When Wu Ting found Qin Donglai again, Dr. Qin had already arranged the treatment for the porphyria patient. At the same time, the new National Medicine therapy for the worker, Old Luo, was also proceeding according to plan.
"You're saying Director Huo had you stay behind to talk about writing a paper."
"He wants you to design the entire outline and determine the future research direction? And you'll be the first author on the subsequent paper?"
Qin Donglai found it a little hard to believe.
For Cheng Feng's previous project, Director Huo himself had set the direction and designed the framework; Cheng Feng had simply taken over a pre-packaged deal. But this situation with Wu Ting was completely different.
"Yes, that's what Director Huo said. He also told me to ask you for guidance on anything I don't understand about writing papers."
Wu Ting was quite familiar with Dr. Qin by now, so he didn't hold back, laying out everything he didn't understand in detail.
Qin Donglai patted Wu Ting's shoulder, a mix of envy and admiration in his voice. "The specific details of the paper are minor issues. As long as the general direction is set and you have Director Huo backing you, I'd say there's a ninety percent chance your paper will be published—and in a top domestic journal, no less!"
Seeing Wu Ting's slightly puzzled expression, Qin Donglai explained:
"You have no idea what the name Huo Yun means here in Fan City, or even in the entire Jin Province. Director Huo is the vice president of the Emergency Medicine Branch of the Jin Province Medical Association, a member of the Emergency Medicine Branch of the Jin Province Physicians Association, the president of the Emergency Medicine Branch of the Fan City Medical Association, and one of Fan City's 'Fourth Batch of New Century Successor Academic Leaders'..."
"On top of that, Director Huo is on the editorial board and is an associate editor-in-chief for several domestic journals. Since your paper has already earned his approval, as long as nothing major goes wrong, its publication in a top journal is practically set in stone."
"You haven't even officially started at our City First Hospital yet, and you already have the chance to publish a paper like this. Congratulations."
Even Qin Donglai couldn't hide the envy in his words. Although he was Huo Yun's trusted right-hand man and a pillar of the City First Hospital's emergency department, he was the type who excelled at clinical work and focused only on that. When it came to academic research and papers, he fell short.
For one, the sheer number of surgeries consumed too much of his energy. For another, he simply didn't have the same kind of opportunity or talent as Wu Ting to write a paper with such profound clinical significance.
Over the years, he had relied on his seniority and experience to churn out some filler papers. He was very familiar with the structure and details of writing one, but they rarely contained any real substance.
Wu Ting, however, was the exact opposite. This time, with the "Combined Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Treatment for Tracheotomy" being an original therapy combining National and modern medicine, the core of the paper was already there. All he lacked was some experience and writing technique.
Qin Donglai shared some of his own insights and experiences with Wu Ting.
Wu Ting, of course, gained a great deal from this and now had a much clearer idea of the outline for his paper.
"Dr. Qin, thank you so much."
"Mm, it's nothing. The main thing is that you've earned this yourself."
Qin Donglai now understood Director Huo's attitude toward Wu Ting and made a conscious effort to build a good relationship. They would be in the same camp from now on.
"Wu Ting, besides spending time preparing this paper, I'll also look for opportunities to schedule you for some surgeries. Be ready. When you have time, watch more surgical videos, and if there's anything you don't understand, don't hesitate to ask me."
Qin Donglai made a point of looking out for him.
Wu Ting was, of course, overjoyed. This was a rare opportunity.
"Understood. Thank you, Dr. Qin."
For junior doctors at City First Hospital, the hardest thing was getting clinical opportunities.
During their residency, most doctors only got to participate in suturing—skin, tendons, and blood vessels. If they were lucky, they might get to assist with nerve suturing, but that was about it.
Many residents only got the chance to perform appendectomies. Later on, if they were lucky and valued by an attending physician, they might get a chance at gallbladder surgeries, followed by liver and kidney procedures. By that point, at least three to five years would have passed.
But Wu Ting had clearly been fast-tracked for special training. From now on, Qin Donglai would gradually arrange a series of minor surgeries for him.
The first one was always the hardest. Once he had that under his belt, Wu Ting could accumulate experience and pull far ahead of the other junior doctors.
Good surgeons, like sharpshooters in the army who are trained with countless bullets, are forged through a massive volume of surgeries.
As Fan City's largest general hospital, City First Hospital's emergency department in particular never had a shortage of patients. Moreover, the ER had its own operating rooms. So, as long as he earned recognition and was given the chance, Wu Ting would never lack for hands-on opportunities again.
"Mm, I have another surgery in a bit. Go and prepare your paper outline."
After giving a few more instructions, Qin Donglai left to prepare for his surgery. His schedule was packed to the brim; he was practically the model worker of the emergency department!
Wu Ting used his free time to start preparing the paper's outline.
The most important part was the design of the overall treatment plan, which required setting up a Western medicine group and a combined National-Western medicine group.
As for the types of patients to be included, Wu Ting planned to focus on those with primary diseases such as: cerebral infarction, craniocerebral trauma, cerebral hemorrhage, and chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema.
After that came the rigorous and comprehensive observation indicators and efficacy evaluation criteria.
Wu Ting had already consulted Qin Donglai about these details and planned to find Deputy Director Huang Hong next, once everything was designed.
What Wu Ting needed to do now was re-learn how to use statistical software and master the relevant statistical techniques.
Fortunately, he now possessed Cheng Feng's Academic God's Talent (Yellow), so learning this new knowledge would be a breeze.
'Research really is a talent-driven field!'
'I should find more opportunities to work with Cheng Feng.'
Wu Ting planned to grind for some attributes from Cheng Feng. If he could collect three Academic God's Talents (Yellow), he could upgrade it again!
「...」
When Wu Ting went to check the wards again, he ran into Old Luo's family and coworkers.
Old Luo's wife, in particular, grew emotional upon seeing Wu Ting. She walked up and grabbed his hands.
"Dr. Wu, thank you so, so much. I heard what happened. The situation was critical. If you hadn't operated on my husband, Old Luo might not have made it. He's the pillar of our family. If he were gone... I can't even imagine."
"Dr. Wu, thank you for saving Old Luo, for saving our whole family."
Old Luo's wife was a simple woman, a manual laborer who usually did odd jobs at the construction site. Her hands were extremely coarse, without any hint of a woman's care.
The other coworkers also looked at Wu Ting and expressed their gratitude. "Dr. Wu, you're so young, but your skills are amazing. If it weren't for your decisive action, Old Luo would be gone. Really, thank you so much."
The patient, Old Luo, was still lying in bed, but he was completely out of danger. His tracheal tube had been removed, and a long-unseen smile appeared on his face as he gave Wu Ting a thumbs-up.
Feeling the patient's sincere gratitude, Wu Ting was filled with joy. Perhaps this was the happiest and most rewarding moment for a doctor.
"It was my duty. You're too kind."
Wu Ting checked on Old Luo's recovery again. Everything was heading in the right direction.
Wu Ting gave a few more instructions on post-operative care, which Old Luo and his family diligently noted down. They had complete trust in him.
After seeing Old Luo, Wu Ting went to see Li Qiman.
When Li Qiman saw Wu Ting, she immediately stood up, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"Dr. Wu, I heard it was you who went against everyone's opinion to propose my true diagnosis. Even though this condition is hard to cure, now that we have a direction, I feel so much more at ease."
"Dr. Wu, having a young and promising doctor like you is a true blessing for us patients."
"Dr. Wu, thank you."
Another heartfelt thank you from a patient he had treated. A contented smile spread across Wu Ting's face.
Using his medical skills to heal the sick and save lives was truly a lifelong calling.
'Keep it up, Dr. Wu!'
Wu Ting was full of anticipation for his future. Of course, his top priority right now was to secure a permanent position at City First Hospital.