Yuan Jiatian had no idea of his impact on thousands of people. The 52-year-old doctor, who works in the Affiliated Hospital & Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University in Sichuan Province, is now known nationwide as a picture of him was released online where he was conducting a surgery with a urine bag hanging from his waist.

Last Friday, Yuan was barely able to stand up for a surgery after suddenly falling victim to acute ureteral calculus. It wasn't until Tuesday that he agreed to receive his own surgery, yet he was concerned about the operation schedule. “I am more familiar with the patients than anyone and I agreed to do one for the patients myself,” the doctor said, when his coworkers tried to calm him down.

Less than 24 hours after his own surgery, Yuan evaluated himself capable of operating on another patient. So he removed his PCA ache pump to finish a four-hour surgery, as he promised. That was when his coworker took a photo of him sitting next to the surgical bed with his urine bag hanging out of his surgical gown.

Yuan had no idea that he is admired by countless strangers. When the local newspaper reached out to him, he was quite surprised. “It was no big deal, how did it spread to everyone?” In response to reporters’ concern, he unveiled that he quit the role of chief physician last year, due to health issues. However, entrusted by his patients, Yuan never got spared from his duty. “I mean what I said,” says the responsible doctor.

Physicians suffer many kinds of chronic diseases, and also run a high risk of developing acute diseases, as well as a certain level of dysphoria due to the nature of their work, which constantly involves hours of standing still with great focus. According to a survey covering 5,027 Chinese medical staff members nationwide, 63.6% doctors see their health being compromised, and 78.2% doctors suffer an irregular diet.