Cao Zhongqiang (Mainland China)
Excellence Award
Author Biography:
Cao Zhongqiang is a physician at Huadong Hospital, affiliated with Fudan University, and a member of the Shanghai Writers’ Association. He has written and directed films including Medical Fate, Golden Butterfly Dream, and The Responsibility of a Doctor.
In 2011, his novel Medical Love was serialized in Xinmin Evening News and later published; its adaptation into a TV series was listed as a Shanghai Cultural and Arts Funding Project. In 2013, his novel Sunrise, Moonset, Operating Room was serialized in the same newspaper, also listed as a cultural project, and published by Shanghai Literature & Art Publishing House. The novel was adapted into the film Medical Fate, earning him the Best Director Award at the 2019 San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival. His 2014 novella Golden Butterfly Dream was serialized in Xinmin Evening News and adapted into a film of the same name by Shanghai Film Group. In 2017, his screenplay Yu Zhuowei was selected as a Shanghai Cultural and Arts Funding Project and became the city’s first major film production that year.
Award-Winning Work: Sensitive Zone (100 episodes)
Story Synopsis:
While male obstetricians and gynecologists are often the subject of public discussion, a rare female urologist naturally draws even greater attention.
The story follows Dr. Hai Lan, a surgical medicine PhD who returned from overseas studies. Intelligent and capable, she originally aspired to become a breast surgeon. However, her father, Liu Danqing—a renowned urology expert—has a grand dream: to build a transoceanic Da Vinci remote urological surgery platform, allowing surgeons to perform robot-assisted procedures for overseas patients from hospitals in China, realizing “Belt and Road: Bridging Medicine, Technical Aid Abroad.” He hopes Hai Lan will follow in his footsteps, but her mother strongly opposes it, sparking family conflict.
Seeking support, Hai Lan turns to her medical school classmates Yunxia and Hulan but is mocked. Her lover, Luan Mu, responds ambiguously. Reluctantly, she compromises with her father and becomes a female urologist, encountering a series of absurd and comedic misunderstandings:
The urology chief Sun Guoran, who initially seeks to undermine her, continues to interfere, causing her repeated frustrations.
Her friend Camellia, a talented dancer, gets into conflict when her boyfriend, a flamboyant singer named March Storm, secretly seeks Hai Lan’s medical help for a syphilis infection, straining friendships.
The playboy Qiu Fenghong, infatuated with Hai Lan, frequently seeks her help under pretense of treating sexual dysfunction, leaving her embarrassed.
A hysterical, obsessive male patient makes unreasonable romantic demands during treatment, further complicating her life.
The main storyline revolves around Hai Lan realizing her father’s dream of global Da Vinci remote urological surgery. With guidance from her father and encouragement from anesthesiologist Wen Kaiming, plus support from various hospital departments, she overcomes unexpected obstacles and successfully performs the first transoceanic Da Vinci urological surgery, marking a major milestone.
The emotional arc follows Hai Lan’s evolving relationships. Her initial partner, Luan Mu, a high-achieving, charming professional, grows jealous of her daily interactions with male patients, causing their relationship to falter. Meanwhile, Wen Kaiming, quietly supportive, gradually becomes closer to her through shared challenges in saving critically ill patients. Complications arise as Xue Lili, Wen Kaiming’s ex-girlfriend and Luan Mu’s first love, re-enters their lives, causing confusion and tension. Ultimately, Hai Lan distances herself from Luan Mu, growing closer to Wen Kaiming.
Hai Lan’s perseverance, driven by the ideals of “bridging medicine, technical aid abroad” and the support of her medical team, enables her to maintain composure and navigate challenges, culminating in the successful completion of the transoceanic Da Vinci remote urological surgery.
Professional Commentary:
The series features a novel subject and unique perspective, combining medical education, social realism, and personal drama. Hai Lan’s professional growth and emotional decisions are intertwined, portraying a modern woman’s struggle and persistence between ideals and tradition, career and love. This is a deeply engaging and compelling medical-themed micro-series.
