Wu Yufen, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Former Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Renji Hospital

Introduction

She dedicated her life to safeguarding women’s health and delivering babies. She chose a path of unwavering commitment to medicine, channeling her entire energy and intellect into the healing profession.

In her care, countless infants entered the world safely. Her gentle yet firm hands brought joy and hope to families across generations.

When confronted with challenges, she consistently showed resilience and courage. Amid illness and hardship, she never retreated but advanced with greater resolve.

With compassion, she treated every patient equally, irrespective of wealth or status. To her, every life deserved equal care and respect.

A guardian of obstetrics and gynecology, she stood at life’s threshold each day, welcoming new hope into the world.

The Path to Medicine

In 1932, Shanghai embodied a city in transition between eras. Known as the “Paris of the East,” the Huangpu River flowed past sailboats and steamers, while European-style buildings lined the dawn-lit banks. Streets bustled with shops displaying Chinese and Western signs, where gentlemen in traditional robes walked alongside women in modern attire.

That year, Wu Yufen was born in Shanghai. Though not wealthy, her family lived comfortably. Her father, a customs official, provided stability, while her mother cared for Wu and her sibling58.

The family’s security stemmed from her father’s steady income. With modest means and frugal habits, they weathered turbulent times.

When Wu Yufen was seven in 1937, she enrolled at Hualong Primary School in a busy Shanghai district. Known for its rigorous academics and discipline, the school built her educational foundation.

Despite societal unrest, the Wu household remained stable, allowing Wu to focus on her studies. Her father, though busy, prioritized her education. She excelled academically, ranking at the top of her class while developing interests in literature and science.

During her six years at Hualong, Wu witnessed societal upheaval. The outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 cast a shadow over Shanghai. Though the school avoided direct attacks, the tense atmosphere affected her deeply. Her father’s discussions of current events helped her connect classroom lessons with real-world struggles, fostering her respect for learning and sense of social responsibility.

At age eleven in 1943, Wu Yufen entered the prestigious Aurora Girls’ Middle School. The institution blended Western educational approaches with traditional Chinese values.

At Aurora, Wu encountered new ideas and cultures. Her academic interests expanded to advanced subjects like mathematics, physics, and chemistry. She also developed a passion for literature, especially the works of influential Chinese writers Lu Xun and Bing Xing, exploring societal complexities and human nature through their writing.

She formed close friendships with like-minded peers, often discussing academics and current affairs. These exchanges deepened her understanding and broadened her perspective. She came to believe that as part of China’s new generation, they carried the weight of their era—and her focus turned toward medicine.

A New Force in Obstetrics and Gynecology

In September 1955, Wu Yufen was assigned to Hongren Hospital in Shanghai. There, she confronted the complexities of clinical practice and real-world medical challenges. Though demanding, her tenure at Hongren laid the groundwork for her future work at Renji Hospital.
In 1957, as China underwent post-war reconstruction following the founding of the People’s Republic, healthcare investment surged. As a leading medical institution, Renji Hospital shouldered the dual mission of training medical talent and serving the public. Wu was soon transferred to Renji, where she worked across all departments—from outpatient clinics to wards, operating theaters to laboratories.
During the 1950s, she met and married Feng Zhuorong, a young cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital. His rigorous professionalism and dedication deeply inspired her. The two shared a strong professional bond, supporting each other’s careers while navigating life’s challenges together, becoming a respected medical couple.
At the time, China’s public health system was still being developed. Beyond hospital duties, medical personnel were tasked with building grassroots healthcare infrastructure. From 1959 to 1961, Wu was deployed to Beixinjing and the Shanghai Machine Tool Plant to train local healthcare workers. These experiences exposed her to the realities of primary care and resource allocation disparities.

In Beixinjing, she collaborated with local practitioners to provide basic healthcare services and medical training. At the Shanghai Machine Tool Plant, she focused on occupational health, delivering wellness seminars and personalized guidance while training factory clinic staff. Labor-intensive conditions and limited health literacy left workers prone to work-related ailments. Wu’s initiatives improved worker well-being and elevated the plant’s healthcare standards. She also played a key role in establishing factory clinics and training general practitioners.

During her tenure at Renji, Wu made significant strides in clinical practice and research. Her contributions to gynecological studies earned widespread recognition.

In 1959, she co-authored a seminal study on women’s health in Shanghai’s residential neighborhoods, published in the Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This large-scale investigation identified overlooked community health issues, becoming a key reference in gynecology.

She later contributed to pioneering work on C-section techniques, analyzing 225 cases to standardize surgical procedures and postoperative care.

In 1964, she participated in innovative research exploring chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation for ovarian cancer.

The Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) disrupted institutions nationwide, and Renji Hospital was no exception. Academic programs were suspended, and many physicians were sent to rural areas for manual labor. Yet Wu persisted in her medical duties, believing a doctor’s fundamental responsibility was to save lives—regardless of circumstances.
In 1967 and 1971, she was deployed to Jiading’s Waigang region to train local practitioners and provide care. These experiences strengthened her resolve and reinforced her core conviction: medicine’s true purpose lies in healing and serving humanity.

The Soaring Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Renji

The end of the Cultural Revolution signaled a period of renewal for Chinese society and its industries. For Wu, this ushered in a new era: dormant research projects were revived, and a sense of order was gradually restored within the hospital.

From its founding through the pre-reform era, Renji’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology garnered national and international recognition for its clinical excellence and pioneering research. Visionaries like Guo Quanqing, Xiao Bilian, Pan Jiaxiang, and Yan Yanhong drove significant advancements in obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive immunology, establishing the department’s profound academic influence.

In 1979, Wu published “Intracranial Space-Occupying Lesions Complicating Pregnancy,” addressing a critical gap in domestic research. The paper tackled complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, providing essential guidance for obstetricians.

The following year, she co-authored “A Case Report: Von Willebrand Disease Complicated by Ruptured Follicle,” shedding light on rare hematological disorders in gynecological practice.

Wu also championed the adoption of new clinical technologies. In 1981, she participated in a family planning training program at Johns Hopkins University, a global leader in obstetrics and gynecology. There, she encountered cutting-edge minimally invasive techniques. Upon her return, she used personal savings to equip her department with laparoscopes, surgical headlights, and cardiopulmonary bypass machines, determined to bridge the gap between Chinese practices and global standards.

In 1984, her paper “Analysis of 253 Cases of Endometriosis” was published in the Shanghai Medical Journal. This systematic study proposed effective diagnostic and treatment protocols, significantly improving cure rates and providing valuable clinical data.

Subsequent years brought further breakthroughs: in 1986, her work on “Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and Pelvic Abscess” clarified critical surgical indications for gynecological emergencies, while “Ovarian-Sparing Surgery for Ovarian Tumors” introduced innovative techniques to preserve fertility and enhance patients’ quality of life. She broadened her research scope to tackle diverse topics including “Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension with DIC” and “Therapeutic Options for Pelvic Endometriosis,” further refining her expertise. In surgical innovation, she authored key papers such as “Cervical Preservation in Hysterectomy for Uterine Fibroids” and “Prevention and Management of Complications in Vaginal Hysterectomy” (1988). A pivotal 1989 training opportunity at Yamata University in Japan immersed her in the latest global advancements, transforming her reputation from a national expert into an internationally recognized figure. Her influence expanded with seminal works including “Rivanol Amniocentesis for Mid-Trimester Induction” and “Prognostic Factors for Endometrial Cancer” (1988), solidifying her leadership in the field.

By the 1990s, Wu’s career reached new heights. Leveraging decades of clinical experience and research, she mentored generations of obstetricians-gynecologists while continuing to explore uncharted territories in medicine.

In 1991, she published “Risk Factor Analysis of 224 Ectopic Pregnancies,” identifying key variables influencing these complex cases.

That same year, Wu was diagnosed with colon cancer. Yet she refused to yield. Despite undergoing surgery and treatment, she remained at the forefront of clinical and research work, embodying extraordinary dedication. She organized the National Symposium on Critical Care in Obstetrics and Gynecology, publishing its proceedings in the Chinese Journal of Practical Gynecology and Obstetrics—a vital resource for physicians nationwide.

In 1994, her paper “Diagnosis and Treatment of Hymenal Abnormalities” addressed a significant gap in clinical guidelines. The following year, she co-authored “Rapid Urinary LH Testing Combined with Cervical Mucus Scoring for Ovulation Prediction” and “Advances in Vaginal Hysterectomy,” introducing innovative diagnostic tools and refined surgical techniques.

Despite declining health, Wu maintained a rigorous schedule, overseeing over 3,000 outpatient visits and performing 400 surgeries. Her unwavering commitment earned patients’ deep respect and ensured the stability of her department’s operations.

In late 1993, a poor farmer in her 40s sought Wu’s help for a rare vaginal fibroma deemed untreatable by several hospitals. Aware of the risks, Wu devised a meticulous plan: preoperative infection control to reduce costs, followed by complex surgery. After a six-hour operation, she successfully removed the tumor, saving the patient’s life.

In 1995, Wu underwent a second colon cancer surgery. During her recovery, she authored Practical Obstetric and Gynecological Surgery, a comprehensive guide for clinicians.

Her contributions were widely recognized: in 1995, she was named an Advanced Worker by the Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau; in 1996, she received the Shanghai Model Worker title.

Epilogue

In 1997, Dr. Wu Yufen concluded her brilliant and resilient life at age 65, succumbing to colon cancer.

She often said: “A physician’s heart should hold only patients and the cause of medicine.” This was her lifelong creed. She demonstrated unparalleled dedication and responsibility. In the face of illness and complex surgeries, she relentlessly pursued technical perfection. Whether in research or clinical practice, she approached every detail with patience and precision, forging a meticulous work ethic. Even during her illness, she embodied the spirit: “As long as life endures, so does the struggle.”

Her legacy continues to inspire new generations with a simple truth: to serve patients and advance medicine.

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