao, true fulfillment transcends accolades or research milestones—it resides in each life he saves. Every rescued patient represents a hard-won victory, a heroic act waged at life’s precipice. To save one person is to restore an entire family’s future. To date, Jiang has treated thousands of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, their faces and voices etched in his memory. Among them, one young boy stands out—a survivor he rescued a decade ago.

This boy was the lone survivor of a homicide in Jiading District. His father was killed at the scene, while the boy sustained an open traumatic brain injury in the attack. Rushed to the hospital, he arrived near death: blood pressure and heartbeat nearly absent, deep coma, and bilaterally dilated pupils. Jiang immediately initiated resuscitation and performed emergency open-brain surgery, stabilizing the boy.

Days later, catastrophe struck again: severe gastrointestinal bleeding from stress ulcers triggered hemorrhagic shock. Jiang collaborated with general surgeons, performing a subtotal gastrectomy to pull the child back from the brink. Then, due to the open brain wound, a massive brain abscess developed. Purulent drainage and necrotic tissue flooded the wound site, accompanied by septic shock. When conventional drainage tubes clogged repeatedly, Jiang made an unconventional decision: he inserted an abdominal drainage tube into the boy’s intracranial cavity, irrigating it continuously with antibiotic saline. This resourceful improvisation saved the boy once more.

After three battles against death, the boy regained consciousness. His testimony later helped convict his father’s murderer. Today, he is healthy, married, and a father himself.

Recalling this case, Jiang’s voice swells with quiet pride. He often tells young doctors: “Never lose sight of why you chose medicine. When you devote yourself wholly to this calling—with sincerity and relentless effort—the fulfillment from a patient’s recovery and their family’s joy transcends any material reward.”

In Jiang’s eyes, every saved life embodies a sacred rebirth. His contributions to China’s TBI care have reshaped national practices while offering invaluable insights to the international neurotrauma community. The rise of Renji Hospital’s Neurosurgery Department stands as a testament to his legacy. Jiang envisions its influence expanding further, bringing ever-greater hope and healing to patients worldwide.

Editor: Chen Qing @ ShanghaiDoctor.cn   

If you'd like to contact to Dr. Jiang Jiyao, you can contact us at the email of chenqing@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