Navigating through the sea of medicine

For me, this is a very important photo, taken on January 8, 2009.   On the very left, my acupuncture teacher and current Dean of the Acupuncture Department at the Beijing University of TCM, Prof. Zhao Bai-xiao. Prof. Zhao taught me acupuncture at Middlesex University in the late 1990’s. After the end of this specific dinner, I walked him back to his office, and on the way there he stopped and given me with a few clinical and professional pointers, that completely re-defined my acupuncture philosophy and practice.    Next to Prof. Zhao on the back, is Prof. Liu Zhan-wen. Prof. Liu originally taught me Clinical Diagnosis at Middlesex University. At the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, I took his advanced class on TCM Health Preservation Practices, I think in 2004. He was also the person who helped me with my BUCM application, and introduced me to Prof. Chen Jia-xu. Liu is one of the true old-timers, and one of the most iconic teachers at my old university.  ...

Back in those days cellphones did not have cameras, so we only ever took very few pictures, usually for graduations. These are a few photos I kept from my time as a student (2004-2008).  Some are from my Master's Research Thesis Defense and graduation, and some with classmates. 

This is my first blog entry, and I will start my   " journey in the sea of medicine"   by speaking about my learning encounters with one of my former clinical prescription instructors,   Dr. Zhang Jin . And I will also speak about her teacher,   Prof. Shi Dian-bang. I met Dr. Zhang about eight years ago, in September 2002, during my six-month clinical placement at the Xiyuan Hospital in Beijing. At the time she was working at the  International Ward of the Inpatient Department , where only the rich, the famous and the important could seek treatment.    Back in 2002, she was also working closely with the legendary Shi Dian-bang, former honorary president of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, a well-known expert in TCM spleen and stomach diseases and also liver disease. I followed Prof. Shi throughout 2005 at his specialist clinic, until his passing in December of that year. I remember him always starting his shift very early, at 7am on Tuesd...