Military doctor Li Huiling honored for her tropical medicine work

One of the students, Li Zeshi, recalls her lasting influence. "Li taught me not just medical skill, but how to warm one heart with another," he said.

That philosophy was evident with a 65-year-old patient surnamed Wang, who was diagnosed with extreme-stage COPD and a lung abscess. After multiple hospitals deemed his case nearly hopeless, Li discovered the source: an infection spreading from a dental abscess. She devised a bold plan and, when the frustrated man complained, she knelt by his bedside daily, helping him wash and eat. After two months, he made a full recovery and now tells everyone, "Li is a true military doctor".

Li is both a healer and a soldier. Over more than a decade of service, she has fought to save more than a thousand critically ill patients, forging a resilient health shield for the troops and civilians of Hainan.