China has lost a large number of elite professors in recent years, according to official obituaries posted online. In the second week of 2024 alone, top Chinese universities reported the loss of at least ten professors, three under 60 years of age.
An anesthesiologist who was also an active Internet celebrity died at 46, and his friend revealed on social media that the cause of his death was COVID-19 infection.
On Jan. 12, Zhu Xiang, deputy director of the Anesthesia and Surgery Department at Nantong University Hospital, died at the age of 46 after a sudden illness. Mr. Zhu was still active on social media on the afternoon of Jan. 10, sharing a video of a patient after surgery to share medical knowledge with the public. In the video, he looked quite normal.
People with inside information revealed on Chinese social media that Mr. Zhu had recently contracted COVID-19 and continued to work despite the viral infection, which led to acute myocarditis. He died of sudden cardiac arrest after failed attempts at resuscitation.
His condition progressed so rapidly that by the time he was admitted to the ICU, it was too late for rescue efforts.
Mr. Zhu has led six provincial and municipal level research projects, published over 20 papers, applied for two patents, and won four provincial and municipal level heavyweight awards. He was also honored by the hospital for his self-media operation.
Zhao Jiafei, a professor and doctoral supervisor at Dalian University of Technology (DUT), died on Jan. 14, 2024, in Dalian at the age of 43 after an unsuccessful medical treatment.
As a top talent, Mr. Zhao served as a member of the Multiphase Flow Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation and the director of the Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates.
He won numerous national and provincial-level rewards. For instance, he was selected as a member of the National Natural Science Foundation’s Outstanding Youth programs and recognized as a part of the Ministry of Education’s Excellent Talents program, among others.
Wang Xue, director and professor of the Department of Critical Care Medicine at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, passed away on Jan. 10, 2024, due to illness. She just turned 59 in December.
Other University Professors
In addition, seven professors passed away in the week of Jan. 8-14.Sun Yushi, a literary historian and professor of Chinese language at Peking University, died on Jan. 13 in Beijing after a long illness. Mr. Sun was mainly engaged in the history of modern Chinese literature, the study of Lu Xun, and the study of modern Chinese poetry.
Tian Gengshan, a professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the No. 1 Hospital affiliated with Peking University, died on Jan. 10.
Deng Jun, former dean of the Russian Language Institute of Heilongjiang University, passed away in Beijing on Jan. 14, 2024, due to illness. He was awarded the Pushkin Prize and the Putin Prize by the Russian government.
Yinguang Xu, a professor at the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, passed away on Jan. 12 in Beijing. He was the deputy director of the Institute of Architecture and Urbanism at Tsinghua University and was responsible for key urban projects such as the Sanya City Center Urban Planning and the Zhuhai New District Planning.
Ma Xingxiao, a laser chemist and a professor at the Chinese University of Science and Technology, died on Jan. 9 in Hefei, Anhui Province. He led several major research projects funded by national grants and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Fang Liufang, professor at China University of Political Science and Law and former dean of the university’s China-Europe Law School, died on Jan. 9 in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province.
Wang Zengwei, the first head of the Department of Industrial design at Tongji University, died on Jan. 8 in Shanghai.
Mr. Wang was one of the founders of the first generation of industrial design after the founding of communist China and also the founder of the industrial design program at Tongji University. He was in charge of the design of the sign display system for the Shanghai No. 1 subway line.
