《Staff Talent》Issue 1 ：Zhang Chi —— The Road Ahead Is Long But Bright

Zhang Chi —— The Road Ahead Is Long But Bright

The Road Ahead Is Long But Bright

A famous Chinese proverb says “reading ten thousand books is not as good as walking ten thousand miles”, which is what my father expected of me. He named me Zhang Chi, “Chi” means “walking fast” in Chinese. As he wished, I left my hometown Anhui and came to Shanghai. In September 2011, I joined the big family of NCC.

Since my background was not science, engineering, nor medical field, I had no ideas what medical devices were for and was completely unfamiliar with electrophysiology before joining the company. Based on my past work experience, I applied for a sales position.

To overcome my weakness, I requested to intern in the after-sales department to learn about product-related knowledge. Not long after that, I was reassigned back to the marketing department, where I was responsible for maintaining the online listing of consumables and handling some after-sales issues during my free time.

I am a person full of energy, and all these activities are not enough to satisfy my curiosity. So, I continue to learn about the company's products during my free time, just to pass the time. During this period, I sometimes feel lost, wondering if all this knowledge is really useful.

One afternoon, while I was studying equipment in the showroom as usual, I ran into my first supervisor, Li Kaiwen, the after-sales manager. He said he remembered his younger days when he studied imported equipment with English manuals and dictionaries. He told me, very seriously, that I would definitely become an expert in this field. At the time, I still couldn't even understand the manuals, so I didn't believe him. However, I was greatly inspired by his words. I tried to learn more about the products, but it's very challenging to self-study without directly working on the product.

Overcome Challenges

With the launch of new products and the establishment of new departments, I felt my enthusiasm was unfulfilled. I needed a job to put my knowledge into practice. So, I volunteered for a transfer to another department, and fortunately, my request was supported by my superiors.

The new department was filled with numerous tasks, and I was initially assigned as an assistant for the department. However, this position didn’t align with my career plan very well. During that time, I worked during the day and studied at night, preparing diligently for the opportunity to gain clinical experience.

To better understand the working principles of medical equipment, I read four books: “Electromyography Diagnosis and Clinical Application” by Dang Jingxia, “Neurophysiological Monitoring During Spinal Surgery” by Hu Yong, “Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring” translated by Dou Wanchen, and “The Incredible Human Body” by Tsukamoto Masahiro. When I encountered issues related to anatomy, I used the software “Complete Anatomy” to help me understand. After accumulating some foundational knowledge, I received systematic training from Dr. Minghui Liu, which was highly beneficial.

As the department grew and the team expanded, the assistant's responsibilities were passed on to new members. I finally had the opportunity to join the clinical team, and I spent some time learning alongside Dr. Xu Tian and Fu Huabin. Later, I spent half a month on-site at the Shao Yifu Hospital affiliated with Zhejiang University.

The theories I had pondered over countless times on paper were proven wrong when I saw them in practice. Each time I challenged my previous understanding, I felt enlightened and incredibly happy. Due to my lack of expertise, I had to prepare thoroughly for each assignment to feel at ease. During this period, I traveled to many cities in China, planning my schedule and preparing for the next surgery every day.

The most memorable experience for me was meeting Dr. Bi in Yunnan. His patient was a boy with spinal deformity. Dr. Bi wanted to gather more electrophysiological data before the surgery and requested that the patient undergo preoperative testing.

After several rounds of testing, Dr.Bi did not get the signals he needed, and further testing would only increase the stimulation intensity. As a very gentle person, Dr. Bi was concerned that the boy might not be able to endure the excessive pain, so he gradually increased the electrical stimulation and gently inquired about his feelings. The little boy, showing no fear, simply said, "I can."

After working with many patients and their families, I realized how fragile life can be; a simple illness can destroy everything. Yet, the resilience people display in difficult times deeply touches me.

This has made me more aware of the seriousness of my work. I may never become a doctor to help these people, but I can support doctors to better assist patients. Once again, I am applying for a transfer to R&D, where I can serve as a bridge between the needs of customers and the products we develop.

Time flies, and before I knew it, I have been at NCC for two years. In my work, people call me Engineer Zhang, Teacher Zhang, Manager Zhang, and Director Zhang. Each time I hear these titles, I feel a sense of I’m unqualified for them.

I still remember what my second leader, Zhong Xiaochen, told me: my greatest strength is being a blank paper. Over the past two years, as I have spent every day with colleagues, leaders, and clinical mentors, they have left their marks on this blank paper. I believe it is because of these marks that I have earned the respect and recognition of others. I am grateful to NCC for providing this platform, which has allowed me to meet a better version of myself.