Visiting Prof. Chen Jia-xu at the Guo Yi Tang clinic in Beijing

During my Beijing days, Prof. Chen Jia-xu was my Master’s Degree supervisor (2004-2008). Chen is perhaps one of the most famous Chinese Diagnosticians, with a stellar career in the world of Chinese medicine over the last 10-15 years. He was recently awarded a Changjiang Scholar, and he has a long list of key publications, grants and recognitions.

I first met Prof. Chen in November 2002, during my Master’s Degree application at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. At the BUCM, before a candidate is accepted to enroll, they should first obtain a signed document from a professor, affirming their willingness to supervise their research.

Of course, this is not an easy task, because all of the famous professors are really hard to approach, they have next-to-unrealistic standards, and the competition among potential candidates is fierce.

Also, in 2002 I didn’t speak any Chinese, and of course, the most famous and experienced professors did not speak any English.

Therefore, finding someone famous and knowledgeable willing to sign my application was a big challenge.

I was introduced to Chen Jia-xu through Prof. Liu Zhan-wen, an iconic figure of the old BUCM, and who had previously taught me Diagnostics in London, back in 1999.

Prof. Liu sent me to Chen’s office, saying that by the time I graduate he will be famous all over China. And like he had predicted, by 2008 Chen Jia-xu had become already one of the top TCM diagnosticians in the country.

Like I said above, between 2004-2008, I conducted my research on classical tongue diagnosis in epidemics under his supervision, with a focus on the text of the Shang Han She Jian. And I received my Master’s of Medicine in 2008.

Chen’s strong point had always been research. His main focus back in the early 00’s was an experimental approach to understanding and treating depression, and the use of Xiao Yao San. I did not do an experiment with him due to my strong feelings against animal experimentation,. But he taught me how to pursue academia. For this reason, Chen always regarded me as his first non-Chinese disciple.

Today, I visited him in the Guo Yi Tang Clinic, where he was teaching prescription to a couple of his current students. I stayed the entire afternoon, and I took a photo to remember the day.

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