Huang Jiasi Park

Huang Jiasi Park

In the city of Yushan, Jiangxi Province, there lies a place covered in lush green grass and shaded by verdant trees. Here stands a statue of the renowned Chinese medical scientist and educator, Dr. Huang Jiasi. With the wisdom and depth characteristic of modern intellectuals, he silently watches over the well-being and happiness of humanity. Those who stand in solemn reverence before his statue will tell you that this park is called “Huang Jiasi Park.” The local people have condensed their reverence and remembrance for this great medical master into a simple, heartfelt sentiment.

Few people know that this park, established in honor of Dr. Huang Jiasi, also serves as the backyard garden of the Yushan County People's Hospital. It is believed that Dr. Huang Jiasi would have been very pleased with this arrangement — even years after his passing, he remains in the most familiar surroundings, close to the patients he loved the most.

In the summer of 1941, Huang Jiasi, with outstanding academic achievements, earned a government-sponsored opportunity to study in the United States at Tsinghua University. Out of the highly coveted 20 spots, he secured one, becoming the only medical student among them at the time. After arriving in the U.S. in October, Huang smoothly entered the University of Michigan Medical School, studying under Professor John Alexander, the founder of specialized thoracic surgery in Europe and America. Under the guidance of a master, excellence is almost guaranteed, especially with Huang’s diligent and eager-to-learn nature. He quickly stood out among his peers. During a visit to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with his mentor, he demonstrated an exceptional bronchography technique to the hospital’s renowned head of surgery, Professor Alfred Blalock. In that era not yet free from humiliation, Huang Jiasi, with his yellow skin and dark eyes, reshaped the image of the Chinese people through his skillful hands.

Four years later, as the smoke of World War II gradually cleared, Huang Jiasi, who had passed the American Board of Surgery exams and earned the qualification of a surgical expert, eagerly boarded the first available U.S. military transport flight across the Pacific. After three days and nights of bumpy travel, he finally set foot on his homeland once again. There was a minor mishap during the journey — he accidentally lost his luggage while transiting in India, but he managed to bring back the complete set of thoracic surgery instruments and equipment intact.

This “survivor” set of surgical instruments soon proved its worth. In the year following his return, Huang Jiasi established the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Medical College and at the First Hospital of the Red Cross, beginning to admit critically ill patients suffering from advanced tuberculosis, lung abscesses, and esophageal cancer. He pioneered controlled-pressure open-chest surgeries and developed various types of lung and esophageal resection procedures. Xi Tan Village, former editorial board member of the China Quyi Artists Association, who was brought back to life under his scalpel, once said with deep emotion: “Dr. Huang, your patients will never forget you!”

Dr. Huang Jiasi dedicated his life to laying the foundation for China’s cardiothoracic surgery. Yet, his life was not one of material wealth. Many advised him to go into private practice and earn a reasonable income through legitimate means. To this, Huang would always just smile and say: “What interests me is being a good teacher and a good thoracic surgeon.” In his view, such recognition was what was truly worth striving for. In 1959, he founded the eight-year program China Medical University. As its president, he remained approachable, and students were often deeply moved that he could remember their names accurately. Even in his later years, Huang personally took on graduate students, constantly thinking about how to pass on all his knowledge to the next generation. “His teachings will endure forever,” wrote Shi Meixin, his first student, in these eight words to commemorate his mentor.

Knowledge put to use is a true blessing. For a surgeon, the most fulfilling moment is undoubtedly holding a sharp scalpel and cleanly battling disease under the operating lights. But Huang Jiasi, whose livelihood depended on the scalpel, could hardly agree with this notion. In his view, the foremost rule for a surgeon is: “If a disease can be treated without surgery, never pick up the scalpel.”

Those familiar with Huang Jiasi all know that a reproduction of a famous painting hung in his room year-round. The artwork, titled “The Doctor,” was created by British painter Luke Fildes. In the painting, an exhausted doctor keeps silent vigil beside the bed of a critically ill child, while the anxious and sorrowful parents have placed all their hopes in the doctor. The duty and mission of healing and saving lives were deeply engraved in Huang Jiasi’s heart from the moment he embarked on his arduous journey overseas to study medicine.

“Huang Jiasi possessed a kind of tenacity toward his career. Once he committed to a task, he dared to see it through to the end.” Wu Jieping was deeply impressed by his old friend’s almost stubborn determination. For the ideal of healing and helping all, Huang Jiasi gave his all until his last breath.

On May 14, 1984, Huang Jiasi felt unwell and walked from his dormitory on Dongdan Diplomatic Street to Capital Hospital for a check-up. A sudden episode of ventricular fibrillation ultimately claimed the life of this industrious elder. On the morning of his passing, he still called the office of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to arrange for train tickets to Jinan to attend a biomedical engineering conference. Three days before his death, Huang Jiasi had invited renowned experts to prepare for the third revision of the “Surgery” textbook he had edited in 1959. After his death, with unanimous approval from the editorial board of “Surgery,” the fourth edition was named “Huang Jiasi Surgery.”