Photo shows Ye Ruling participating in the activities of Red Cross. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

As a 74-year-old medical expert who enjoys the special allowance of the State Department, Ye Ruling had been working in Tibet for 31 years since 1969. After he returned to Beijing in 2000, he has been providing free health and medical service for the community residents until now. He has successively went to the government offices, schools, enterprises, construction sites and etc. as a volunteer to offer training courses of health rescues and knowledge.

Ye Ruling, born in Jiangsu Province of east China, is an outstanding member of Chinese Communist Party. He was once the vice-president, chief physician and professor of the First People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region, which was established by him and his colleagues in Lhasa, and is still the only AAA class hospital on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by far. As a volunteer, he has achieved the honor of "advanced individual of Beijing Olympic Games and Beijing Paralympic Games" and "Top Ten volunteers in Beijing of 2008".

Photo shows Ye Ruling (2nd right) talking with the community residents, popularizing medical knowledge. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Aiding Tibet for 30 years and creating the department of cerebral surgery in Tibet

In January of 1969, Ye Ruling responded to the call of Premier Zhou, and joined the central government's medical team to aid Tibet. He was 29-year-old that year and was the first time in Tibet. Working in a coal mine with an altitude of 5,200 meters, he was severely shocked by hypoxia and intense radiation. The tough natural conditions made his hemoglobin as high as 23.9 grams, almost twice than the normal people. For a long time, he had blood shot eyes, blue lips, enlarged heart, breathing difficulties and could not lie down at night.

He was supposed to be in Tibet for three years according to the policies in 1970s, however, Tibet in that time was too lack of college graduates like him, and Tibetan workers in the coal mine hoped him to stay in Tibet for a longer time. Finally, he chose to stay in Tibet voluntarily instead of returning to Beijing and continued to support the borderland construction.

"During those years, there were few doctors in Tibet," said Ye Ruling. He learned Tibetan language and investigated high altitude medical science. "The diseases on the plateau and inland are quite different. Doctors like me were abundant in Beijing but fewer in Tibet. Tibet needs me."

Traffic with the outside world of Tibet in 1970s mainly depended on highway, but the traffic accidents occurred frequently, therefore, many drivers died of injuries. "Tibet had hardly any cerebral surgeon", recalled Ye Ruling, thus he changed his research direction to brain surgery.

At the beginning, it was completely self-learning, and then he was sent to the Shanghai Rujin Hospital to study for one year. When he returned to Tibet, Ye Ruling established the brain surgery group, initiating Tibet's brain surgery science.

The government of Tibet Autonomous Region awarded Ye Ruling the Certificate of Honor to commend his long-term dedication of aiding Tibet and great contribution to the construction of Tibet.

When he left Tibet, he was already 60 years old. Ye Ruling said: "It’s my decision to support Tibet, and Tibet is my second hometown."

Photo shows Ye Ruling (1st left) explaining illness for his patients. [Photo/news.eastday.com]

After returning to Beijing, he chose to be a community volunteer

Ye Ruling continued to be a volunteer doctor in Beijing even though he had been retired. He published his telephone number, providing free medical services for the local people and even people in other provinces.

In 2007, Ye Ruling set up his own teamroom in the Xiba River Xili Community of Xiangheyuan Street of Chaoyang District with the help of Red Cross in Chaoyang District of Beijing. Every week he will take blood pressure, check blood sugar and explain the hospital diagnosis for the community residents at the fixed time, regardless of the weather. His workplace is affectionately called "love shack" by the community residents.

On the wall of his study room, there hanging various colorful volunteer identity cards, including Beijing Olympic Games, Paralmpic Games, National Day, and the latest is Shanghai World Expo.

In 2010, Ye Ruling was selected as one of the first batch of volunteers to provide service for the Beijing Pavilion of Shanghai World Expo. He is the oldest member in the voluntary team.

Why Ye Ruling could sustain enthusiasm to serve for people? Ye said; "I think everybody should have his own core value, and mine are caring, knowledgeable, dedicated, and persistent. I named my study room the 'room of give and get'. One have to give to get, only dedication achieves harvest. As a man of more than 70 years old, I am still needed by others, what's that feeling? It's a feeling of happiness."

Speaking of the future, Ye Ruling said frankly: "Now I could go out to give lessons for people. When I'm getting older, I'll try my best to do things as much as possible."