Imagine a scenario where a young woman, with an undergraduate degree in economics from the U.S., secures a medical doctorate (MD) from China’s top medical institution without prior medical training or rigorous entrance examinations. She then proceeds to perform surgeries at a national hospital. Her doctoral thesis spans merely 30 pages, allegedly incorporates data from a hearing-impaired student, and her family holds prominent positions across China’s scientific community.
What if I told you that a girl who studied economics in the U.S., with no prior medical background and minimal entrance exams, obtained an MD from China’s top medical school in just four years and went on to perform surgeries at a national hospital?
And what if I added that her thesis was only 30 pages long, her experimental data came from a hearing-impaired student, and her family held numerous high-ranking positions in China’s scientific community?
The story began with a whistleblower letter from Gu, the ex-wife of Dr. Xiao Fei (hereafter referred to as “Xiao”), a physician at China-Japan Friendship Hospital. In her letter, Gu accused Xiao of extramarital affairs with several hospital staff members, including a training resident named Dong Xiying (hereafter “Dong”). Beyond the personal scandals, the letter highlighted a significant medical incident.
On July 5, 2024, at 3:17 PM, during a thoracoscopic lobectomy under general anesthesia, Dong made an error in passing surgical instruments (reportedly handing over the thoracoscopic forceps in the wrong orientation). A nurse pointed out the mistake, leading Dong to remove her sterile gloves and exit the operating room in an emotional state. Xiao, the attending surgeon, also left the OR, leaving the patient exposed without medical supervision for over 40 minutes.
This incident quickly gained traction online, drawing attention to Dong’s educational background and career trajectory, which left many in the Chinese internet community feeling disillusioned and perplexed.
How did Dong secure a position at the prestigious China-Japan Friendship Hospital?
She entered through the “4+4 Program” at Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), China’s premier medical institution. This program allows students to pursue a non-medical undergraduate degree for four years, followed by four years of medical education at PUMC, culminating in an MD. Unlike traditional medical paths in China, which require five years of undergraduate medical study followed by three years of postgraduate training, this program was designed to attract interdisciplinary talent.
However, several aspects of Dong’s admission have raised concerns:
1.Academic Background: Dong transferred from a community college to Barnard College, majoring in economics. Due to Barnard’s affiliation with Columbia University and a loophole in China’s Ministry of Education’s system, her degree was registered as a Columbia University degree.
2.Admission Process: In 2019, the year Dong applied, the 4+4 Program’s selection process involved only document review and expert interviews, with no written examinations. Admission criteria included:
•Graduation from a university ranked in the top 50 globally by QS or Times Higher Education.
•A GPA of at least 3.60 or ranking in the top 30% of the class.
3.Family Background: Dong’s family holds significant positions in China’s scientific and academic circles:
•Grandfather: Dong Baowei, Director of Ultrasound at the PLA General Hospital. •Maternal Grandfather: Mi Yaorong, Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
•Father: Dong Xiaohui, General Manager and Deputy Party Secretary of China Metallurgical Construction Research Institute.
•Mother: Mi Zhenli, Deputy Director of the Institute of Engineering Technology at the University of Science and Technology Beijing.
•Uncle: Mi Zhenqiang, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Engineering at the same university.
•Aunt: Ban Xiaojuan, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing.
4.Thesis Controversy: Dong’s doctoral thesis was only 30 pages long. It was alleged that she used data provided by Zhao Jihuai, a hearing-impaired student mentored by her aunt. Zhao’s graduation was reportedly delayed by a year due to this. This situation is seen as emblematic of systemic exploitation, where the labor of lower-tier researchers is appropriated to bolster the academic credentials of elite offspring.
Following these revelations, several other students from the 4+4 Program were found to have gained admission through familial connections, including at least six individuals directly related to prominent professors, mentors, or academicians.
Why did this incident spark widespread public outrage?
1.Erosion of Meritocracy: China’s university admission system is notoriously competitive, with the “Gaokao” (National College Entrance Examination) serving as the primary pathway to higher education. In 2025, it’s projected that 14 million students will take the Gaokao, but only about 4.5 million will secure undergraduate placements, leaving approximately 9 million without a spot. The 4+4 Program’s design allows certain students to bypass this rigorous process through overseas degrees and expert recommendations, undermining the perceived fairness of the system. For many, the Gaokao represents the most equitable opportunity for social mobility—a belief deeply ingrained in the collective psyche.
2.Trust in the Medical Profession: Doctors in China are held in high esteem, entrusted with both moral and technical responsibilities. Beijing’s PUMC Hospital is often seen as a last resort for patients. Discovering that some surgeons may have advanced through nepotistic channels, rather than merit, shakes public confidence in the healthcare system.
Personal Reflection:
A quote from the anime character Ai Haibara resonates deeply: “The son of a politician becomes a politician, the son of a banker becomes a banker. At this rate, Japan will never change.” This sentiment mirrors the current reality. While I was aware of the potential for class solidification in China, I didn’t anticipate it happening so swiftly. It’s been only 47 years since the 11th Central Committee’s Third Plenary Session marked the end of the Cultural Revolution.
Previously, terms like “academic nepotism” were abstract concepts, hinted at by trusted adults or buried in official jargon and social media gossip. This incident is the first time I’ve truly seen and understood how these elements interconnect to form a systemic structure.
Note: The English translation of this post was assisted by ChatGPT-4o. If you have differing opinions or perspectives, please feel free to discuss them with me. If you find my viewpoints naive or immature, I’m open to dialogue.Appreciate that a lot. <3
Sources: • Xian Xiaomeng: https://weibo.com/6154203482/5160907391108257 • Han Jiashu: https://weibo.com/6154203482/5161155836775000 • Chai Yuanhao: https://weibo.com/6154203482/5161145581961241 • Jin Shanmu: https://weibo.com/6154203482/5160858884249534 • Sheng Xicheng: https://weibo.com/6154203482/5160925682468181 • Qiu Yuchong: https://weibo.com/6154203482/5161120588106331
https://weibo.com/6154203482/5161284081288399 https://weibo.com/6154203482/5160520346505406
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Notes -
Your second and third paragraph here appear to restate your first paragraph without adding anything, unless I'm missing something.
Would those 4 years in Chinese med school have had any practical training? It's one thing to do four years and become a clinic doctor seeing patients and prescribing allergy meds. It's another entirely to be performing surgical removal of chest tumors. That just seems grossly inappropriate. Med school here (in Japan) consists of six years, where around 4 years are classroom general instruction (with some practical work, eg anatomy in cadavers, etc) and the last two are practical specialized training. But to become a surgeon would require anywhere from 5 to 8 additional years after the first 6. In addition to passing various national tests and board certifications.
Yes, the design of the “4+4” medical education program has sparked significant controversy in China, particularly regarding its clinical training adequacy and opaque advancement path.
In the traditional route, students complete five years of undergraduate medical training, three years of a master’s program (which includes a concurrent three-year residency), and another three years of doctoral study.
Graduates from the 4+4 track are still required to complete a full three-year residency after receiving their MD, in order to qualify for national medical licensing.
However, despite only entering the program in 2019, Ms. Dong was featured in a 2021 Xinhua News Agency cover story as performing complex thoracic surgeries using fluorescence thoracoscopy. According to public reports, she was able to waive two out of the three mandatory residency years at China-Japan Friendship Hospital with the support of a recommendation letter from a senior academician.
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