Dr. Li Wenliang

• Specialized in diagnosis and treatment of eye disease and emergencies

• Prior appointment at Xiamen Eye Center, Xiamen University (2011–2014)

• Ophthalmologist, Wuhan Central Hospital (2014–2020)

• Noted for clinical vigilance rather than formal research publications; his early warning of COVID-19 was based on careful diagnosis and clinical communication

• Posthumously honored by the Chinese government as a “martyr” and with the May Fourth Medal

• Internationally recognized for courage, truth-telling, and contribution to public health

Dr. Li Wenliang, remembered as the “whistleblower doctor,” was a dedicated ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital and a graduate of Wuhan University School of Medicine. In December 2019, he became one of the first doctors to recognize and warn colleagues about a then-unknown SARS-like coronavirus, which would develop into the global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being reprimanded by local authorities, Dr. Li continued his clinical duties, contracted the virus while treating patients, and died at age 34. His final message, “A healthy society shouldn’t have only one voice,” stands as a testament to ethical medical practice and the crucial role of transparency and vigilance in protecting public health.