Reporter: Lin Xiaowen

At 8:00 a.m., the corridors of the Neuromedicine Center at the University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital were already filled with the brisk footsteps of medical staff. Dr. Zhang Zhenyu arrived early at his office, opened a folder of medical records, and reviewed the key cases for the day — a habit he has maintained for decades since beginning his medical career.As a core member of the Department of Neurosurgery and a member of the Second Committee of the Neurosurgical Repair Physicians Branch of the Guangdong Medical Doctor Association, Dr. Zhang has made solid contributions in clinical diagnosis and treatment, disciplinary development, and professional exchange within the field.Recently, a reporter visited his workplace to hear him share his original aspirations and reflections from years of deep engagement in the field of neurosurgery.

Neurosurgery is known as "a game of chess with death within millimeters," and Dr. Zhang Zhenyu's core work is to lead surgeries for complex cases. "Conditions such as posterior fossa tumors, craniocervical junction malformations, and intraspinal and extraspinal tumors are highly difficult and risky to operate on. They require not only precise operations but also multiple sets of emergency plans prepared in advance," he recalled. There was once a patient with craniocervical junction malformation who suffered from limb numbness and difficulty walking due to nerve compression. After visiting several hospitals, the patient finally found Dr. Zhang. Through detailed examinations and team discussions, Dr. Zhang designed a personalized surgical plan for the patient. In the end, he successfully corrected the malformation and relieved the nerve compression. The patient recovered well after the surgery and returned to a normal life. According to hospital records, relying on his excellent skills, the success rate of complex cases he has handled has always been at a high level, and the risk of complications has been significantly reduced, building a solid health barrier for patients.

Formulating personalized diagnosis and treatment plans for patients with special diseases is another important part of Dr. Zhang Zhenyu's work. Diseases such as trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and cerebral palsy in children are not as urgent as acute brain injuries, but they affect patients' quality of life for a long time. "Such patients need long-term treatment and rehabilitation guidance. We should not only focus on the disease itself but also take into account their psychological state and life needs," he gave an example. There was a patient with trigeminal neuralgia who couldn't eat or sleep normally due to severe pain and even developed depressive emotions. While formulating a drug treatment and minimally invasive surgical plan for the patient, Dr. Zhang also collaborated with psychologists for intervention and followed up on the patient's rehabilitation progress regularly. A few months later, the patient's pain was under control, and his life returned to the right track. This "people-oriented" concept has won him wide recognition from patients and also helped the hospital accumulate a good reputation.

During his more than ten years of working at The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Dr. Zhang Zhenyu's value is also reflected in disciplinary construction and team training. As an associate consultant, he takes the initiative to assist in guiding resident doctors and advanced training personnel, and shares his clinical experience with young doctors without reservation. "Neurosurgery requires inheritance from generation to generation. Young doctors are the future of the industry. Helping them grow rapidly is equivalent to reserving talents for the development of the discipline," he regularly organizes case discussion meetings, explaining surgical key points and diagnosis and treatment ideas based on his own complex cases. During surgeries, he also patiently guides young doctors in auxiliary operations to help them familiarize themselves with instruments and procedures. Driven by him, the clinical skills of the team have been significantly improved, and the technical level of the Neuroscience Center in the field of complex brain and spinal surgeries has gradually enhanced, adding an important weight to the hospital's regional professional competitiveness.

Beyond clinical work, Dr. Zhang Zhenyu also attaches great importance to transforming diagnosis and treatment experience into a driving force for disciplinary development. He actively participates in the hospital's clinical research, conducts experience summaries and research based on daily cases, and accumulates a large amount of valuable clinical data and practical experience for the Neuroscience Center. "Scientific research cannot be separated from clinical practice. The problems encountered in treatment are the direction of scientific research, and the achievements of scientific research can, in turn, guide clinical practice and make treatment more precise and effective," he took the research topic of "postoperative neurological function recovery in patients with posterior fossa tumors" as an example. He led the team to collect diagnosis and treatment data of multiple patients, analyzed the impact of different surgical methods on postoperative recovery, and summarized surgical strategies that are more conducive to neurological function protection. These achievements have not only been promoted within the department but also shared at industry conferences, providing references for peers.

As a member of the Neurological Repair Professional Physicians Branch of the Guangdong Medical Doctor Association, Dr. Zhang Zhenyu also speaks actively in industry exchanges to promote the joint development of the field. The association holds more than 800 academic activities every year, ranging from seminars on standardized treatment of neuro-oncology to training on minimally invasive surgeries. He participates in almost all of them, either sharing experience or discussing technologies. "Neurological repair is an important branch. The intensification of population aging has led to an increase in the incidence of related diseases, and patients have higher demands for functional recovery," he believes that the platform built by the association can gather experts from various regions to spark innovative ideas. For instance, at the academic annual meeting on neurological repair last year, the concept of "multidisciplinary collaborative rehabilitation after complex surgeries" proposed by him was widely recognized by peers. Some hospitals have adjusted their rehabilitation processes accordingly to help patients recover faster.

When talking about the development of the industry, Dr. Zhang Zhenyu not only sees opportunities but also faces challenges squarely. He points out that the progress of minimally invasive surgery and neuroimaging navigation technology has brought breakthroughs to diagnosis and treatment. "Intraoperative neuromonitoring technology can help us accurately avoid important nerves and reduce postoperative complications." However, the shortage of talents remains a common problem. "The training cycle for neurosurgeons is long, and primary medical institutions are particularly short of talents." In response to this, he suggests optimizing the talent training system, strengthening cooperation between universities and hospitals to allow young doctors to engage in clinical practice earlier, and improving the training mechanism for primary doctors to enhance their diagnosis and treatment capabilities through distance education and advanced training.

Over the years, Zhang Zhenyu has consistently maintained a deep respect for and passion toward medicine. He says that what makes him most accomplished is not completing complex surgeries, but seeing the smiles of patients after recovery. "Behind every patient is a family. Our work is not only to treat diseases but also to protect the happiness of families." In the future, he plans to continue devoting himself to clinical practice, improving his technical and diagnosis and treatment capabilities. At the same time, he will increase investment in scientific research and teaching, cultivate more talents for the field, and promote the development of the discipline.

At the end of the interview, Dr. Zhang Zhenyu received an emergency call from the department, saying that a patient with acute spinal cord injury needed a consultation. He said goodbye in a hurry, walked quickly towards the consulting room, and his figure merged into the busy team of medical staff. In the field of neurosurgery, it is precisely countless doctors like him who, with their skills, sense of responsibility, and dedication, light up hope for patients and inject motivation into the industry.