Doctor: I Can Synthesize Infinite Entries

Chapter 111: Chapter 110: Wu Ting, Professor Ma Wants to See You

As Wu Ting and Jiang Ming sighed and watched the crowd, Huo Yun and Cai Qi finally made their way to the front to meet Professor Ma.

Professor Ma was based in Qinghe City, after all. Even when he came for academic exchanges, his first choices were always Xiao City, Jinggang University Affiliated First Hospital, or other top hospitals in Xiao City.

He had no interest or time to visit a third or fourth-tier city like Fan City for exchanges or inspections. Huo Yun had only seen Professor Ma from a distance at a few previous academic conferences and had never formally spoken with him. Therefore, Professor Ma had no impression of Huo Yun whatsoever; he was a total nobody.

The experts and directors in front of Professor Ma passed by like they were on an assembly line. He simply maintained a professional smile, shook their hands, and exchanged a few pleasantries.

In the brief span of ten-odd seconds, most experts and directors couldn’t properly present their research projects. It was nearly impossible to leave an impression on Professor Ma. The meeting was destined to be a formulaic meet-and-greet, after which their meticulously prepared proposals would be collected by the professor’s assistant, Dr. Ling Ling.

It was Huo Yun’s turn. He took a deep breath and put on the same heartfelt smile he had used for his wedding photos. To save time, he skipped the self-introduction and went straight to presenting the key points of his project.

"Professor Ma, hello. I have a project on laparoscopic cholecystectomy that can perfectly resolve related complications and shorten hospital discharge times..."

Huo Yun did his best to introduce the results of the surgical technique. However, during the routine handshake, Professor Ma wasn’t really listening. A laparoscopic surgery sounded rather unremarkable, and he wasn’t particularly interested.

Just as Director Huo was about to add more, a relatively well-known professor from Xianglin City saw an opening and cut in.

He was the director of hepatobiliary surgery at Xianglin City Xuanshang University Affiliated Hospital. His reputation in the industry was, of course, far beyond anything Huo Yun could compare to.

"Professor Ma, my team recently has a project exploring evidence-based medical treatment models and apoptosis-controlled targets for three types of malignant thoracic tumors..."

Compared to Director Huo’s project, the one from Saint An Hospital sounded far more impressive.

Professor Ma shook Director Huo’s hand, looking a little apologetic. "A pleasure to meet you. Please give your project proposal to my assistant for now. I’ll be sure to read it carefully after the conference."

After offering this polite remark, Professor Ma prepared to chat with the professor from Saint An Hospital.

Huo Yun felt helpless. ’The academic world is just like that—a rigid hierarchy. If you have no background and no reputation, all you can do is stand on the sidelines.’

The fact that Professor Ma had even offered a polite dismissal was already quite gracious of him.

Huo Yun sighed. ’My only hope now is that Professor Ma will actually see my paper.’

Dr. Ling Ling also came over with a smile on her face.

"Director, you can just give the project materials to me. After the conference ends, I’ll read them first to provide a brief evaluation and summary, which I’ll then submit to Professor Ma for him to screen and review. After all, Professor Ma’s time and energy are limited, so please understand."

Ling Ling was politely managing Huo Yun’s expectations. With so many experts and directors submitting so many proposals today, it was impossible for Professor Ma to read them all. He would naturally have his students screen them first.

By saying this, Ling Ling was also deliberately tempering their hopes, telling them not to get their expectations up or dwell on it too much.

After all, Professor Ma had already been in contact with most of the truly capable teams and would pay special attention to them.

"Director, please leave your institution’s name and contact information. I’ll note it on the cover."

Ling Ling asked for the details.

Huo Yun’s heart sank after hearing Ling Ling’s words. ’It looks like the shortcut through Professor Ma isn’t going to work.’

’The only other way is to have Wu Ting submit the paper later. Once the paper is published, we can use that to drive the project application. It’s just a more roundabout way of doing things.’

After all, getting a personal recommendation from Professor Ma would make a world of difference in terms of significance and outcome.

"Fan City First Hospital, Emergency Department, Huo Yun and Wu Ting’s team. The contact information is..."

Huo Yun intentionally included Wu Ting’s name, as Wu Ting was the actual person in charge of this project.

Ling Ling started to write, but when she heard "Wu Ting" and "Fan City First Hospital," she abruptly looked up.

"You said you’re from the Emergency Department of Fan City First Hospital? Dr. Wu Ting’s team?"

Ling Ling remembered that name vividly. Before they came, her mentor had mentioned him a few times.

Huo Yun was surprised that Professor Ma’s doctoral student knew Wu Ting.

"Dr. Ling, you know Wu Ting? Although I’m nominally the director of the Emergency Department at Fan City First Hospital, Dr. Wu is the real head of this project and the creator of the new Surgical Technique."

Dr. Ling Ling nodded.

"Director Huo, I graduated from Fan City First High School. I’m a Fan City local, through and through. A while back, my classmate’s older sister had the Wu’s Umbilical Hole Laparoscopic Appendectomy done at your City First Hospital’s Emergency Department. I was stunned when I saw the results."

"Later, I sent her post-operative photos to Professor Ma, and he was extremely interested in Dr. Wu’s surgical technique."

"Just yesterday, on the way to Xiao City, Professor Ma mentioned this Dr. Wu."

Ling Ling thought for a moment and decided to help Director Huo.

"Director Huo, wait a moment. I’ll go speak with my professor."

Ling Ling walked directly to Professor Ma’s side and whispered a reminder in his ear.

"Professor Ma, I just received a project proposal from the Emergency Department of Fan City First Hospital. The person in charge of this project is Dr. Wu Ting. That’s the one who developed the Wu’s Umbilical Hole Laparoscopic Appendectomy, and this is their newest project: Qi Mechanism Regulation Combined with Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy."

When he heard it was Fan City First Hospital and this Dr. Wu Ting, Professor Ma’s interest was piqued.

"Professor Jin, I’ll take a good look at your project when I get back. I have your contact information, so I’ll give you a reply then. Right now, I’m going to meet a very interesting doctor."

Professor Ma cut short his conversation with Professor Jin from Xuanshang University Affiliated Hospital and turned to walk toward Huo Yun.

"You’re Dr. Wu Ting?"

Professor Ma looked at Huo Yun with some curiosity. ’The director has the air of a senior professional, but he’s a bit old, which might limit his potential for development. Still, it matches my assumptions about Wu Ting’s professional competence.’

"No, no, Professor Ma, you’ve misunderstood. I’m Huo Yun. Wu Ting is a doctor in my department. He’s also here at the conference today."

Huo Yun hadn’t expected that Wu Ting had already caught Professor Ma’s eye without making a sound. And now, because of Wu Ting, he himself was receiving special attention from the professor.

"Director Huo, a pleasure. How about this: call Director Wu over, and we can all have a chat. I’m very interested in your projects."

"In fact, after this annual conference, I was already intending to visit your Emergency Department at Fan City First Hospital for an inspection. I wonder if you would welcome me, Director Huo?"

Professor Ma got straight to the point, directly stating his intention to visit Fan City First Hospital after the conference.

After hearing this, Huo Yun felt so overjoyed he could barely stand steady. This was Professor Ma Mengchao, a man on the cusp of becoming an academician, and also a member and the deputy director of the *Nature* and Science Foundation Committee!

"It would be our greatest honor."

Huo Yun was ecstatic. He immediately turned, scanned the crowd, and waved at Wu Ting and Jiang Ming.

"Wu Ting, get over here! Professor Ma wants to see you!"