Forging Ahead: A Minimally Invasive Surgeon Committed to Life, Health, and the Needs of the People

“Minimally invasive light illuminates the path to life and hope.” Under the mentorship of Professor Zheng Minhua, a pioneer in laparoscopic surgery, Shao Yanfai has contributed to the advancement of precision and intelligent minimally invasive surgery and participated in the development of multiple clinical guidelines and expert consensus documents. He led a university-level science communication project and won second prize in the Shanghai Youth Medical Science Popularization Competition, injecting new momentum into the discipline through media. He has taken on various roles—clinic and surgical assistant, prescription assistant—working tirelessly on the front lines of patient care. He also served as dormitory floor leader during the pandemic, serving more than 400 graduate students, with his story featured inChina Youth Daily.

Deepening Research: A Dream-Chaser at the Frontier of Science and Innovation for National Advancement

With a multidimensional approach to scientific innovation, he has tackled clinical challenges head-on. He was among the first globally to develop a tumor prognosis prediction model and has conducted focused research on peritoneal metastasis in colorectal cancer, exploring its pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies. He was also the first to demonstrate the value of traditional Chinese medicine formulas in treating colorectal cancer, contributing to the internationalization of TCM. As first or co-first author, he has published 14 SCI-indexed papers with a total impact factor exceeding 70, and has received numerous honors including the National Scholarship and the Baogang Excellent Student Scholarship.

Leading Peers: A “Junior Instructor” Dedicated to Moral Education, Mentorship, and Innovation

Passionate about student affairs, he once spoke at the National Day flag-raising ceremony as a student representative, honoring the spirit of Academician Wang Zhenyi. He has held more than 10 positions including part-time graduate counselor and student standing committee representative, earning over 20 accolades such as Outstanding Student Leader and Model Counselor. During his studies, he leveraged his identity advantages to promote moral education—leading Party-building activities, mentoring peers, and encouraging youth Party membership. Through his professional strengths, he served as a core member of a research innovation studio, published four teaching-related papers, and mentored 18 undergraduates on four innovation projects, helping them publish two SCI papers and three Chinese core journal articles.

“Wearing the white coat, bearing the responsibility.” With youthful dedication, he integrates himself into the national medical endeavor, living out his pledge:“To strengthen the nation, I have a part to play.”