Jin Ximing，Professor of Otolaryngology, Former Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Renji Hospital

Introduction

He was a man dedicated to medicine, approaching every challenge with unwavering perseverance. From the rigors of scientific research to the details of clinical practice, he pursued his goals with a gentle yet resolute determination.

He was a true pioneer, never daunted by the uncharted territory of otolaryngology. He explored persistently, forging a unique path in his field.

He was a kind and humble physician who never boasted of his achievements, always maintaining a modest demeanor. For him, personal success was never the priority; his focus was on helping more patients and mentoring young doctors.

Even in the most difficult times, he firmly believed in the power of knowledge. His every effort was directed toward a better tomorrow.

The Path to Medicine

Tongxiang, an ancient town in Zhejiang province, is a classic Jiangnan water town. Weeping willows line its canals, and stone bridges connect villages, creating a landscape of serene beauty where daily life revolved around the water.

In times of peace, the landscape was idyllic. In spring, fields of golden rapeseed blossoms stretched to the water’s edge. In summer, lush rice paddies rippled in the breeze. Villagers raised silkworms among mulberry trees, painting a picture of pastoral prosperity.

The Japanese invasion, however, brought the shadow of war. Even these rural villages, far from major cities, could not escape the turmoil. Many young people were forced into the conflict or swept up in the chaos.

The year 1932, when Jin Ximing was born, was a time of internal conflict and foreign threats for the Republic of China. The nation was fragmented by warlord factions, the economy struggled, and society was in turmoil. Abroad, foreign powers encroached on Chinese territory. It was an era of extreme hardship, and Jin Ximing’s small family, like a boat in a turbulent sea, had to navigate these treacherous currents.

Jin Ximing’s mother passed away shortly after his birth. His father, a resilient scholar, devoted his life to raising his son. The family’s sole source of income was precarious, and life was difficult. Under his father’s guidance, Jin understood from a young age that he must rely on learning and his own efforts to build a future.

In 1937, his father brought him to Shanghai, already one of Asia’s largest cities. That same year, the Battle of Shanghai erupted as Japanese forces launched a full-scale assault. War cast a dark shadow over the metropolis. Father and son took refuge in an aunt’s home. Though too young to grasp the brutality of war, the smoke of battle and days spent hiding from bombings were etched into Jin Ximing’s memory.

Despite the hardship, his father insisted that education was the only way to change their destiny. In 1939, as the fighting temporarily subsided, Jin enrolled in Panshi Primary School, which was operated by St. Peter’s Church. The church school provided a systematic and rigorous education, exposing Jin to both Western culture and traditional Chinese values and profoundly shaping his worldview.

During his primary years, the family’s finances were precarious. His father worked as a private tutor for a meager income. Yet, shielded by his father, Jin remained positive and optimistic, cultivating a habit of diligence and hard work. He understood that only through accumulating knowledge could he build a better life.

In 1944, benefiting from his father’s position within the Aurora University system, Jin entered Aurora Middle School, one of Shanghai’s renowned church schools founded by the French Catholic Church.

His time at Aurora was a period of significant academic and personal growth. The school’s strict atmosphere taught him self-discipline and responsibility, and he saw the role of faith in shaping character. Although Shanghai remained under the shadow of war, the campus was relatively calm. Jin built a strong academic foundation, showing exceptional talent in mathematics and the natural sciences.

In 1950, Jin was admitted to Aurora University. In the early years of the People’s Republic of China, a time of national reconstruction, students were filled with hope. Jin was no exception; he actively participated in student union work and stood out among his peers. His university years were a time of rapid growth in his political awareness and social responsibility.

Jin’s family situation remained difficult. His father was elderly and suffering from tuberculosis, which forced him to resign from his teaching position. The family’s income dropped sharply. Fortunately, Jin received a small state stipend, which he supplemented through frugality and occasional help from a union mutual aid fund or relatives. Despite these challenges, Jin never wavered, knowing that hard work could change his circumstances.

Notably, while his father had remained politically neutral his entire life, he embraced the new society after the liberation. He proactively joined a summer study program for teachers and became a model student, later joining the New Democratic Youth League. Witnessing his father’s transformation deepened Jin’s understanding of an intellectual’s role in a time of social change.

In 1952, parts of Aurora University were merged into the Shanghai Second Medical College, and Jin continued his studies there. He immersed himself in a vibrant academic life, honing his medical skills while participating in student activities and social practices, showcasing the passion and aspirations of a young man in a new era.

In the White Coat, With Boundless Enthusiasm

In 1954, after graduating from Shanghai Second Medical College, Jin Ximing began his career at the Shanghai Second Labor Hospital. That summer, the Yangtze River basin experienced catastrophic flooding, with Anhui Province among the hardest-hit areas. As the nation mobilized for large-scale relief efforts, Jin volunteered for his first mission, joining the Twelfth Team of the Disaster Relief Medical Corps.

The summer floods of 1954 devastated Anhui Province, affecting millions and submerging countless villages. With transportation paralyzed, survivors were in desperate need of rescue. Jin and his team were urgently dispatched to the front lines. The crisis extended beyond submerged homes; poor sanitation led to outbreaks of infectious diseases like dysentery and cholera, posing an even greater threat. The medical team’s task was immense.

Jin worked tirelessly. He and his colleagues moved through the disaster zones, setting up makeshift medical stations to provide emergency care. With supplies scarce, treatment environments rudimentary, and medicine extremely limited, Jin often treated hundreds of patients daily. He calmly and meticulously handled cases ranging from traumatic injuries to infectious diseases, persisting through overwhelming workloads with superb medical skills and unwavering commitment.

This relief experience was transformative, providing Jin with invaluable practical experience and a profound understanding of a doctor’s social responsibility. In the flood-ravaged regions, he saw firsthand that medicine was more than a technical endeavor—it was an act of service and compassion. The deep trust survivors placed in doctors ignited his passion for the profession.

The relief mission lasted nearly six months. When Jin returned to Shanghai in winter, he emerged from the arduous experience more mature and resolute, having laid a solid foundation for his future career.

In May 1956, Jin was transferred to Renji Hospital, a prestigious medical institution in Shanghai known for its advanced technology and complex patient cases. Joining as a Resident Physician marked a crucial new stage in his career, and he quickly immersed himself in the demanding clinical work.

As a resident, Jin’s life revolved around the hospital. His daily routine included ward rounds, managing emergencies, assisting in surgeries, and treating inpatients. In an era when medical equipment was basic and working conditions were simple, he approached each patient with meticulous care. For him, clinical work was both a duty and a continuous learning process, often using his own time to study medical records and literature to stay current.

Jin often said, “Young people should dedicate their time to their careers; that’s what matters most.” He embodied this philosophy by actively engaging in medical research. Despite limited laboratory equipment and scarce funding, he did his utmost to pursue investigations. He firmly believed that research was vital for improving clinical standards and that only through innovation could he better serve his patients.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, China underwent rapid social and political change. In the medical field, the state began strengthening the healthcare system, shifting resources toward rural areas. As a young doctor, Jin not only handled his routine medical work but also embraced the direction of national healthcare reform.

He understood that as a doctor in the new China, his responsibility extended beyond treating individual patients to contributing to the nation’s medical cause. He actively participated in community and rural medical services, promoting basic medical knowledge and helping establish grassroots healthcare networks.

In 1963, his significant contributions in both clinical practice and research were recognized with a promotion to Attending Physician. This advancement was a testament to his abilities and a reward for a decade of diligent, selfless dedication.

Resilience and Innovation

Starting in 1977, Jin collaborated with experts to develop China’s first Type I Electronystagmograph (ENG). This innovative device filled a significant technological gap, providing a new approach for diagnosing neurological disorders and inner ear balance dysfunctions. The device improved the precision of nystagmus detection and advanced the diagnostic capabilities of otolaryngology nationwide, establishing Jin’s influence in medical technology.

In early 1978, Jin and his team published a paper on the clinical application of their self-made ENG. Through extensive case analysis, they validated the technology’s efficiency and reliability, laying the groundwork for its adoption in more medical institutions.

In 1979, Jin advanced otolaryngology equipment further by inventing the “Automatic Temperature-Controlled Thermo-Electric Air Stimulator,” which had functions for airway therapy, humidification, and post-operative care. He also made progress in diagnosing intracranial diseases, demonstrating that ENG could enable early identification of certain neurological disorders.

That same year, Jin published two research papers on rare conditions: one on “Actinomycosis of the Parotid Gland,” the first detailed study of this disease in China, and another on a case of “Benign Rhabdomyoma of the Submandibular Region.” These studies gradually established him as an authority in China’s otolaryngology field.

In 1980, Jin published research comparing auditory thresholds measured by different audiometers, providing a reference for the standardization of clinical hearing tests.

In subsequent research, Jin expanded his focus into oncology, conducting clinical research on primary middle ear schwannomas and meningiomas. In 1983, he published case reports on these rare tumors, clarifying their clinical manifestations and treatment approaches.

In November 1985, Jin and his team published a study on the spectral analysis of nystagmus signals during the Bárány caloric test, a common diagnostic tool for assessing vestibular function. By applying advanced signal processing, they offered a new perspective for evaluating vestibular disorders.

In the decade following the Cultural Revolution, Jin’s tenacious research spirit and rich clinical experience led to significant achievements in medical equipment innovation, clinical diagnostics, and the study of complex diseases.

The pace of medical progress never ceases, and neither did Jin’s research. After the 1990s, his team continued to achieve important results in electronystagmography and microwave therapy, focusing on vestibular function assessment and treating sudden hearing loss. In 1990, they conducted power spectrum analysis of ENGs to provide more objective data for diagnosing vestibular dysfunction. In 1993 and 1996, they evaluated the efficacy of microwave therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss, confirming its effectiveness and promoting its clinical application. After 1996, Jin explored the mechanisms of microwave therapy for inner ear diseases, publishing studies that provided crucial evidence for its clinical use.

A Master of Mentorship, The “Talent Scout”

In cultivating talent, Jin Ximing demonstrated exceptional foresight. He understood that a discipline’s development relied on building a strong team with an international perspective. He often said, “For the department to develop, we must constantly learn and absorb advanced knowledge from home and abroad; otherwise, we will fall behind.” To this end, he and Professor Huangfu Musan actively sought overseas study opportunities for young doctors. Starting in the late 1980s, doctors like Zhou Liang, Wang Jiadong, and Jin Xiaojie were sent to renowned universities like the University of Bordeaux in France. Upon their return, they all became leading figures in their fields, injecting new vitality into Chinese otolaryngology.

However, when praised as a “talent scout,” Jin would always modestly attribute his success to national policy support. His humility was evident in his actions; to create space for the younger generation, he willingly stepped back from the forefront, allowing them to take the lead. Through his quiet support, the department’s young talent flourished.

In academic and editorial work, Jin maintained a rigorous scholarly approach. As an Associate Editor for the international journal Acta Otolaryngologica, he was responsible for its Chinese edition. He actively involved young doctors in the translation process, providing them with invaluable professional development opportunities. He never compromised on quality, meticulously reviewing every manuscript until it met the highest standards. This rigorous approach not only improved the translations but also enhanced the young doctors’ research skills.

Through these projects, young doctors gained exposure to advanced international research and inherited Jin’s meticulous and perfectionist scholarly attitude. They learned that translation was not merely a conversion of language but a profound comprehension and faithful reproduction of the original meaning. It was through leading by example that Jin passed on his spirit of rigor to the next generation.

Although long retired, Jin’s concern for his department never waned. He frequently participated in academic activities, offering guidance and support to young doctors. He provided constructive suggestions based on his experience and insights into the latest international research trends.

Jin Ximing always believed that striving for excellence in research and sparing no effort in mentorship were essential for elevating his department. His humility, rigor, and spirit of dedication influenced countless colleagues and shaped an entire generation of otolaryngologists. Through his actions, he embodied the true meaning of being a teacher. His teachings and spirit will continue to inspire future medical professionals to relentlessly pursue excellence.