Ouyang Renrong (1933-2023), Professor of Internal Medicine, Former President of Renji Hospital

Introduction:

He was a dedicated guardian, committing his life’s passion to the field of hematology and helping countless patients rediscover their vitality through science. At Renji Hospital, an institution known for its excellence and compassion, he guided medical education toward new horizons. For him, medicine was not just about cold experiments and data, but the human-to-human delivery of care. In the fight against blood diseases, he combined unwavering conviction with exquisite skill, overcoming one medical challenge after another to bring hope to his patients. His research achievements became a beacon, illuminating new paths in leukemia treatment and allowing the power of science to profoundly impact patient lives. In his management role at Renji Hospital, he demonstrated compassionate leadership, deeply invested in the growth of every doctor.

He advocated for both refining medical skills and cultivating medical ethics, enabling physicians to build a strong rapport with their patients. The evaluation system he championed moved beyond a sole focus on research publications, placing greater value on clinical performance and tangible patient outcomes. This philosophy injected new vitality into the medical institution. His life was a testament to compassion and dedication, a legacy that endures in the hearts of all he touched.

The Path to Medicine:

Ouyang Renrong was born in Shanghai in 1933, a time when China was ravaged by war and internal conflict. His family, of modest means, struggled to support their six children and hoped each would learn a practical skill to ensure a stable future. As the youngest, his parents especially wanted him to become a doctor—a practical choice that could help the entire family. Furthermore, in an era of social unrest where medical care was often inaccessible, medicine was seen as a noble profession.

Despite these extreme hardships, the children were driven to succeed. Education was a prized opportunity, and Ouyang Renrong met these expectations through diligent study. In the 1950s, his outstanding academic performance earned him admission to the prestigious Shanghai Second Medical College, where his exemplary conduct and excellent grades earned the deep admiration of teachers and classmates. After graduating in 1956, Ouyang worked briefly at Hongren Hospital before an opportunity arose to join Renji Hospital. His entry was a mutual fit. At the time, Renji had only two major departments, Internal Medicine and Surgery. Ouyang possessed an exceptional skill in cardiac diagnostics, able to listen to heart murmurs and accurately estimate the valve area in mitral stenosis. Although Renji did not yet have a dedicated cardiology department, he decided to join the century-old institution as an internist. 

Subsequently, in the 1970s, Renji Hospital began subdividing its departments, establishing specialty groups including cardiology, gastroenterology, and hematology. A formal Hematology Department was later created, led by Professor Pan Ruipeng, who soon sent Ouyang to study at the Tianjin Institute of Hematology. There, Ouyang developed a profound interest in the field. He deeply admired Professor Pan, whose meticulous guidance helped him build a solid foundation, step by step.

Dedication to the Fight Against Leukemia

Renji Hospital was a pioneer in leukemia treatment in China. Within the hospital, Professor Pan Ruipeng led the initial research, while Ouyang Renrong concentrated on acute leukemia. This disease involves the aggressive proliferation of abnormal white blood cells, which disrupts bone marrow function, leading to anemia, thrombocytopenia, and other severe complications. For years, Ouyang’s primary clinical research focused on improving treatment efficacy and overcoming drug resistance. His team’s work was so successful that their remission rates for lymphocytic leukemia surpassed international standards, earning them the respect of foreign experts.

Ouyang and his team also focused on treating leukemia complications. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), for instance, often triggers disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The standard treatment with heparin was often ineffective and sometimes fatal. To address this, Ouyang collaborated with Professor Wang Hongli from Ruijin Hospital, analyzing data from 100 patients across Shanghai. They discovered that reducing the heparin dose to one-eighth of the standard amount significantly decreased patient mortality.

In the late 1980s, Ouyang and his team pioneered the use of high-dose cytarabine for post-remission therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in China. AML is a rapidly progressing cancer of the bone marrow. Cytarabine, a chemotherapy drug that inhibits DNA replication in cancer cells, was a promising but challenging treatment due to its significant side effects. As one of the first in China to implement this high-dose protocol, Renji Hospital achieved outstanding results, a success directly attributable to Ouyang’s work. His research made AML treatment more scientific, significantly improving patient survival rates and quality of life. This therapeutic protocol was later incorporated into China’s national treatment guidelines for AML.

In the 1990s, Ouyang continued his research, launching a study on the role of polyamines in treating promyelocytic leukemia and working to overcome drug resistance. His findings in this area were significant for advancing both leukemia treatment and scientific research.

As the incidence of lymphoma began to rise in China, Ouyang and his team shifted their focus to its research and treatment. Lymphoma, a dangerous and often aggressive cancer of the lymphatic system, is challenging to treat due to its rapid spread throughout the body. Ouyang’s work involved evaluating the efficacy of different chemotherapy regimens, adjusting dosages to avoid over- or undertreatment, and striving to reduce side effects and relapse rates to achieve the best possible patient remission.

Beyond his clinical research, Ouyang made significant contributions to medical education and the development of hematology as a discipline. He authored, edited, or co-authored eight specialized monographs, including the Handbook of Hematology and Conquering Hematologic Tumors. He also led over 10 major research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Health. His work has been widely applied in clinical practice, significantly improving treatment outcomes and survival rates for patients with hematologic diseases.

Talent Cultivation: The Core of Sustainable Medical Development

Ouyang Renrong understood that sustainable medical development depends on education. Inspired by his own mentors, Professors Huang Mingxin, Jiang Shaoji, and Pan Ruipeng, he was dedicated to passing down Renji Hospital’s traditions. He described the hospital’s culture as a harmonious family where senior doctors are like parents, junior doctors are children to be nurtured, and peers are siblings. “This family-like structure,” he believed, “fosters both close relationships and high standards, driving rapid development.”

As a highly respected leader, Ouyang made talent cultivation his mission. His teaching style was popular for being tailored to his audience and meticulously prepared. His English lectures were especially well-received, and he conducted ward rounds in English to help students practice their language skills in a clinical setting. Characteristically modest about his own English, he saw these rounds as a valuable opportunity for communication. Even in his later years, he continued to contribute his wisdom to complex case discussions, setting an example of lifelong dedication.

During his tenure as President of Renji Hospital, Ouyang focused on reforming the training and evaluation systems for doctors. He argued that medical education should not overemphasize research publications at the expense of clinical skill. For him, the primary duty of a clinician was to “see” patients—a concept he explained by breaking down the Chinese character ‘临’ (lín). It means going to the bedside, understanding the patient’s condition, and addressing their needs. Building a strong doctor-patient relationship, he believed, was paramount.

Ouyang noted that modern medicine presented challenges to this ideal. In the past, longer hospital stays allowed for ample patient interaction. Today, shorter stays and administrative demands reduce the time doctors have for direct communication, potentially impacting diagnosis and treatment. He believed training must be individualized, leveraging each doctor’s strengths. The evaluation system, he proposed, should shift its focus away from just research papers and toward clinical performance and tangible patient outcomes. This would give doctors more opportunities to develop their practical skills.

His concern for students was evident in his attention to detail. He once noticed that the university shuttle schedule conflicted with class times, leaving some interns unable to return to campus for meals. He immediately addressed the issue. This same care extended to his lectures, which he prepared meticulously, tailoring educational plans for different groups and giving individual students the support they needed to feel valued throughout their training.

Ouyang often reflected on his own residency, when he and his colleagues lived in hospital accommodations, worked six days a week, and spent evenings studying together. He recognized that today’s doctors face greater pressures from research and family responsibilities, leaving less time for clinical work. While he acknowledged their advantages, such as better language and research skills, he advised them to compensate by strengthening their foundations. “Beyond mastering the latest technologies,” he would say, “they must excel at the basics—taking medical histories, conducting physical examinations, and understanding fundamental lab tests. This is how they gain rich clinical experience and improve their diagnostic abilities.”

For Ouyang, teaching was a holistic mission. It was reflected in every reflection on educational goals and every exploration of new methods. He encouraged his students to look beyond textbooks to grasp the true meaning of being a doctor, making the process of learning medicine more vivid, engaging, and inspiring.

Talent Cultivation: The Core of Sustainable Medical Development

Ouyang Renrong understood that sustainable medical development depends on education. Inspired by his own mentors, Professors Huang Mingxin, Jiang Shaoji, and Pan Ruipeng, he was dedicated to passing down Renji Hospital’s traditions. He described the hospital’s culture as a harmonious family where senior doctors are like parents, junior doctors are children to be nurtured, and peers are siblings. “This family-like structure,” he believed, “fosters both close relationships and high standards, driving rapid development.”

As a highly respected leader, Ouyang made talent cultivation his mission. His teaching style was popular for being tailored to his audience and meticulously prepared. His English lectures were especially well-received, and he conducted ward rounds in English to help students practice their language skills in a clinical setting. Characteristically modest about his own English, he saw these rounds as a valuable opportunity for communication. Even in his later years, he continued to contribute his wisdom to complex case discussions, setting an example of lifelong dedication.

During his tenure as President of Renji Hospital, Ouyang focused on reforming the training and evaluation systems for doctors. He argued that medical education should not overemphasize research publications at the expense of clinical skill. For him, the primary duty of a clinician was to “see” patients—a concept he explained by breaking down the Chinese character ‘临’ (lín). It means going to the bedside, understanding the patient’s condition, and addressing their needs. Building a strong doctor-patient relationship, he believed, was paramount.

Ouyang noted that modern medicine presented challenges to this ideal. In the past, longer hospital stays allowed for ample patient interaction. Today, shorter stays and administrative demands reduce the time doctors have for direct communication, potentially impacting diagnosis and treatment. He believed training must be individualized, leveraging each doctor’s strengths. The evaluation system, he proposed, should shift its focus away from just research papers and toward clinical performance and tangible patient outcomes. This would give doctors more opportunities to develop their practical skills.

His concern for students was evident in his attention to detail. He once noticed that the university shuttle schedule conflicted with class times, leaving some interns unable to return to campus for meals. He immediately addressed the issue. This same care extended to his lectures, which he prepared meticulously, tailoring educational plans for different groups and giving individual students the support they needed to feel valued throughout their training.

Ouyang often reflected on his own residency, when he and his colleagues lived in hospital accommodations, worked six days a week, and spent evenings studying together. He recognized that today’s doctors face greater pressures from research and family responsibilities, leaving less time for clinical work. While he acknowledged their advantages, such as better language and research skills, he advised them to compensate by strengthening their foundations. “Beyond mastering the latest technologies,” he would say, “they must excel at the basics—taking medical histories, conducting physical examinations, and understanding fundamental lab tests. This is how they gain rich clinical experience and improve their diagnostic abilities.”

For Ouyang, teaching was a holistic mission. It was reflected in every reflection on educational goals and every exploration of new methods. He encouraged his students to look beyond textbooks to grasp the true meaning of being a doctor, making the process of learning medicine more vivid, engaging, and inspiring

On April 17, 2023, Ouyang Renrong passed away in Shanghai at the age of 90. Ouyang Renrong loved the cause of hematology deeply throughout his life, dedicating all his passion to it and carrying forward the healing spirit of Renji Hospital. He always encouraged young doctors to continue progressing and hoped that more young people would develop a love for the medical profession, contributing their strength to the healthcare enterprise.