Chapter 212: The Greatest Contributor Revealed, Known to All Under Heaven

Deputy Director Ye kept everyone in suspense for a moment longer before finally announcing the ultimate achievements of Mr. Liu’s team.

“Liu Qingzhi’s team diagnosed 13 complex and rare cases last month. Of those, 13 showed significant improvement or were completely cured after treatment.”

The moment those words landed, the room erupted in a wave of astonishment.

Even Director Xiao’s team, renowned for their expertise in gastrointestinal issues, had only managed to diagnose 11 rare cases in their field over the year. And of those, only 7 showed clear improvement or were cured.

In other words, while they diagnosed 11 cases on paper, the actual effective diagnoses—based on treatment outcomes—were just 7.

The other 4 cases had some discrepancies.

For instance, they believed they’d identified the cause and understood the pathological mechanism, but in reality, they hadn’t pinpointed the root issue or located the lesion.

Without finding the true cause, the treatment results were naturally far from ideal.

Of course, there’s also the chance of plain bad luck. Sometimes the cause is identified, but no specific medication exists for it. Surgery can’t cure everything; it only addresses certain conditions.

In truth, all surgeries carry risks and cause harm.

It’s just that when the damage from surgery is far less than the benefits gained afterward, it becomes worthwhile.

Take pancreatic cancer, for example. It’s often called the king of cancers due to its notoriously low survival rate.

Many doctors in oncology departments pale at the mere mention of the pancreas.

That’s how deadly pancreatic cancer can be.

If a patient has their pancreas removed, they might survive. But if the cancer spreads, there’s nothing left but to wait for the end.

They might not even make it six months.

So, to cut or not to cut?

Removing the pancreas—a vital digestive organ—comes at a cost. Though small, it’s a gland with both endocrine and exocrine functions.

The pancreatic juice it secretes contains several digestive enzymes that play a starring role in breaking down food, especially fats.

It also produces critical hormones like glucagon, insulin, gastrin, and motilin, among others.

Whether in Traditional Chinese Medicine or Western medicine, this tiny organ is seen as a central hub for regulating the body’s physiological balance.

Much like the brainstem is a neural hub.

Cutting out such an important organ will undoubtedly have negative effects on the body. Yet, it can save a life.

Ask ten patients, and all ten would likely choose to have it removed.

Because compared to life itself, what’s one organ?

“Director Liu’s team not only diagnosed a high number of complex cases, but their cure rate is an astonishing 100%. That’s almost unbelievable. Can we see the details of the thirteen rare cases they handled?”

Director Yang Qing was floored by the numbers.

And it wasn’t just him. Which doctor in the room wasn’t stunned?

Rare and complex cases are considered the pinnacle of medical challenges. Diagnosing even one is enough to prove a doctor’s exceptional skill and expertise in their field.

To diagnose multiple cases and cure every single one? It’s unimaginable.

How on earth did Mr. Liu’s team pull this off?

“Of course, we can make it public! Every diagnosis, treatment method, and pathological insight from these cases is worth studying and learning from.”

Deputy Director Ye gave a slight nod, and someone immediately projected the details of the thirteen cases diagnosed by Mr. Liu’s team onto the large screen.

The first case: a 22-year-old female patient with a noticeable lump in her left breast and underarm, accompanied by pus discharge and yellowish fluid seeping from the nipple. She’d sought treatment at several hospitals within the province, even undergoing surgery, but saw no significant improvement. The condition kept recurring. Last month, she came to our hospital for help. Initially, she consulted Director Yang Qing’s expert clinic. After examination, a malignant tumor was suspected, and complete removal of the left breast was recommended.

The patient’s family hesitated, considering she was still young and hadn’t yet married or had children.

It just so happened that General Surgery had no available inpatient beds at the time. While waiting for surgery, a fellow patient suggested she consult Deputy Director Liu Qingzhi for a second opinion.

Later, Director Liu’s team held a consultation. After thorough analysis, Dr. Zhou Can determined this was a ductal fistula hidden behind the nipple.

The previous hospitals hadn’t fully removed the hidden lesion during surgery, which caused the recurring issues.

What was suspected to be a malignant tumor turned out to be pain, swelling, and inflammation caused by an abscess.

Under Director Liu’s guidance, Dr. Zhou Can performed the surgery on the patient.

Post-surgery, the patient recovered well. She came in for a follow-up yesterday and was deemed fully healed.

She even called the hospital department to express her gratitude. At other hospitals, her previous surgeries had left unsightly scars. During this procedure, Dr. Zhou Can thoughtfully performed wound repair and used invisible suturing techniques.

Now, there’s hardly any visible scarring on the surface.

With her long-standing ailment resolved and the ugly scars gone, both the patient and her family were overjoyed.

When the family sent a thank-you banner to the hospital, they couldn’t stop asking if Dr. Zhou Can had a girlfriend or if he was married!

That comment sent the entire room into a fit of laughter.

Zhou Can scratched his head awkwardly. The female patient’s admiration for his remarkable medical skills was evident. Add to that his good looks and similar age, and it wasn’t hard to understand why she might develop feelings for him.

But with a top-tier girlfriend like Su Qianqian, Zhou Can’s heart was unmoved. Even if he wasn’t completely immune to other girls, he had no intention of straying.

In this case, Zhou Can stepped into the spotlight for the first time, receiving significant recognition.

Not only did he play an indispensable role in this case, but the hospital’s attitude toward him had fundamentally shifted.

Before, Zhou Can hadn’t earned his dual certification. No matter how skilled he was, only the hospital’s leadership knew of his talent.

Now that he had his certification, he was practicing medicine legally and officially.

Building a renowned doctor isn’t something that happens overnight. It involves continuously highlighting the achievements of promising young doctors.

For instance, accomplishments in academia—like publishing influential papers, participating in major research projects, or making groundbreaking contributions to a medical field—are often publicized.

Then there’s the doctor’s outstanding performance in clinical work. Whether it’s offering valuable diagnostic insights during consultations for major or complex cases, or playing a key role in high-difficulty surgeries, these feats are emphasized.

A single brilliant achievement might not establish a doctor as a household name.

But through multiple shining moments and consistent promotion, the effect of such publicity becomes remarkable.

The doctor’s reputation snowballs, growing larger with each success.

Eventually, they become a flagship figure in a specific field at the hospital. Even if they fall short of that, they can still become a backbone in their medical domain.

In this case, Zhou Can’s contributions—from identifying the cause to performing the surgery—were heavily highlighted.

This was a significant signal from the hospital.

They were starting to package and promote Zhou Can.

They were bringing him from behind the scenes into the spotlight.

“This female patient had a ductal fistula? I never would’ve guessed! At first, I was misled by the possibility of a malignant tumor. I’m sure other doctors thought the same.”

After reviewing the first case, Director Yang Qing had a moment of realization, though his feelings were incredibly mixed.

This complex case had initially come to him, yet he failed to identify the true cause. Based on his clinical experience at the time, he believed removing the entire left breast would cure the condition.

Moreover, fearing it was a malignant tumor and considering the patient’s young age, he worried that if the cancer cells spread, it would be a tragedy.

With the patient’s life and safety in mind, he proposed removing the left breast as a life-saving measure.

Ductal fistulas are relatively common in breast diseases.

But a fistula hidden behind the nipple? That was a first for him.

Breast ductal fistulas occur when material accumulates in the ducts over time, causing them to rupture. This leads to infection, forming an abscess under the areola. When the abscess grows too large and bursts, a small amount of pus leaks out.

Near the areola or nipple, a sinus tract forms. When the duct becomes infected, the infection spreads to the sinus tract. If the opening closes, reinfection occurs, and the sinus tract repeatedly ruptures and leaks pus.

This is why ductal fistulas are so hard to cure completely.

Only by thoroughly clearing out the sinus tract can recurrence be prevented.

Otherwise, it will keep coming back.

This patient’s ductal fistula was unusual. Following standard surgical methods couldn’t clear it out completely.

As a result, even a chief physician of Director Yang Qing’s caliber stumbled on this case.

Breast-related diseases pose two major challenges in surgical treatment: distinguishing the lesion from normal tissue and precisely removing the lesion.

Many irresponsible doctors, limited by their skills, fail to do this properly.

After performing surgery on a patient, if the condition recurs, they start suspecting it might be malignant breast cancer. On top of that, the patient and family begin doubting their expertise. In the end, some opt for the drastic solution of removing the entire breast to be done with it.

While this might cure the patient’s condition, it has a massive impact on their future life.

Many breast disease patients are women.

Losing a breast can be devastating. It often leads to severe feelings of inferiority, as they may feel they’re no longer a complete woman. Worse, they might face rejection from their husbands.

That’s why responsible doctors usually consider the patient’s life after surgical recovery.

“The second complex case involved a patient who constantly felt stomach discomfort. After examination, it was diagnosed as gastric ptosis caused by pyloric obstruction. A well-known hospital performed surgery for the obstruction. Post-surgery, the patient still felt stomach discomfort, and it seemed worse than before. Further checks revealed bile reflux, leading to a second surgery where part of the stomach was removed.”

“Even after two surgeries, the patient still felt stomach discomfort and began struggling to eat. Fearing they might not survive further treatment at that hospital, they sought help at other major hospitals. Doctors there found severe adhesions in the abdominal cavity from the prior surgeries and were hesitant to operate again.”

“The patient’s family heard that Tuyu Hospital had a good reputation for treating gastrointestinal issues, so they brought the patient here. Director Xiao from Gastrointestinal Surgery took the case but couldn’t identify the cause. He consulted with Chief Jia Qingfeng, also from Gastrointestinal Surgery, but they still had no answers. At Chief Jia’s suggestion, they recommended Deputy Director Liu Qingzhi from General Surgery to the patient. After a grueling consultation, Director Liu, along with Trainee Zhou Can and Attending Physician He Hansheng, brainstormed numerous approaches. They finally identified the true cause: a hidden esophageal hernia. Under Deputy Director Liu’s guidance, Dr. Zhou Can performed an endoscopic surgery. The patient has since recovered and been discharged, finally free from a stubborn ailment that plagued them for nearly three years.”

In this complex case, Zhou Can, the trainee, was mentioned multiple times again.

From diagnosis to surgery, Zhou Can’s presence was undeniable.

The doctors in the room were amazed and began whispering about Zhou Can among themselves.

Their gazes often drifted toward him.

Those paying close attention noticed something in the statement: ‘Director Liu, along with Dr. Zhou Can and Dr. He Hansheng, brainstormed numerous approaches before finally identifying the cause.’ Zhou Can, a mere trainee, was listed ahead of Attending Physician He Hansheng.

What did that imply?

It meant Zhou Can’s contribution to the diagnosis far outshone He Hansheng’s.

Sometimes, this kind of ranking could also be a way to boost the profile of someone like He Hansheng within the team.

It’s similar to publishing a paper—there’s a big difference between being the first and second author.

The higher someone’s name is listed, the greater their contribution.

Why did Chief Jia suggest Director Xiao recommend Deputy Director Liu, who was lower in rank and reputation, to the patient?

There was a reason behind it.

Zhou Can had worked under Chief Jia for three months. During that time, Chief Jia became well-acquainted with Zhou Can’s unique diagnostic thinking.

He believed Zhou Can was the most likely person to crack this complex case.

And facts proved Chief Jia right. Director Liu and Zhou Can together figured out the cause.

“That endoscopic surgery had to be at least a Level 3 procedure, right? Zhou Can completed it under Deputy Director Liu’s guidance. What does that tell us? It means Zhou Can is already capable of handling Level 3 endoscopic surgeries. This kid is an absolute prodigy. If only he could join our team, how great would that be!”

While Director Yang Qing sighed in admiration, his gaze occasionally flicked toward Du Leng.

He had thought that with an overseas doctorate holder like Du Leng on his side, they’d dominate and take the top spot.

But despite Du Leng’s big reputation, his real skills fell short compared to Zhou Can, whose fame was more understated.

Without a direct comparison, it wasn’t as obvious. But now, side by side, Yang Qing couldn’t help but feel Du Leng was lacking.

Whether it was surgical skill or diagnostic ability, Du Leng was completely outclassed by Zhou Can.

Through Song Ze, Yang Qing learned that 80% of the surgeries in Mr. Liu’s team were performed by Zhou Can.

Then there was Du Leng. In Yang Qing’s team for a month, all he did was offer grandiose opinions and perform superficial moves during major surgeries—nothing of substance.

In terms of diagnosis, Du Leng’s medical knowledge was vast, even cutting-edge in many areas.

He had indeed made contributions to their team.

But people can’t help comparing.

Look at Zhou Can—every case he diagnosed was cured. Then look at Du Leng. Though he helped diagnose several complex cases, the cure rate was low.

A diagnosis that doesn’t lead to a cure or significant improvement is essentially meaningless.

It’s more symbolic than practical.

After reviewing all 13 complex cases diagnosed by Liu Qingzhi’s team, the crowd noticed Zhou Can’s name came up 8 times. His involvement in surgeries was even higher, at 11 times.

This unintentionally turned Zhou Can into a rising star in General Surgery.

If Zhou Can stayed in General Surgery, he could very well become a leading figure in the department someday.

“Does anyone still have doubts about Liu Qingzhi’s team taking the win in two sub-departments of medicine?”

Deputy Director Ye relished seeing these proud doctors humbled.

Even Director Yang Qing, who had been the loudest skeptic, now hung his head in silence.

He looked like a defeated rooster.

Du Leng’s face was grim, almost ashen.

The three doctors who had betrayed Director Liu to join other teams were filled with regret, their faces green with remorse.

Song Ze, in particular, had been the Second Assistant in Director Liu’s team, second only to He Hansheng.

Thinking himself clever, he jumped ship to the seemingly stronger team under Yang Qing. Not only was he sidelined, but now it was uncertain if Yang Qing’s team would even secure a sub-department development slot.

Sometimes, playing it ‘dumb’ isn’t such a bad idea.

Being too clever can backfire spectacularly.

Even if Yang Qing’s team managed to secure a sub-department slot, Song Ze’s future as an outsider looked bleak.

Had he stayed with Mr. Liu’s team, things would’ve been different.

His future would’ve been incredibly bright.

“Dr. Zhou Can, your performance has been impressive! Keep it up. The hospital will do its utmost to provide you with a bigger stage and more opportunities for growth.” Deputy Director Ye made this statement publicly, in front of everyone.

This was an excellent sign.

It showed that the higher-ups at Tuyu Hospital had reached a certain consensus to ramp up their investment in Zhou Can’s development.

Typically, when a vice-director makes such a public declaration, as long as the person doesn’t mess up, they’re basically set to be groomed as a renowned doctor.

Zhou Can had gone from being a ‘discarded pawn’ shunned by department heads to someone now recognized by all under heaven, step by hard-earned step.

The struggles, sweat, and effort along the way were known only to him.

The harder you work, the luckier you get.

He lived out those six words, becoming the luckiest person among all the doctors in the room today.