On May 29, in order to enhance the hospital’s overall English-speaking and communication skills, promote its substantive development, raise awareness of the importance of rehabilitation, and build a high‑caliber, internationally oriented team of medical and healthcare professionals, Nanjing Zijin Hospital hosted its second English‑language speech contest. The competition was centered around three designated topics:

Focusing on the rehabilitation voices at the Two Sessions—“English” makes it even more remarkable.

Supporting and Assisting Persons with Disabilities, Ensuring Love Knows No Barriers — A Themed Speech for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

“Heroes” abound, and the possibilities are limitless.

At the outset of the competition, Ge Jiangping, President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital, delivered a welcoming address, extending a warm welcome to the distinguished guests, including Liu Yu, Vice President of the Yifu Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, and Zhao Peng, Chief Physician of the Department of Neurosurgery at Nanjing Gulou Hospital. She reviewed the performances of all participants in the inaugural themed English‑language speech contest, highlighting the positive impact of enhancing English proficiency on both individual professional development and the hospital’s drive toward internationalization. Finally, she wished the second Young Physicians’ Speech Contest every success.

Liu Yu, Vice President of the Yifu Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University (far left), and Zhao Penglai, Chief Physician of the Department of Neurosurgery at Nanjing Gulou Hospital (far right)

This competition saw enthusiastic participation from all departments, with the number of preliminary registrants far surpassing that of the previous event. After rigorous screening at both the departmental and hospital‑site levels, seven contestants emerged from the preliminaries to advance to the finals. On the podium, the speakers were impeccably dressed, radiating confidence and composure—hallmarks of their poise. Grounded in the contest’s theme, they began with small, relatable anecdotes and used concrete examples to illuminate the nuances of their daily clinical work, while also articulating the value and significance of standardized assessment tools in clinical practice.

Zhu Chenrui

“Clinical work saves lives, but rehabilitation heals. To me, there’s no difference in their importance—that is my original motivation,” said contestant No. 1, Zhu Chenrui, expressing her sincere passion for and unwavering commitment to the field of rehabilitation therapy. Through the case of a comatose patient whose consciousness was gradually restored, she eloquently recounted her proactive efforts and steadfast ideals—taking responsibility in her work and spreading love and warmth. During her presentation, Zhu also introduced the application of the CNCRS (China–Nanjing Scale for Recovery of Consciousness), earning high praise from the judges for her clear thinking and fluent delivery. Ultimately, she emerged victorious, securing first prize.

Wang Huihan

Wang Huihan from the Department of Critical Care Medicine, drawing on the “Voice of Rehabilitation” initiative from the Two Sessions, presented an overview of our hospital’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center and Wake‑Promotion Center, focusing on the theme of actively expanding specialized sub‑disciplines in rehabilitation. She advocated for personalized treatment plans tailored to different conditions. With a confident, poised, and energetic demeanor, she earned unanimous praise from the judges and was awarded second prize in this speech competition.

Yang Wanchen (far left), Zhu Jiwen (far right)

Hands that cannot be raised, steps taken with difficulty, words that linger unspoken… Day after day, are patients depressed? Are they experiencing mania? We cannot directly observe a patient’s psychological state, but we can make informed judgments by employing the clinician’s “third eye”—various standardized assessment tools. Yang Wanchen from Ward 204, focusing on psychological treatment, proposed innovative refinements to depression rating scales and highlighted their clinical value. Zhu Jiwen from Ward 102 centered her presentation on the critical role of rehabilitation therapy in reducing disability rates; her beautifully designed PowerPoint earned praise from the judges, though brief moments of hesitation during her talk underscore areas she will need to further refine.

Wu Xinxiu (far left), Zhang Yanyan (second from left), Zhang Jun (far right)

Seven contestants took to the stage one by one, and expert judges ultimately awarded first-, second-, and third-place scores. Meanwhile, the 33 audience judges present also weighed in, using on-site QR‑code voting to select the winner of the “Most Popular Award.” Contestant No. 1, Zhu Chenrui, captured everyone’s attention with his fluent English speaking and clinched the “Most Popular Award”!

Following the competition, Liu Yu, Vice President of Yifu Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, delivered a speech in which she highly praised the contestants’ performances. She offered constructive feedback on their public‑speaking skills, pronunciation, and intonation, and encouraged them to study diligently, practice regularly, master key techniques, and refine their use of body language. She expressed her hope that, through consistent rehearsal, each participant would improve with every attempt and present their very best selves.

Dr. Zhao, chief physician of the Department of Neurosurgery at Nanjing Gulou Hospital, delivered a speech in which he advocated for “hospital-wide participation.” He argued that the most important aspect of a public speaking competition is not winning a prize, but rather taking part. Public speaking should not be viewed as a one‑to‑many ordeal, but rather as a genuine exchange of scholarship and ideas—thus helping us, to some extent, rediscover our passion for our work and a sense of engagement and pride.

Following the event, Wang Yifang, Vice President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital, delivered a closing address, urging all participants to read more English-language literature and practice speaking English regularly. He expressed his hope that, in the coming year, the hospital’s medical staff will further enhance their English-speaking proficiency.

Finally, it’s the long-awaited awards ceremony!

The list of competition winners is as follows:

First Prize: Zhu Chenrui

Second Prize: Wang Huihan

Third Prize: Yang Wanchen, Zhu Jiwen

Striving for excellence and, on the basis of mastering professional knowledge, enhancing healthcare professionals’ English communication skills are key to helping hospitals achieve international recognition. This competition not only provided a platform for medical staff to showcase themselves and engage in mutual learning but also ignited their enthusiasm and interest in studying English. Participants honed their spoken English proficiency while boosting their confidence in clinical practice and strengthening their teamwork abilities.

In the first half of 2024, Nanjing Zijin Hospital continued to strengthen its talent development pipeline, and the recruitment of high-caliber, highly educated professionals has elevated the clinical expertise of its medical, nursing, and treatment teams. Moving forward, the hospital will actively organize more meaningful initiatives, creating additional platforms for healthcare staff to showcase their capabilities, engage in knowledge exchange, and enhance both their overall competence and professional skills, thereby delivering higher‑quality, more efficient medical care to patients.

The second themed English speech contest at Nanjing Zijin Hospital has concluded successfully!