godfather of surgery

Chapter 1347 Applying for Academician
Yang Ping continued his daily work, spending most of his time in the laboratory conducting scientific research, and occasionally performing surgeries.

A new batch of young PhDs has joined the laboratories and clinical wards of the Sanbo Institute, and the team is gradually growing.

Dr. Li Min has completed his advanced training and will soon return to Guandu Town Hospital in Nanqiao County. The old director is waiting for him to come back and take over the job. He is too old and can no longer keep up. This time, the old director is very gratified that the young man he sent out for advanced training has not resigned.

Head Nurse Cai is pregnant, and Xia Shu and Head Nurse Cai are making preparations for their wedding. Xia Shu is also leaving Sanbo Research Institute to work in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Sanbo Hospital. He will work with Li Ze, who has returned from the United States, to make the Department of Cardiac Surgery a world-class institution.

In a small conference room in the administration building of Nandu Medical University, an important meeting concerning the future academic reputation of the university was being held quietly. Attendees included the president, the vice president in charge of personnel and scientific research, other vice deans, and several highly respected academicians, including Academician Xiang.

"...Considering the above," President Su Qingyun gently pushed a thick document to the center of the conference table, speaking solemnly, "I believe it is time to initiate the process of applying for Professor Yang Ping to become an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering."

There was a moment of silence in the conference room, followed by low murmurs of approval.

Su Qingyun adjusted her glasses, her voice filled with emotion: "We've watched Yang Ping grow up, from an attending physician at Sanbo Hospital to independently leading a team, and then to winning two Nobel Prizes... Every step he's taken has been solid and astonishing. The spatial-guided gene theory and the system regulation theory are not just theoretical breakthroughs; they are genuinely changing clinical practice and saving lives. His academic contributions, international influence, and practical value to the country and society fully meet, and even far exceed, the standards for an academician."

"What about his age?" a more cautious academician asked. "He's only in his early thirties. Although there's no upper age limit for applications to become an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or the Chinese Academy of Engineering, he's so young..."

"It is precisely because of their youth that our country's vibrant vitality and breakthrough capabilities in cutting-edge medical fields are even more evident," the vice president in charge of scientific research added, displaying a list of Yang Ping's team's achievements in recent years. "Look at these: *Nature*, *Science*, *Cell*, *The New England Journal of Medicine*, *The Lancet*, dozens of heavyweight papers—it's as if these journals were his own. In addition, he founded the top international journal *Medicine*, not to mention two Nobel Prizes. These hard achievements would be enough to establish any senior scientist's top global academic standing. Yang Ping not only achieved this, but he also pioneered new frontiers in a completely new field. Youth is not a weakness, but a footnote to a legend."

“I agree,” Academician Xiang said slowly. He was a senior member of the Department of Clinical Medicine. “The selection of academicians should ultimately be based on contributions. Yang Ping’s contributions are groundbreaking and systematic, and have already generated tremendous international influence and practical benefits. We should not be bound by seniority, but should bravely pave the way for truly top talents. This is not only a recognition of Yang Ping personally, but also a demonstration to the international academic community of China’s determination and courage in encouraging original innovation and promoting talents without regard to seniority.”

President Su Qingyun surveyed the crowd, and seeing no further objections, concluded: “It seems everyone agrees. Therefore, we will formally establish the ‘Academician Yang Ping Application Working Group,’ led by me, with the School of Medicine and the Personnel Department responsible for specific tasks. We will begin preparing the materials immediately. The application process will be through the Life Sciences and Medicine Division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the ‘Medical and Health Sciences Division’ of the Chinese Academy of Engineering—a two-pronged approach. The materials must be solid, comprehensive, and highlight the theoretical originality, technological breakthroughs, and social welfare aspects. This is not only an honor for Nandu Medical University, but also a momentous event for the Chinese medical community.”

"Applying for dual memberships? Isn't it too aggressive to apply for membership in both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering at the same time? It's been many years since we've had a new academician in both academies." One academician expressed his concern.

Academician Xiang immediately stepped forward and said, "No, it's not radical at all. Professor Yang Ping's academic achievements are perfectly acceptable."

The academician who had just expressed his concern nodded and said nothing more.

The news spread like wildfire through Nandu Medical University, Sanbo Hospital, and Sanbo Institute. Although there was no official announcement, those in the field quickly learned of it. Reactions varied, but were generally positive. The vast majority of faculty, students, and researchers felt honored; after all, participating in or witnessing the birth of what might be the youngest academician in history was itself an inspiration.

Of course, there were also very faint dissenting voices circulating in some very private settings: "Isn't it too fast?" "The Nobel Prize is certainly dazzling, but in the selection of academicians in China, in addition to academics, other factors also need to be considered..." "So young, with little experience, can he convince the public?" But these voices seemed pale and powerless in the face of Yang Ping's soaring academic reputation and outstanding achievements, and they dared not even express them publicly.

Yang Ping himself learned of this matter from a phone call he received personally from Professor Su. During the call, Professor Su spoke earnestly, expressing the school's decision and expectations.

"Yang Ping, this is a decision made by the university after careful consideration. Your achievements are recognized by the country and the people. Being an academician is the highest honor for Chinese scientific and technological workers, and it is also a heavy responsibility. We hope you understand and support the university's work, and make the necessary preparations in advance."

Yang Ping held the phone, silent for a moment. The title of academician, once so distant, was suddenly thrust before him. He felt little emotional, neither elation nor fear, but rather a rational acceptance.

“I understand, and I am grateful for the school’s trust and support.” His answer was as calm as ever. “I will cooperate with the relevant work. But my focus will remain on my current research and clinical issues.”

For him, the Nobel Prize is international recognition of the value of his theories; while being elected an academician is perhaps a summary and positioning of his contributions within the domestic system. Both are important, but neither will change what he does every day: analyzing data, reflecting on cases, advancing research, and guiding his team.

He told Xiao Su the news. Xiao Su was feeding her one-year-old son, Xiao Shu, when she heard this. She stopped feeding him, blinked, and asked, "An academician? Great, anyway, this is something you deserve."

Yang Ping smiled.

The little tree slapped its plate with loud "Ah ah," splashing a few drops of rice porridge. Xiao Su frantically wiped it up, muttering, "Oh... will I have any social engagements lately...?"

She knew her husband disliked socializing the most. Yang Ping chuckled; his wife's concerns were always so practical and heartwarming. He went over and took the bowl and spoon from Xiao Su's hands: "I'll feed you. Don't worry too much. Life goes on as usual. Dad will handle everything. My life will continue as usual."

"Hmm, I need to talk to him too. He can't let you go to those social events..." Xiao Su muttered to herself.

The materials preparation team dispatched by Nandu Medical University quickly moved into the Sanbo Research Institute. Under the coordination of Tang Shun and Song Ziming, they began to comprehensively and meticulously organize all the materials of Yang Ping since he began practicing medicine: his educational background, work experience, every paper he published, every patent he obtained, every research project he presided over, important academic reports, international cooperation records, a list of students he trained, and domestic and foreign awards he received, with a focus on the official documents and evaluations of the two Nobel Prizes... even including detailed medical records and social impact analysis of typical cured cases like Sisi.

This is a huge and complicated project.

Tang Shun and Song Ziming had to devote a great deal of energy to cooperating, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and highlighting of the information. Zhang Lin was responsible for dealing with the increasing media inquiries arising from this matter, politely deflecting them all with the excuse that "it's a school matter and we can't comment," thus avoiding premature hype.

Meanwhile, informal communication and exchanges also began to increase. Some academicians from the Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, and the Division of Medicine and Health Sciences, either through old connections at Nandu Medical University or through academic cooperation networks, contacted and exchanged ideas with Yang Ping under various pretexts, which actually carried a certain "inspection" connotation. Yang Ping was well aware of this, but did not deliberately cater to them, and still focused on discussing academic issues. His profound scholarship, clear thinking, and insightful views on cutting-edge issues often naturally impressed his counterparts during conversations.

During a video conference, a senior academician known for his rigor pointedly raised the issues of standardization and risk control in the clinical application of systems regulation theory. Yang Ping did not shy away from the issue, but elaborated on the "certification-training-monitoring-feedback" system they were building, and shared the data and reflections on the entire process of treatment of the Heidelberg case "Lina," including setbacks, adjustments to the treatment plan, and eventual progress.

“Scientific exploration inevitably involves the unknown and risks,” Yang Ping said calmly on the other end of the screen. “The key is not to eliminate all risks, but to establish a mechanism for quickly identifying, honestly facing, scientifically analyzing, and effectively responding to risks. We publish our failure cases and establish a data sharing platform for this purpose.”

After listening, the old academician remained silent for a long time, and finally nodded slowly: "Not shying away from failures and daring to share setbacks, this is the true attitude of doing science, very good."

These positive feedbacks, gathered through various channels at Nandu Medical University and higher levels, further strengthened the confidence of all parties.

However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. Just as the application process was proceeding smoothly, a faint but clearly malicious undercurrent began to fester in a few corners of the internet.

Initially, an anonymous long post appeared on a forum that was ostensibly for "academic fraud exposé" but was actually filled with various conspiracy theories and emotional venting. The post's title was sensational: "The Shadow Under the Nobel Prize Halo: Exposing the Capital Games and Academic Packaging Behind Yang Ping, the 'Youngest Academician Candidate'."

The post is a hodgepodge of disparate points, seemingly plausible but ultimately flawed. It begins by "questioning" the "unfalsifiability" of the system regulation theory, citing outdated arguments already refuted by mainstream academia. Then, it shifts its focus, targeting Yang Ping's team's collaborations with commercial capital, particularly their deep ties with companies like Ruixing Medical, Anning Insurance, and other large corporations. The post deliberately blurs the lines between "academic collaboration" and "capital control," implying that Yang Ping's research achievements and Nobel Prize are "products packaged with massive capital investment," with the aim of "monopolizing the future medical market and reaping huge profits."

Even more insidious, the post also dug up old news about the "Zhu Cheng incident" at the Provincial People's Hospital, implying that Yang Ping's team "may also have similar problems," but that they were "protected by greater capital and power."

Finally, the post sarcastically "called for": "In matters as important as the application for academician status, which concerns the integrity of the nation's academic integrity, relevant departments should conduct a thorough investigation, be vigilant against academic stars being hijacked by capital, and prevent the Nobel Prize from becoming a tool for certain interest groups to pave the way."

This post was skillfully written and adept at stirring emotions. It was quickly picked up by several self-media accounts that specialize in reposting controversial content. After being edited and packaged with more sensational titles, it circulated on some short video platforms and niche social circles.

Although the scope of dissemination was limited and it did not cause a public opinion storm, the sinister intentions and precise timing of the attack alerted Nandu Medical University and Sanbo Research Institute immediately.

“It’s the same old trick again,” Zhang Lin stared at the screen and sneered. “First they label it as ‘capital,’ then they bring up ‘academic purity,’ and finally they imply there’s a ‘behind-the-scenes manipulation.’ They’ve realized that directly questioning the theory isn’t working, so they’ve started playing dirty tricks.”

Tang Shun's expression was grave: "This time is different. The timing, chosen during the sensitive period of academician applications, is clearly intended to create noise and interfere with the review process. Even if they can't stop it, they want to disgust people and leave the seeds of stigma. Moreover, digging up Director Zhu's old stories... this tactic seems familiar."

After reading the screenshots, Yang Ping showed no anger, only a cold understanding. "It seems some people are still unwilling to give up. Or rather, the interests we've touched are deeper and more entrenched than we imagined."

Huang Jiacai reacted swiftly and professionally. Ruixing Medical's legal and public relations teams immediately sprang into action, preparing legal action materials against the false statements and contacting familiar and reputable technology and financial media outlets to present a positive picture of the internationally accepted model and significance of industry-academia-research collaboration and capital-driven technological innovation, thus countering the negative comments.

Nandu Medical University also attached great importance to the matter. Professor Su personally instructed that a dedicated chapter be added to the application materials to clearly explain the principles of intellectual property protection, profit distribution, and social benefits in the process of transforming Yang Ping's team's scientific and technological achievements, refuting the "capital control theory" with facts. At the same time, the university's publicity department also prepared some background information, introducing Yang Ping's consistent image of being indifferent to fame and fortune and focusing on scientific research since his studies and work, as well as specific examples of his team's efforts in helping impoverished patients and sharing research results.

Soon, top state media outlets also published articles criticizing this conspiracy theory that spread rumors and smears, stating that it must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice.

Yang Ping made no response this time; he didn't want to waste any more time on this matter.