Dr Shan Shan Jing’s Story
“Healing is not returning to who we were. It’s discovering who we are becoming.” — Brianna Wiest
As a British plastic surgeon practising in New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic, I expected my greatest challenges to come inside the operating theatre. Instead, they arrived on an ordinary drive home. A high-speed collision claimed the life of my partner and forced me to confront the fragility of life in the most personal way.
In the months that followed, I became not just a surgeon, but a patient. The kindness, skill, and resilience of the medical teams who cared for me shaped my recovery and deepened my belief in truly compassionate, patient-centred healthcare. I also saw the strain within the system—its fragmentation, its pressures, and the emotional isolation patients can feel when navigating complex care.
This was not my first experience with trauma; years earlier, I survived another serious accident caused by a negligent driver. These moments, separated in time but joined by their impact, transformed my outlook on medicine, humanity, and purpose. I am grateful to be able to return to surgery, not only to rebuild bodies, but to help patients reclaim identity, dignity, and hope.
Today, my commitment extends beyond reconstruction. It is about renewal—supporting individuals through their most vulnerable moments and advocating for equitable, empathetic care for all. Medicine is not only a science; it is a deeply human responsibility.
