Huang Dingjiu (1932-), Professor of Internal Medicine, Former Deputy Director of Internal Medicine at Renji Hospital

Introduction:

In the field of cardiology in China, Huang Dingjiu stands out as a leading figure. With profound expertise and an innovative spirit, he has made significant contributions to the research and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. His unwavering medical ethics and educational philosophy have also established the cardiology department at Renji Hospital, under his leadership, as a premier institution for cultivating medical talent.

Huang Dingjiu’s life is a testament to the relentless pursuit of medical truth and an exploration of its impact on human life. His story not only chronicles the journey of a physician but also reflects the medical and social transformations of his era. We will trace his path from his early years to his emergence as a medical leader, his groundbreaking work in cardiology, and his influence on those around him through his professional dedication.

Through his life, we gain insight into the journey of a medical master, his passion for medicine, and his enduring contributions to China’s healthcare system. The following chapters will delve deeper into the world of Huang Dingjiu.

The Path to Medicine

In 1932, Huang Dingjiu was born into a cultured family in Shanghai, where a scholarly atmosphere was a core part of their heritage.

During the 1930s, his uncle and father operated the Shanghai Times, a mainstream newspaper known for its prestigious reputation and refusal to publish commercial ads or bow to external pressure. When the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression broke out, they faced mandatory “news censorship” from the Japanese forces. Choosing dignity over compromise, they ceased publication. This act of integrity reflected the strong principles and national conscience of his family, a legacy that would later define Huang Dingjiu’s own character and medical practice.

Huang Dingjiu began his formal education at Juemin Primary School in 1937, later attending Nanyang Model Primary School in 1942 and then Nanyang Model High School. This solid educational foundation laid the groundwork for his future career.

As his interest in medicine grew, Huang Dingjiu was admitted to the medical school of St. John’s University in 1949, a prestigious institution known for its rigorous academics. There, he diligently absorbed medical knowledge, excelling in his studies.

During his university years, he combined theoretical learning with hands-on participation in medical experiments and clinical practice. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, he was regarded by teachers and classmates as both talented and exceptionally hardworking.

In 1952, Huang Dingjiu continued his medical education at the Shanghai Second Medical College, one of China’s top medical institutions. There, he collaborated with leading professors and peers, exploring the frontiers of medicine together.

After graduating in 1955, Huang Dingjiu advanced his training, specializing in cardiovascular diseases. In 1967, he was awarded a sub-doctoral degree in this field. In the 1960s, cardiac interventional therapy was in its infancy in China, with limited resources and challenging conditions. Undeterred, Huang Dingjiu dedicated himself to this demanding field, spending his days in the hospital and nights in the lab, steadily building a deep foundation of knowledge and experience.

Huang Dingjiu’s mentor was Professor Huang Mingxin, a renowned expert in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases who had served as president of Renji Hospital. Professor Huang Mingxin’s influence was profound, providing not only academic guidance but also a model of medical ethics and professionalism. Huang Dingjiu has often cited his mentor’s teachings as a driving force in his career.

In the classroom, Professor Huang Mingxin shared his rich clinical experiences with students. In the 1980s, as China began to reform and open up, he was dedicated to introducing advanced Western medical technologies while also exploring ways to integrate them with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.

Huang Dingjiu’s innovations in cardiac interventional therapy, achieved through overcoming numerous obstacles, earned him the trust and respect of countless patients, who were drawn to his exquisite skills and rigorous approach.

In 1984, Huang Dingjiu went to the University of Michigan Medical Center as a postdoctoral scholar. He later returned to China to become a professor of internal medicine and doctoral supervisor at the Shanghai Second Medical University, and director of the cardiology department at Renji Hospital, among other leadership roles. Despite his fruitful academic career, he remained focused on the health needs of ordinary people, particularly common and difficult diseases.

Tracing Huang Dingjiu’s path to medicine reveals that his remarkable achievements were built upon a foundation of daily diligence and unwavering principles.

2. The Importance of Conscience

"One must act with conscience." This is not only an ancestral teaching but also an indispensable original aspiration in medical practice.

Huang Dingjiu's conscience stemmed from his deep sympathy for patients. He transformed this compassion into care and responsibility for every patient, pouring his full enthusiasm into disease diagnosis, treatment, psychological comfort for patients, and innovation in scientific research.

In the 1960s, modern medicine treated angina pectoris only with nitroglycerin, which had limited effects on severe patients. After consulting with traditional Chinese medicine practitioner He Yunsheng, Huang Dingjiu added "Suhe Xiang Wan" (Storax Pill), which proved highly effective, opening a new path for the integration of Chinese and Western medicine through "aromatic qi regulation."

In 1974, Huang Dingjiu learned that there were 30 million patients with chronic bronchitis nationwide, of whom 5 million had developed cor pulmonale, which made him extremely anxious. After years of research, Huang Dingjiu finally established a "treatment method for chronic cor pulmonale during remission periods." Under the harsh rural conditions of that time, this method increased the 5-year survival rate of patients from the internationally reported 50% to 77%, rewriting the medical records for chronic cor pulmonale treatment. This groundbreaking method was soon promoted nationwide and was awarded a national-level achievement award at the National Science Conference in 1978. This achievement also made him recognize the important impact of meteorological factors on diseases. Consequently, he led a research team to collaborate with the Meteorological Bureau, identifying meteorological factors related to acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and cor pulmonale, and proposing the scientific concept of using weather forecasts for disease prevention and control. Huang Dingjiu's contributions were not only reflected in treating and saving lives; he consistently adhered to conscience as his responsibility, leading his research team to continuously explore and find many effective drugs from Chinese herbal medicine and vaccines. Team member Zhang Junli cooperated with epidemic prevention stations to develop "Atractylodes and Artemisia Incense" that could prevent colds. Another team member, Hu Bingxiong, collaborated with Shanghai University of Technology to develop a "mechanical ventilator monitoring and alarm system." These achievements reached the international advanced level at the time and received the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award. "Wenhui Situation" reported their active work and gratifying achievements to the central government. Marshal Ye Jianying, Vice Premier Li Xiannian, and Minister of Health Liu Xiangping all gave instructions and praise, and Huang Dingjiu also received a cordial meeting and encouragement from Premier Zhou Enlai.

One night in 1985, the bright lights of the hospital emergency room were dazzling, and the phone rang urgently. An elderly patient was rushed to the hospital due to acute myocardial infarction, with his heart nearly stopping. Beside the sickbed, medical staff looked solemn, and their emergency measures seemed insufficient in the face of the nearly failing life. Huang Dingjiu rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, immediately recognizing the severity of the situation. The elderly patient was barely alive, with his heart nearly ceasing to function, and the shadow of death had enveloped everyone present. Without hesitation, Huang Dingjiu quickly organized the rescue, racing against time with his team. Every operation was performed with extreme caution, as the boundary between life and death seemed just a moment away. After a night of intense efforts, the elderly patient miraculously survived. That night, life triumphed over death, and Huang Dingjiu saved a precious life with his perseverance and professionalism. This rescue not only saved a patient but also set a precedent for the future treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

From then on, Huang Dingjiu and Chen Runfen continued to innovate in the field of cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias, gradually becoming leading figures in this field. During a complex supraventricular tachycardia surgery, he first proposed the use of ablation to treat refractory arrhythmias. This method had never been attempted before, but he firmly believed this path was feasible. After multiple attempts and refinements, Huang Dingjiu successfully cured this complex disease using ablation technology. At that moment, the patient's heartbeat returned to normal, the air in the operating room seemed to freeze, followed by cheers from the medical team. Huang Dingjiu smiled slightly, knowing that this was not only a successful surgery but also a breakthrough in arrhythmia treatment. The radiofrequency ablation technology he pioneered greatly improved the safety and effectiveness of the surgery, enabling countless patients to break free from the pain of illness and regain new life.

Meanwhile, Huang Dingjiu never stopped exploring in the field of immunology. Together with Xu Yiping, he pioneered many clinical immunological examination methods in China, continuously trying new formulas and treatment approaches, and eventually invented "Nuclear Casein," a unique drug for addressing low immunity in the elderly. Under his guidance, geriatric research made tremendous progress, especially in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and geriatric conditions. Huang Dingjiu's research brought good news to countless elderly patients. Those once frail and slow-moving elderly people regained their youth, health, and vitality after treatment.

Huang Dingjiu's medical achievements were not only reflected in clinical practice and innovation but also left valuable treasures for the medical field through his extensive research work. In the subsequent years, Huang Dingjiu published numerous influential papers in multiple fields such as arrhythmias, geriatric immunology, and cardiac diagnostic techniques, promoting cutting-edge research in related areas.

Huang Dingjiu's academic career is like a magnificent symphony spanning time and disciplines. With endless curiosity, courageous innovation, and selfless care for patients, he composed a brilliant chapter in medical development. His contributions will continue to inspire future medical workers, benefiting countless lives through his research.

"Medicine is a benevolent art," this philosophy has been inherited and carried forward in the century-long development of Renji Hospital, with its core spirit being "Benevolent Art for the Salvation of the World." Here, "benevolent art" is not merely about exquisite medical skills but also embodies the conscience of a healer.

3. Fifty-Six Years of Medical Practice and Teaching: Inheritance and Innovation

In the 1980s, Huang Dingjiu took a groundbreaking step in the field of cardiology by pioneering the use of ablation therapy to treat refractory supraventricular tachycardia in China, achieving remarkable results. The "Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine" spoke highly of his innovative approach, stating that he "opened a new path in the field of arrhythmia treatment." Entering the early 1990s, Huang Dingjiu once again demonstrated his innovative spirit by being the first to apply radiofrequency technology to ablation surgery, greatly enhancing the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. This technology has now become the gold standard for treating certain types of tachyarrhythmias and was praised by the "History of Chinese Electrocardiology Development" as a "monument in the radical treatment of arrhythmias." In 2011, the Chinese Heart Rhythm Society awarded him the "Outstanding Contribution Award in Chinese Cardiac Electrophysiology" in recognition of his exceptional achievements in this field.

In 1995, Huang Dingjiu's team collaborated with engineering teams to jointly develop three-dimensional/four-dimensional echocardiography technology. This technology not only accurately measured the volumes of the left and right ventricles but also innovatively carried out advanced techniques such as "continuous tomographic analysis of the left ventricle" and "left ventricular volume changes during various phases of the cardiac cycle." These technologies were the first of their kind reported internationally at the time. For this, Huang Dingjiu and his team were awarded the Science and Technology Progress Award by the Shanghai Municipal Government. Simultaneously, the China Branch of the United Nations Technology Information Promotion System granted him the "Star of Invention and Innovation Science and Technology Award" to recognize his outstanding contributions to technological innovation.

Huang Dingjiu not only achieved remarkable success in medical technology innovation but also spared no effort in summarizing and disseminating knowledge. He brought together the wisdom of numerous experts and scholars to co-author multiple medical works. These books not only enriched the medical knowledge treasury but also received high evaluation and encouragement from Huang Shuze, former Vice Minister of Health, and Gao Qiang, former Minister of Health, who personally wrote inscriptions and prefaces for his works.

However, what Huang Dingjiu perhaps cherished most were the students he trained. As an outstanding educator, Professor Huang also poured considerable energy into cultivating medical talent, much like planting seeds in spring. With a strong sense of responsibility and mission, he devoted himself to medical education, nurturing generations of excellent medical professionals. Even in his later years, he maintained his passion for teaching, being both strict with and caring toward his students. He inherited and carried forward the educational philosophy of his mentor, Huang Mingxin, focusing on inspiring students' thinking and guiding them to independently explore the mysteries of medicine. Under his guidance, many students have become leaders in the medical community both domestically and internationally, continuing to pass on and carry forward Huang Dingjiu's medical spirit and educational philosophy.

Professor Huang Dingjiu's 56-year medical career is like a medical legend spanning more than half a century. His team not only witnessed the achievements of the department but also represents a microcosm of the development of cardiology in China. From the pioneering ablation therapy in the 1980s, to radiofrequency ablation technology in the 1990s, and then to three-dimensional/four-dimensional echocardiography in the new century, each innovation has propelled the progress of medical technology, bringing hope and new life to countless patients.

"Medicine has no limits, and innovation is endless. May our efforts add strength to the cause of human health. May future physicians always maintain reverence for life, pursuit of truth, and care for patients. This is the medical path I have pursued throughout my life."

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