Shanghai, August 31, 2024 – On the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the birth of renowned liver surgeon and scientist Wu Mengchao, his daughter, Wu Ling, revisited his preserved office at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (also known as the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital) in Shanghai. The office, untouched since his passing, offered a poignant reminder of his life and work.
The office, located on the second floor of the hospital’s outpatient hall, is a testament to the simplicity and dedication of one of China’s most influential medical figures. With plain decorations and modest office furniture, the room appears frozen in time, with the old-style calendar still displaying May 22, 2021, the date of Wu’s passing.
Wu Mengchao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a pioneer in hepatobiliary surgery, spent 19 years in this office since July 2000. His daughter, Wu Ling, who rarely visited her father’s workspace during his lifetime, found the experience of returning to the office deeply moving.
Besides surgery, most of my father’s working hours were spent here, hunched over his desk, Wu Ling told reporters. I rarely came to his office. When I needed to see him, I would wait outside until he finished his work. During his final hospital stay, he sometimes visited the office, and I accompanied him a few times. Looking at the things he left behind, it feels like he’s still here.
The office is a treasure trove of memories, with personal items and professional achievements displayed throughout. A white lab coat hangs on a coat rack by the door, with a Party徽 (Communist Party emblem) pinned to the lapel. On the desk, beneath the glass, are notes and jottings by Wu, while drawers are filled with meticulously written notebooks. Bookshelves are lined with books, patient letters, and art pieces gifted by patients and students, each piece telling a story from his illustrious career.
Wu’s journey in hepatobiliary surgery began in the late 1950s. In 1958, as the head of a three-person task force, he embarked on a groundbreaking project that laid the foundation for liver surgery in China. Starting with liver dissections and specimen preparations, Wu led his team through challenging conditions, eventually contributing to the development of the five-lobes and four-segments liver anatomy theory, a significant milestone in Chinese hepatobiliary surgery.
Under Wu’s leadership, China’s liver surgery advanced from being virtually non-existent to a world leader in the field. From the successful completion of China’s first liver cancer surgery in 1960 to breaking the world surgical barrier of middle liver lobe resection in 1963, Wu’s contributions have been groundbreaking. His team’s achievements include the removal of the world’s largest cavernous hemangioma in 1975 and the innovative concept of two-phase surgery for the treatment of primary massive liver cancer in 1983.
Wu’s dedication to his work is evident in the detailed patient records he maintained throughout his career. Each patient’s case was meticulously documented with photographs of the lesions, handwritten notes detailing patient information and pathological conditions, and carefully preserved with sealing tape.
Wu’s student, Professor Shen Feng, who is now the Dean of the Clinical Research Institute at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital,回忆 (recalled) his teacher’s medical practice and research. Looking through these albums, I am reminded of Professor Wu’s dedication and the impact he had on the field of hepatobiliary surgery, said Shen. He was not only a brilliant surgeon but also a mentor who inspired us to pursue excellence in our work.
As Wu Ling sat at her father’s desk, she shared memories of her time with him, emphasizing the profound influence he had on both her life and the world of medicine. The preserved office serves as a lasting tribute to Wu Mengchao’s legacy, ensuring that his spirit and contributions continue to inspire future generations of medical professionals.
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