In the Radiation Therapy Center at the Sichuan Cancer Hospital (SCH), Lucia Clara Orlandini, a medical physicist from Italy, always greets people with her warm smile, which gives her patients hope.

　　Her journey to China began in 2015 as the academic director of the Technical Engineering Department of SCH. Before coming to China, Orlandini was the director of the Medical Physics Department at the Florence Comprehensive Hospital Cancer Center in Italy. She has accumulated over two decades of clinical and research experience in the field of radiation physics.

　　Focusing on medical exchange

　　In her professional field, Orlandini's meticulous and serious approach to academic, research, and professional tasks has earned her admiration from colleagues. Leading the hospital's radiation physics technical team, she has initiated innovative applications and research, aligning many radiation therapy techniques with international standards.

　　Under her guidance, the hospital adopted the latest absolute dose measurement standards from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), ensuring the accuracy of accelerator operations. This groundbreaking step elevated the hospital's radiation therapy dose calibration to international standards.

　　In addition, Orlandini pioneered the use of patient surface positioning for radiation therapy in China, which improves the effectiveness of cancer treatment.

　　During her tenure in China, Orlandini has not only excelled in her responsibilities as a doctor, but also emerged as a link for medical exchanges between Sichuan province and Italy, as well as Europe. She became the "International Friendship Ambassador" for the SCH, leveraging her academic influence to establish successful collaborations between the hospital and several Italian medical institutions and universities.

　　Since 2017, more than 13 young scholars from SCH have gone to Italy for further studies. Orlandini was concerned about her colleagues adapting to an unfamiliar environment and personally took the initiative to arrange local accommodations for these young doctors. During their study period, Orlandini remained attentive to their academic and daily life, offering all the help she could provide despite her busy schedule.

　　Notably, with her efforts, a famous neurosurgery expert from Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitria, Maggiore della Carità di Novara, volunteered to work full-time at the SCH for 40 days. This expert's valuable insights benefited over 100 patients, simultaneously introducing advanced medical concepts to the hospital's neurosurgery department.

　　Being a part of China

　　In the early months of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged Italy, a medical team from Sichuan province rushed to provide medical support in Italy. Almost at the same time, Orlandini, who was on vacation in Italy, decided to cut short her holiday and return to Chengdu to help where she could.

　　"Having lived in Chengdu for five years, this has become my 'second home.' I'm not a guest in China but a part of it," she said. Orlandini and her family have fallen in love with Chengdu, a city they find hard to leave. In 2020, Orlandini even received unexpected complaints from her son, after he completed high school in Chengdu and returned to Europe for university, saying that he missed his former life in China.

　　In her spare time, Orlandini is interested in exploring Chengdu and its tourist attractions. She said, "Now when my friends come to Chengdu, I can treat them like locals." She likes to take them to Taikoo Li, a fashionable landmark of Chengdu. "It is the perfect blend of tradition and modernity," she said.

　　Orlandini has adapted well to life in Chengdu and enjoys its local cuisine. "Coming to China made me realize it's not what Westerners imagine," she said, adding that economic development is rapid, infrastructure is well-built, and life is convenient and secure. "I am very satisfied with my current work and living conditions in China, and I recommend more Italians to come here for development."

　　Currently, she has submitted a permanent residence application to the immigration authorities in China, expressing her hope to continue working and living in China in the future.

　　Orlandini's story is not just limited to her professional dedication, but is also a way to show her deep connection with China and her belief in China's potential for growth and opportunity.

　　This article was written in cooperation with International Talent Magazine.