Lin Qide (1939-2018), Second-Level Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, former Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Center for Reproductive Immunology at Renji Hospital.

Introduction

For most of us, the first people to welcome us into the world are our families and our obstetricians. They witness our first breath, much like the rising of the morning sun.

Dr. Lin Qide’s life was inextricably linked to Renji Hospital. Born there, he built his distinguished career as an obstetrician within its walls and eventually founded the hospital’s discipline of reproductive immunology.

Throughout his medical career, Dr. Lin was defined by his dedication, professionalism, and perseverance. He was committed to safeguarding the health of mothers and newborns, devoting himself to every aspect of their care, from prenatal check-ups and delivery to postnatal recovery. Through his research and clinical treatments, tens of thousands of women struggling with infertility and recurrent miscarriage successfully conceived and carried their babies to term. Countless infants, once at risk, were born with a strong cry, their own “Ode to Joy.”

Calm and decisive in the face of any challenge, Dr. Lin dedicated his entire life to advancing obstetrics in China. Even in his final years, as he battled end-stage renal failure, he concealed his illness. In the last stretch of his life, he sprinted forward like a short-distance runner, determined to help more new lives enter the world. 

An Unbreakable Bond with Renji 

Lin Qide was born at Renji Hospital in 1939, as if destined for a lifelong connection to the institution. At the time, China was under Japanese occupation, and Shanghai had fallen. The nation was shrouded in grief, and Lin Qide’s family fled the city by boat, eventually arriving in the small town of Yong’an in northern Fujian Province.

Perhaps it was the town’s name, “Yong’an” (eternal peace), that provided him a semblance of stability during those turbulent times. Yong’an lacked modern urban facilities; its roads were narrow, its buildings were made of brick and wood, and both transportation and water conservancy were severely underdeveloped, making daily life a struggle.

In Yong’an, the Lin family encountered many refugees. Medical services and medicine were critically scarce across the country. People lacked basic healthcare knowledge, and receiving treatment for illnesses was difficult. Witnessing this suffering, young Lin Qide felt a deep desire to help. He resolved that one day, he would learn basic medicine to treat common ailments like fevers and colds.

After the war, Lin Qide and his family returned to Fuzhou to start anew. Though not wealthy, his parents worked hard and encouraged him to study diligently. His passion for medicine grew throughout middle school, and he set his sights on becoming a doctor. After graduation, he applied to study clinical medicine.

Before his college entrance exams, Lin Qide suffered from chronic tonsillitis that went untreated due to limited medical resources. This painful experience reinforced his understanding of how desperately people needed doctors. He was ultimately admitted to the prestigious Shanghai Second Medical College with excellent marks.

Answering the Call to Medicine

In that era, medical education was less specialized than it is today. As a student, Lin Qide had to master a broad range of fundamental knowledge while also engaging in extensive practical training. He often carried heavy medical textbooks to clinical departments for internships and observation, dedicating immense time and energy to learning from every discipline. This demanding environment instilled in him a profound sense of purpose and a spirit of rigorous academic inquiry, laying the foundation for his future contributions.

In 1962, Lin Qide graduated from Shanghai Second Medical College and was assigned to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Renji Hospital, embarking on the medical career he had always dreamed of. At the time, obstetrics and gynecology was an intensely demanding field, requiring complex surgeries and managing high-risk deliveries.

Dr. Lin lived by a simple principle: “I should go where I am needed most and dedicate myself to making a difference there.” He excelled in the department, accumulating rich clinical experience while innovating new techniques and methods. He quickly became a cornerstone of the team. For decades, he deepened his expertise in the field, saving the lives of countless mothers and babies and building a remarkable legacy in medicine.

 During the Cultural Revolution, Dr. Lin Qide was part of a medical team sent to the mountainous region of Southern Anhui. At the time, this was an area with critical shortages in medical resources, where farmers had limited access to healthcare. The arrival of the medical team brought new hope and significantly improved the local medical landscape.

In this impoverished region, Dr. Lin faced a dual challenge: a difficult social environment and limited medical technology. Local farmers were initially wary of a male obstetrician-gynecologist, sometimes refusing examinations or treatment due to superstition. Ultimately, Dr. Lin earned their trust through his exceptional skill and dedicated care.

Medical work in the mountains was arduous. With resources stretched thin, doctors had to minimize costs while maintaining quality care. There were no electric fans, so surgeries were scheduled for the cooler nighttime hours to ensure patient safety. The local clinic had no blood bank, forcing surgeons to perform procedures with meticulous attention to minimizing bleeding and achieving rapid hemostasis.

Dr. Lin’s commitment was absolute. He performed free surgeries in farmers’ homes, setting up operating tents with field surgical kits. He would personally monitor his patients for 24 to 48 hours post-operation to ensure their recovery. When faced with complex cases, he collaborated with his colleagues to devise innovative treatments adapted to local conditions.

Dr. Lin once said, “A doctor must master their words, hands, actions, and mind. They must uphold medical ethics, fulfill their duties, and be accountable for their patients’ lives and health.” For him, medical ethics and technical skill were inseparable. He believed a doctor’s duty extended beyond procedures to encompass a profound sense of responsibility for the patient’s life and well-being.

In late December 1969, the emergency department at Shanghai Renji Hospital received an urgent referral for a critically ill pregnant woman. She was eight months pregnant and suffering from severe mitral stenosis and heart failure.

This condition—a pregnancy complicated by severe heart disease—placed both mother and child at extreme risk. The physiological strain of pregnancy on an already failing heart created a life-threatening scenario with few established treatment protocols at the time.

Such a complex case was rare for the era, especially with the limited medical technology available. Successfully managing it would require not only exceptional medical expertise but also immense courage and a strong sense of responsibility from the entire medical team.

Upon learning of the case, Dr. Lin, then head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, immediately assembled a team of top specialists. After a rapid evaluation and meticulous surgical planning, he led a complex operation that successfully saved both the mother and her child.

The success of this surgery was a landmark achievement in obstetric care. It provided invaluable clinical experience for future cases and demonstrated the extraordinary capabilities of the Renji Hospital team. The operation established Dr. Lin as a prominent figure in the field of obstetrics and gynecology in China.

Pioneering Advances and Building a Legacy 

In 1982, Dr. Lin pioneered the use of non-invasive ultrasound to establish cardiac function benchmarks for the entire pregnancy cycle. This technology, novel at the time, allowed for real-time, dynamic monitoring of the heart. It was safe, non-invasive, and provided crucial data on heart size, function, and blood flow, offering significant security for both mother and fetus. In gynecology, this technology revolutionized prenatal care, enabling doctors to accurately assess the cardiovascular health of both mother and fetus and allowing for the early detection and management of potential complications, particularly in high-risk pregnancies complicated by heart disease.

In 1992, seeking to master in vitro fertilization (IVF), Dr. Lin traveled to Australia for advanced studies. He immersed himself in the theoretical knowledge and observed numerous clinical procedures, gaining a profound understanding of the techniques. Upon returning to China, he immediately spearheaded the implementation of IVF at Renji Hospital. At the time, IVF was a cutting-edge and technically demanding field in China. With his innovative spirit and deep sense of patient responsibility, Dr. Lin dedicated immense energy to building the necessary systems, processes, and teams. The successful implementation of IVF offered new hope to countless Chinese couples struggling with infertility, opening a new chapter in China’s reproductive medicine.

In 1993, Dr. Lin introduced another major breakthrough: a comprehensive series of tests for monitoring antiphospholipid antibodies and blood coagulation indices. These markers are closely linked to pregnancy complications; in patients with autoimmune diseases, abnormal levels can increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and other issues. Dr. Lin’s technology allowed for early detection and intervention, significantly improving the diagnosis and treatment of these autoimmune conditions and benefiting countless obstetrics patients. This innovation provided a new method for observing disease progression and treatment efficacy.

In 1997, Dr. Lin developed a novel, non-invasive method for assessing cervical function during pregnancy. His technique combined abdominal B-ultrasound with a vaginal water balloon to observe physiological changes in the cervix, establishing new diagnostic criteria for cervical incompetence. Previously, assessing cervical function required invasive procedures that caused significant pain and carried safety risks. Dr. Lin’s method allowed for real-time monitoring of cervical dilation and length, enabling early detection and timely intervention. This breakthrough provided a safer, more humane, and technically advanced way to protect the health of mothers and babies, significantly advancing the field of gynecological medicine in China.

In 2001, as director of the department, Dr. Lin was instrumental in establishing the Shanghai Obstetric Cardiac Care Center. After five years of dedicated effort, Renji Hospital was officially designated as the Shanghai Critical Maternal Rescue Center in 2006, further solidifying its leadership in obstetric care.

He then focused his research on immune-related pathological pregnancies, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). He established the first systematic methods in China for screening the causes of RSA and was the first to propose diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols for its two main types: autoimmune and alloimmune. Internationally, he pioneered a groundbreaking combined therapy for autoimmune RSA—using low-dose corticosteroids with aspirin and/or heparin—and a low-dose lymphocyte immunotherapy for alloimmune RSA, achieving an approximately 90% success rate for both. His research into the underlying mechanisms was equally pioneering, identifying key factors like abnormal cellular activity, gene expressions, and vascular damage linked to RSA. These achievements established Renji Hospital as the national center for RSA diagnosis and treatment. In 2007, Dr. Lin led his team in creating China’s first “Consensus on Immunological Diagnosis and Treatment of Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.”

Dr. Lin continued to lead national efforts, chairing the research group that formulated the Ministry of Health’s “Diagnostic Criteria for Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy” in 2011, followed by the comprehensive “Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment” in 2012.

Throughout his tenure, Dr. Lin also made significant strides in treating pregnancy complicated by heart disease, developing new technologies rooted in his solid academic foundation and innovative approach. From critical maternal rescue to the treatment of RSA and heart disease in pregnancy, Dr. Lin remained true to his mission. He safeguarded the lives of countless mothers and infants with exquisite medical skill, a tireless work ethic, and profound compassion, leaving an indelible mark on Chinese medicine.

Sharing Knowledge, Honoring a Mission

To ensure his experience and the expertise of Renji Hospital reached a wider audience, Dr. Lin organized numerous training programs and co-authored various educational materials.

Since the 1990s, Dr. Lin had been dedicated to advancing education in female reproductive immunology. He organized and chaired many national training courses on the subject, certifying nearly a thousand physicians in total.

In these courses, Dr. Lin did more than just present his own research; he generously shared valuable academic advancements from across the field. He consistently embodied the medical mission of “serving patients” through his actions.

Through meticulous preparation and clear instruction, he ensured that every participant grasped the latest research and innovative treatment techniques. This elevated their standard of care, allowing them to better serve their patients. He firmly believed that empowering more doctors with new knowledge was the greatest gift he could offer, and that seeing more patients benefit was the truest measure of a physician’s honor.

He mentored the next generation of doctors without reservation, supervising 20 PhD and 12 Master’s students. He focused not only on their professional knowledge but also on their practical skills and overall development, providing them with comprehensive academic and laboratory resources. Today, all the students he trained have become leaders in obstetrics and gynecology, carrying forward their mentor’s legacy of compassion and making their own remarkable breakthroughs in China and beyond.

To benefit even more obstetricians and gynecologists, Dr. Lin also authored numerous influential academic works. He served as editor-in-chief for key texts, including Professional English for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Reproductive Immunology, and Spontaneous Abortion. He also contributed to sixteen other specialized books, such as the Obstetrics and Gynecology Volume of the Medical Encyclopedia. These publications have become classic textbooks and academic benchmarks in the field.

 Dedication, Wisdom, and Resilience

From his earliest days as a medical student, Dr. Lin relentlessly pursued excellence in his skills and professional development. From joining the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Renji Hospital to becoming a leading figure in the field nationwide, he remained dedicated to the singular goal of advancing medical technology and patient care.

Dr. Lin’s life was not without hardship. His experiences fleeing war, the rigors of medical school, and his challenging work providing care in remote mountain regions gave him a profound understanding of a doctor’s social responsibility and dignity. These experiences forged his commitment to medicine and cultivated a deep compassion for his patients and society.

As an obstetrician-gynecologist, he was driven by a philosophy that went beyond medicine—it was about celebrating life and, most importantly, witnessing the miracle of birth. He integrated this profound respect for life into every duty he performed.

On April 20, 2018, Professor Lin Qide passed away at Renji Hospital, the institution that was his lifelong home, at the age of 79.

Dr. Lin’s fifty-year medical career was a testament to brilliance and glory, forged through both hardship and triumph. It reflected his deep aspiration for the medical profession, his profound sense of responsibility and compassion for his patients, and his dedication to society. He poured his heart and soul into his beloved career, dedicating his life’s wisdom and energy to the advancement of medicine in China and to Renji Hospital, the institution with which he shared an unbreakable bond.