Chapter 424 - 423: Recommendation Letter

Chapter 424: Chapter 423: Recommendation Letter

"Feifan, come take a seat!"

Sun Le warmly gestured for Yan Feifan to take the seat beside him. "The others either had something come up last-minute or ran into issues with their patients," he explained. "They’ll probably be a little late."

"Have some tea first."

Yan Feifan thanked him for pouring the tea, then fell silent, fiddling with the ordinary teacup in his hands as if it were a priceless, one-of-a-kind antique.

’Maybe the others are late because Sun Le gave them a later time for the gathering,’ he guessed.

Yan Feifan decided to wait and see.

This fit the impression others had of him: a medical genius who wasn’t skilled at socializing and only knew how to bury himself in his studies and work.

For the next few minutes, Sun Le spoke in an astonished tone, showering Yan Feifan with praise for his recent accomplishments.

Yan Feifan offered only brief responses—a smile, a nod, or a noncommittal "mhm"—looking embarrassed and reluctant to elaborate.

Sun Le’s tone became concerned. "Feifan, between your surgeries, freelance work, research projects, the foundation, and studying under several mentors, your weekly schedule must be packed. It must be exhausting, right?"

Yan Feifan gave a noncommittal reply. "It’s manageable. I’m used to it."

Sun Le chuckled. "Feifan, your standing in our hospital is already comparable to that of a medical expert—you might have even surpassed them."

"Of course, your workload is no less than theirs either."

Sun Le then asked, "Feifan, have you ever considered getting an assistant or two to help with your simpler tasks?"

"You know, all the experts at the hospital have assistants and students. They have at least six or seven, and some have as many as ten or twenty."

Yan Feifan said vaguely, "I can handle my current workload on my own. Besides, I’m just a resident. It wouldn’t be right to be too conspicuous."

Sun Le’s expression turned serious. "That’s definitely an oversight on the hospital’s part, or just them being rigid and bureaucratic. With your achievements, Feifan, you should have been given an exceptional promotion long ago."

"If not Chief Physician, you should at least be an Associate Chief Physician."

Yan Feifan chuckled. "Promotions are a major affair at the hospital. There are so many capable doctors who’ve been stuck at the threshold of Associate Chief Physician or Chief Physician for years."

"If I got an exceptional promotion that easily, it would probably cause a huge outcry."

Sun Le said solemnly, "Society today is becoming more and more of a meritocracy. It’s not about seniority anymore."

"Feifan, your unique and unparalleled skill in puncture injections for shrinking intraspinal tumors and brain tumors alone is enough to eclipse the achievements of many chief physicians."

Yan Feifan replied humbly, "The puncture injection technique is just an assistive procedure. The ultimate success of the surgery still relies on the skill and dedication of the lead surgeon."

Sun Le chuckled. "Feifan, there’s a fine line between being humble and being disingenuous. It wouldn’t be hard to find ten excellent neurosurgeons in the entire country."

"But in the entire world, there’s only one person—you—who can perform that puncture injection procedure at such a high level."

"Otherwise, the famous Dr. Kevin Vega from Johns Hopkins Hospital would never have initiated this collaboration with our hospital."

Yan Feifan gave a faint smile, raised his teacup, and took a light sip.

When Yan Feifan didn’t take the bait, Sun Le had to speak again. "I heard the collaboration also includes an exchange program, sending young doctors to each other’s departments for further training?"

’Here it comes,’ Yan Feifan thought.

He nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, that’s one part of the collaboration. The specific details are still being negotiated, I believe."

"Dr. Qiu knows more about this."

Sun Le said slowly, "I know. Currently, Mr. Qiu and one of the hospital’s directors in charge of outreach are the ones in discussion with them."

After a brief pause, he looked a little sheepish and said, "Feifan, I was hoping to ask you for a favor."

Yan Feifan put on a troubled expression. "Mr. Sun, the selection for the exchange program requires a standardized assessment by the department and the hospital."

Sun Le couldn’t help but smile. "Feifan, you misunderstand. That’s not what I was going to ask."

"Then what is it?" Yan Feifan was genuinely curious now.

Sun Le lowered his voice. "Feifan, it’s like this. I have a younger brother—my biological brother—who’s currently attending university in the United States."

"He really wants to go to medical school."

"His academic performance has always been excellent..."

"But, as you might know, Feifan, recommendation letters are extremely important for universities in the United States, especially for the top medical schools."

"Without a recommendation from a well-regarded professor or alumnus, my brother will only be able to get into a second- or third-tier medical school."

He met Yan Feifan’s gaze and said, "Feifan, I was hoping you could ask Mr. Vega for a recommendation."

"He graduated from Stanford University Medical School, which is where my brother wants to apply, and now he’s a nationally renowned neurosurgeon."

"His letter of recommendation would carry a lot of weight."

That...

In the United States, letters of recommendation were taken very seriously for both university admissions and job applications.

To protect their own reputation and credibility, most people wouldn’t write them lightly.

This was unlike some people back home, who could be casual not only with low-stakes recommendation letters but even with personal guarantees that directly affected their own interests.

This had led to a particular phenomenon.

When students from China applied to universities abroad, their recommendation letters from local professors were now largely ignored.

The universities knew that such letters were far too easy to obtain back home.

Yan Feifan considered this for a moment. "Mr. Sun, you must be aware that people in other countries take recommendations very seriously. You can’t just ask someone for a letter based on a casual connection."

"How about this..."

Seeing Sun Le’s anxious expression, Yan Feifan said slowly, "I can speak with Dr. Kevin and try to arrange an opportunity for your brother to meet him."

"Whether or not he gets a recommendation will depend on your brother’s own merits."

Sun Le’s face filled with gratitude. "Thank you, thank you! Just an opportunity to meet is more than enough."

He picked up the teapot to refill Yan Feifan’s cup and added, tentatively, "As for the exchange program at Johns Hopkins Hospital..."

Sun Le noticed Yan Feifan’s expression darken and quickly changed his tune. "Once the selection process is announced, I’ll apply and compete for a spot, fair and square..."

At nearly seven o’clock, seven more people arrived at the private room.

They were all young doctors from various graduating classes of Binhai University Medical College, all of whom were doing fairly well for themselves at the Affiliated Hospital.

As they ate, the group discussed the celebration for Professor Shi Min’s thirtieth anniversary in teaching and assigned various tasks.

These tasks included contacting notable alumni from different graduating classes, booking a venue, coordinating with the college and the hospital, planning the event, fundraising, and more.

Yan Feifan, on the other hand, received special consideration.

He wasn’t expected to do anything except promise to attend the celebration.

The gathering ended close to nine that evening.

Yan Feifan met up with his sister and Yu Suye in the first-floor lobby, and they returned to Zuimo Court together.

"Feifan, I got a call from Director Wang Chuan."

Yan Ziruo said with a worried look, "He knows about our argument with Dr. Zhou Xian’s student."

"He also said that Dr. Zhou was passed over for the Chief Physician promotion again, so he’s stewing right now."

"If word of this argument gets around the hospital, it’ll probably cause some trouble..."