Editor's Note: With the rapid development of the medical field, the growth and demeanor of young doctors, as future pillars of healthcare, are highly anticipated. At the mid-year meeting of the Youth Expert Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO YOUNG) in 2024, Professor Zefei Jiang from the Medical School of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital shared insights on the committee members' demeanor, the crucial role of young doctors within the association, and experiences and advice for young doctors on their growth path. Drawing from his own experiences, Professor Jiang encouraged young doctors to seize opportunities, actively engage in clinical practice and research, and contribute to both personal and societal value. He also offered words of encouragement to students aspiring to enter the medical field, urging them to pursue their dreams and contribute to the advancement of medical science in China. 

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Oncology Frontier: Young people represent the future of the country. Looking at past and current meetings, how do you perceive the demeanor and spirit of the CSCO youth committee members?

Professor Zefei Jiang: I am very pleased to attend the 2024 mid-year meeting of the CSCO Youth Expert Committee (CSCO YOUNG). Recently, I visited the former residence of Li Dazhao, where I felt the pioneering, self-sacrificing spirit of the revolutionary martyrs during their youth. Our young doctors are equally vibrant, energetic, and have more time and energy to learn about cutting-edge scientific advancements. They also take on more frontline clinical work, making it easier for them to identify clinical issues and learn from the accumulated experience of domestic and international experts. From simply translating foreign articles to interpreting domestic and international clinical research, and summarizing annual progress in various fields, the work of CSCO YOUNG members has continually evolved. They are gradually undertaking innovative clinical research. I believe that in the future, the CSCO Youth Committee will play a better guiding role and lead its members to greater heights.

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Oncology Frontier: Within CSCO BC, what significant roles do young experts play?

Professor Zefei Jiang: The CSCO Youth Committee brings together young scholars from different specialties, and CSCO’s various professional committees encompass people from all generations. I often tell the young scholars of the CSCO Youth Committee that they should aim to join these specialized committees, much like outstanding youth aspire to join the Communist Party of China. Young scholars are included in CSCO committees because of their advantages in participating in consensus-building and guideline drafting. They can make full use of the latest international treatment advances and existing clinical resources and provide unique insights into some clinical studies. These insights often influence and change guidelines to some extent.

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Oncology Frontier: You excelled early in your career. What experiences or expectations do you have for the growth of young experts today, including clinical diagnosis, treatment, and research?

Professor Zefei Jiang: Reflecting on my journey, I consider myself fortunate. I became a department head before I was 30 and returned from studying in the US at 35. I am particularly grateful to my mentor, Professor Song Santai, for entrusting me with this responsibility. Some people now say they envy the continuity and connection of those times. In my view, today’s young doctors also have many advantages. They have accumulated rich clinical knowledge and can better apply what they have learned. Opportunities come to those who are prepared, so I hope young people can seize opportunities and strive for better chances to complete their work. Young doctors should be ready to face new challenges while building a solid foundation. It is like driving a car: when sitting in the passenger seat, learn and think about driving techniques. If the driver is unavailable, you can take the wheel and drive well, maybe even better than the driver.

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Oncology Frontier: It is exam season again, and there is always a lot of discussion about studying medicine. Do you have any advice or messages for aspiring medical students?

Professor Zefei Jiang: Studying medicine is indeed challenging, and at times, it can be quite arduous. However, as a doctor, I still strongly encourage aspiring students to pursue a medical career. I believe the “difficulty” of the medical path lies in the demanding nature of medical studies and the long journey of practicing medicine. Yet, the benefit of studying medicine is that it becomes more valuable with age. I often compare studying medicine to participating in a long-distance run: as long as you avoid mistakes, you can gradually reach the finish line, gaining experience and maturity along the way. Medicine can save lives and promote human health. Despite the challenges, I welcome everyone to choose the medical path because we need outstanding students to enter this field. We also need more excellent talents to leverage their strengths and contribute to the advancement of medical science in China.

Professor Zefei Jiang Director of Oncology, Cancer Center of the General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army Deputy Chairman of the Youth Expert Committee, Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) Member and Secretary-General, Oncology Expert Committee, Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center, National Health Commission Standing Member, Patient Education Expert Committee and Member, Breast Cancer Expert Committee, CSCO Member, Breast Cancer Professional Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CBCS) Standing Member, Breast Disease Branch, Chinese Medical Health International Exchange Promotion Association Deputy Leader, Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Promotion Group, China National Health Association Member, Breast Professional Committee, Chinese Research Hospital Association Deputy Chairman, Breast Health Science Popularization Expert Committee, Shanghai Science Popularization Volunteers Association Standing Member, Breast Cancer Expert Committee and Cancer Rehabilitation and Palliative Care Expert Committee, Shanghai Anti-Cancer Association Member, Breast Cancer Group, Surgery Branch, Shanghai Medical Association Class Leader, First Session of the Medical Star Plan, Shanghai Health Development Foundation Editorial Board Member of CA Chinese Edition and Chinese Medical Forum Oncology Edition Review Expert for Frontiers in Oncology, JNCC Youth Editorial Board Member, Chinese Journal of Oncology

Professor Zefei Jiang

Director of Oncology Cancer Center of the General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army Deputy

Chairman of the Youth Expert Committee, Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO)

Member and Secretary-General, Oncology Expert Committee, Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center, National Health Commission Standing Member, Patient Education Expert Committee and Member, Breast Cancer Expert Committee, CSCO Member, Breast Cancer Professional Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CBCS) Standing Member, Breast Disease Branch, Chinese Medical Health International Exchange Promotion Association Deputy Leader, Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Promotion Group, China National Health Association Member, Breast Professional Committee, Chinese Research Hospital Association Deputy Chairman, Breast Health Science Popularization Expert Committee, Shanghai Science Popularization Volunteers Association Standing Member, Breast Cancer Expert Committee and Cancer Rehabilitation and Palliative Care Expert Committee, Shanghai Anti-Cancer Association Member, Breast Cancer Group, Surgery Branch, Shanghai Medical Association Class Leader, First Session of the Medical Star Plan, Shanghai Health Development Foundation Editorial Board Member of CA Chinese Edition and Chinese Medical Forum Oncology Edition Review Expert for Frontiers in Oncology, JNCC Youth Editorial Board Member, Chinese Journal of Oncology