Homelike Shenyang ② | Hero from the DRC: My Dream Comes True in Shenyang

"The name 'Yingxiong' ('Hero') was given to me by my Chinese teacher when I first came to China," said Muisha, who comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He is currently a doctoral student in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the China Medical University. He has grown accustomed to being called by his Chinese name, "Mu Yingxiong".

Ten years ago, Mu Yingxiong arrived in China from distant Africa with the dream of studying medicine. "I first went to Hebei Province to learn Chinese. My Chinese teacher encouraged us to try to communicate with Chinese people in Chinese, but everyone was too shy, except for me. The teacher said that I was truly a hero, hence my Chinese name 'Yingxiong'," he recalled.

Mu Yingxiong (right) inquiring about the patient's condition (photo by Zhu Hongmei)

Mu Yingxiong (left) examining the patient (photo by Zhu Hongmei)

Talking about his encounter with Shenyang, Mu Yingxiong said with a smile, "It must be fate." He expressed that many foreign friends around him had recommended him Shenyang, because of the well-renowned academic atmosphere and research excellence at the China Medical University, as well as the hospitality and warmth of Shenyang people that had been widely praised among international students.

Mu Yingxiong (right) making the ward rounds with his colleague Ye Ning (photo by Zhu Hongmei)

Mu Yingxiong (left) learning from his tutor in a real clinical context (photo by Zhu Hongmei)

Li Zhao, a chief physician and doctoral supervisor of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the First Hospital of China Medical University, was full of pride when she mentioned her favorite student Mu Yingxiong. "The most important quality of Mu Yingxiong is kindness - heartfelt sympathy and understanding for patients - which is very important for a doctor. I have high expectations for him."

Sun Yingxian, the head of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the First Hospital of China Medical University, also praised that Mu Yingxiong is proactive and eager to learn, and patients speak highly of him. He hopes that Mu Yingxiong will help improve local medical technology and scientific research capabilities after returning to the DRC in the future.