Chen Guoqiang, president of Hainan Medical University, speaks at the opening ceremony inaugurating the 2023-24 academic year on Sept 18. [provided to chinadaily.com.cn]"I come from humble beginnings. I was born and grew up in the countryside. I was not a straight-A student. But as long as you stick to your belief, with relentless efforts, you will make the impossible possible, and your dream will come true," said Chen Guoqiang, president of Hainan Medical University, at the opening ceremony inaugurating the 2023-24 academic year on Sept 18.
An expert in pathologic physiology and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chen is known for his humor and frankness. He has served as president of Hainan Medical University since mid-September.
Chen shared in the speech that he failed in the national college entrance examination in 1979, studied all over for the next year, and was admitted to a medical school in Hengyang, Hunan province.
In his sophomore year, Chen was addicted to detective novels, but after listening to the renowned professor Wang Zhenyi, who came from Shanghai and gave nine lectures in a week in Hengyang, Chen became enlightened.
"I didn't understand much of them, but I was deeply convinced by the powerful logic of medical science and professor Wang's charisma," Chen recalled. "I realized that there are still many scientific questions to be solved. So I made up my mind to become professor Wang's student."
Chen managed to pursue his master's degree tutored by professor Wang in 1985, and later a doctorate in 1992.
Chen used his own story to encourage students that doing well in exams doesn't necessarily mean that one is a real talent, and hard work can make dreams come true.
Chen Guoqiang, president of Hainan Medical University, talks with a student after the opening ceremony inaugurating the 2023-24 academic year on Sept 18. [provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
For Chen, at age 60, he still lives his dream. He was vice president of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and dean of its School of Medicine. Moving from Shanghai to Hainan province, Chen said, he was ready to start a new chapter in his life. In the next ten years, he plans to devote his life to the development of the 76-year-old Hainan Medical University, and medical services in Hainan.
"I not only aim to build up the strength and open up a new situation for the university, but also want to cultivate a batch of high-quality medical talents and help the soft environment construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port," said Chen.
He believed that the construction of a high-level international medical university in Hainan is important for the free trade port, the nation and the world.
"Constructing the Hainan Free Trade Port is a major national strategy, and medical services and education are key factors in attracting and retaining high-quality talents to the free trade port," he explained.
Hainan Medical University has the largest international student population in the province. It initiated the Belt and Road Tropical Medical Alliance, which was established in 2018.
"As a primary hub along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Hainan is pioneering the country's high-level opening up. If our university improves overall educational quality and facilities, we will draw more international students from the Belt and Road countries, especially from Southeast Asia," Chen said.
Daring to change, as Chen put it, is the greatest challenge of change. He called for faculty and students to take the initiative to make changes. "Only with changes can we break new ground, and only with changes can we improve ourselves, our future, our university, our country and even the world," he said.
