In the intensive care unit (ICU), every second matters. Machines hum non-stop, alarms pierce the silence, and life can change course at the drop of a hat. For Dr. Zhi Deyuan, this is where the fight continues and hope grows.
Ahead of China's Youth Day that falls on May 4 every year, Zhi, currently the director of medical affairs and chief physician of the ICU at Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University, was awarded the 2026 China Youth May Fourth Medal, one of the country's highest youth honors, for his years of dedication and contributions to society.
Zhi Deyuan receives the 2026 China Youth May Fourth Medal in Beijing, China, April 27, 2026. (Photo: Capital Medical University)
Long before he became an ICU doctor, medicine had already shaped his values and life. As a child, he watched his mother, also a medical worker, repeatedly win precious time for his chronically ill grandfather through professional judgement and swift action. He did not understand the science back then, but he understood what it meant for a family to hold on to someone they loved.
That memory stayed with him and further motivated him.
In 2013, Zhi chose intensive care as his career, one of the toughest paths in medicine. Many see only the endless pressure and constant challenges of the field. To him, however, it is the frontline of possibility.
Zhi Deyuan treats a critically ill patient. (Photo: Capital Medical University)
Over the past decade, he has treated more than 5,000 patients who were once on the verge of death. From daily emergency cases to medical support missions during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, he has saved numerous lives and brought hope to their families through his expertise in advanced technologies such as ECMO and other life support systems. He moves comfortably between cutting-edge medicine and deeply human moments: explaining conditions to worried families, listening carefully to their concerns and needs, and turning words into action.
"Saving a patient is not just saving a life," he says. "It's about protecting the hope of an entire family."
That belief also drives his work beyond the bedside. Together with his team, Zhi has developed an AI-powered smart critical care system, turning algorithms into doctors' digital assistants in emergency rescue.
The award ceremony for the 2026 China Youth May Fourth Medal is held in Beijing, China, April 27, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
In many ways, Zhi represents a new generation of Chinese youth: calm under pressure, skilled in technology, yet grounded in compassion. Along with Zhi, 28 other individuals and 30 organizations also received the honor. These Chinese youth may not always make headlines, but quietly and steadily, they are changing lives and shaping the future, one step at a time.