Li Jieya, “The Hope of Awakening”

　　“…to nurture a coma patient is to pacify a family…” Li Jieya, from the hospital’s administrative office, delivered an all‑English presentation titled “The Hope of Awakening,” covering topics such as the nature of coma, consciousness‑assessment scales, and the current realities of caring for patients in a comatose state. Her native‑like pronunciation, extensive vocabulary, and confident delivery captivated both the judges and the audience—this was one scene from the “Waiting for you to wake up” English speech contest hosted by Nanjing Zijin Hospital.

　　On March 22, 2023, the third “World Coma Day,” in response to the call of the joint initiative “World Coma Day—Hope for Awakening,” organized by the National Center for Neurological Diseases, the Chinese Consortium of Physicians on Disorders of Consciousness, the Section on Consciousness and Disorders of Consciousness of the Chinese Society for Neuroscience, the Professional Committee on Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation of the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, and the Disorders of Consciousness and Wakefulness Promotion Group of the Neurorepair Professional Committee of the Chinese Medical Association, Nanjing Zijin Hospital launched a series of “World Coma Day” events under the action theme “Excellence in Medical Skills, Sincerity in Medical Ethics.”

Special Lecture on “World Coma Day”

Zhang Wenbin, Director of the Functional Neurosurgery Department at Nanjing Brain Hospital

　　Zhang Wenbin, Director of the Department of Functional Neurosurgery at the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, delivered a special lecture titled “Neurosurgical Modulation Therapy for Chronic Disorders of Consciousness.” Using numerous patient cases, he outlined the clinical efficacy of treatments such as deep brain stimulation and spinal cord stimulation, while also elaborating on combined therapies—including hyperbaric oxygen therapy and neurorehabilitation—and related nursing practices. The event was fully attended, with medical, nursing, and technical staff from Nanjing Zijin Hospital listening intently and gaining significant insights from Director Zhang’s presentation.

“Waiting for You to Wake Up” Themed English Speech Contest

Ge Jiangping, President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital

　　“English writing and speaking skills are an extremely important competency for healthcare professionals. As the international lingua franca, English plays a vital role in medical research, academic publishing, international conferences, and clinical care. Coinciding with the Third World Coma Day, this English‑themed speech event has been organized to inspire all staff members to embrace English learning, enhance their language proficiency, and broaden their horizons…” In his address, Ge Jiangping, President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital, welcomed the distinguished guest judges—Zhang Wenbin, Director of the Functional Neurosurgery Department at Nanjing Brain Hospital; Zhou Mengliang, Head of the Neurocritical Care Center in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Eastern Theater Command General Hospital; and Liu Ning, Director of the Intensive Care Unit at Nanjing Gulou Hospital—and extended his best wishes to the contestants, hoping they would achieve outstanding results, demonstrate their capabilities, and showcase their excellence.

Zhou Mengliang, Head of the Neurocritical Care Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Eastern Theater Command General Hospital

　　“I often remind my master’s students to dare to speak and practice more, and to be confident…” “While you’re young, take the time to study pronunciation—watching American TV shows is an excellent way to learn and imitate…” “When I first went to the U.S. to study, I sought out every opportunity to interact with native speakers, which ultimately helped me refine the nuances of my spoken English…” Director Zhou Mengliang and Director Liu Ning, drawing on the contestants’ performances and their own experiences learning English, offered several pieces of advice and shared valuable study tips, while also expressing their appreciation for the participants’ solid foundational skills. Director Zhou Mengliang even used his own amusing anecdotes from his time in the United States to encourage the competitors.

First Prize: Meng Wei

Second Prize: Li Jieya, Cen Yuanyuan

Third Prize: Chen Xinyi, Zhu Jiwen, Feng Mingming

　　After rounds of selection across all departments and divisions, nine contestants took to the stage. Following individual presentations and scoring by the panel, the final rankings were announced: First place went to Meng Wei from the Medical Affairs Department; second place was shared by Li Jieya, who studied abroad and works in the Hospital Administration Office, and Dr. Cen Yuanyuan from Ward 102; and third place was awarded to Rehabilitation Therapist Chen Xinyi from the Rehabilitation Center, Dr. Zhu Jiwen from Ward 102, and Dr. Feng Mingming from Ward 104. The winners’ list was dominated by women, suggesting that our “Ladies Speaker” truly has a slight edge when it comes to linguistic talent.

Gao Zhiqiang, Executive Vice President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital

　　The speech contest concluded with closing remarks and words of gratitude from Gao Zhiqiang, Executive Vice President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital. “With a dream in my heart, I never stopped trying” — these were the words of encouragement and high expectations that Vice President Gao Zhiqiang offered to all the young medical, nursing, and technical staff at Nanjing Zijin Hospital.

A group photo of the expert judges, hospital leaders, and the contestants.

Starting from the Heart—Heartfelt Follow-Up, a Caring Medical Support System

　　As we mark the third World Coma Day, Nanjing Zijin Hospital has officially launched its “Starting from the Heart” home‑visit follow‑up program. Led by Gao Hongliang, head of the Rehabilitation Therapy Center, along with rehabilitation therapist Chu Jun and others, the team visited the home of discharged patient Cui Jian to provide tailored guidance and refine his at‑home rehabilitation regimen. Detailed instructions were given on shoulder support use, custom ankle braces, standing posture, gait, and other aspects, bolstering both Cui Jian and his wife, Auntie Gai Li, with renewed confidence and hope for their recovery journey ahead. Auntie Gai Li expressed deep satisfaction and gratitude for this visit. The issues identified in Cui Jian’s home‑rehabilitation records have further reinforced our commitment to expanding and enhancing post‑discharge follow‑up services, ensuring that we deliver even more thoughtful and comprehensive care in the future. On World Coma Day, the team at Zijin Hospital is taking action!

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