Zhiqun Zhou OMD

My beloved wife, Zhiqun Zhou, passed away at 2:57 a.m. on December 21, 2024, at Corewell Health Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after nearly four years of battling non-small cell lung cancer. She was 72 years old.

Zhiqun was born in February 1952. At the age of 16, she began her training at Shanghai Hongkou Central Hospital. In 1968, like many educated youth of her generation, she was sent to the remote town of Guchengdao in Heilongjiang Province as part of the "sent-down youth" movement. There, she not only taught primary school children but also served as a "barefoot doctor," providing medical care to farmers and fellow youth, marking the beginning of her practice in acupuncture.

In 1972, Zhiqun was selected to study Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Shanghai Second Medical University. After graduating in 1975, she worked in scientific research at the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control for many years. In 1992, due to her groundbreaking research on stomach cancer, she was awarded the prestigious "Marie Curie Fellowship" by the European Union and pursued postdoctoral research at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in England for two years. In 1994, she joined Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, to work on lung cancer research. After earning her national acupuncture certification, Zhiqun began practicing acupuncture and prescribing Chinese medicine professionally in 1998.

From late 1999 until her retirement in the fall of 2017, Zhiqun worked at the Wege Institute for Mind, Body & Spirit at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During her 18 years there, she treated over 15,000 patients for a wide range of conditions. One of her greatest sources of pride and joy was helping countless couples overcome infertility through acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Many patients sent her heartfelt thank-you cards and baby photos to express their deep gratitude and respect.

In addition to her professional practice, Zhiqun dedicated many years to volunteer work in the Chinese community, promoting traditional Chinese medicine and delivering lectures at universities in Grand Rapids. On one memorable occasion during a flight from Grand Rapids to Shanghai, she successfully treated a passenger suffering from a severe asthma attack, preventing an emergency landing. For this, she received a letter of appreciation from the pilot.

Zhiqun’s 19 years of medical practice in the U.S. served as a solid and enduring bridge, connecting countless American patients with the profound wisdom of Chinese medicine, contributing to the noble cause of benefiting humanity.

We were married for 42 years. During the nearly four years since her cancer diagnosis, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to caring for her, walking alongside her every step of the way until her journey came to an end. This was not only my duty as her husband but also a testament to my deep love and respect for her.

“If life is filled only with unbearable suffering from illness, could death not be considered a form of relief and happiness?”

Rest in peace, Zhiqun. You will forever live in the hearts of your patients and all who love you.

Xixiang He

December 22, 2024

In accordance with Zhiqun Zhou's wishes, no formal memorial service will be held. Instead, a simple and solemn farewell ceremony will take place.

Date:Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Location: Reyers North Valley Chapel

2815 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505

Phone#: 616-363-7755

You are welcome to express your fond memories and thoughts of Zhiqun Zhou by lighting a candle or sharing photos and words on this website.

沉痛讣告

我的爱妻周志群在被非小细胞型肺癌折磨并与之抗争近4年后，不幸在2024年12月21日凌晨2点57分，溘然长逝于密西根州大急流城Corewell Health医院. 享年72岁.

志群生于1952年2月；16岁时就在上海市虹口区中心医院接受培训；1968年即与许多知识青年一起远赴黑龙江省边疆古城岛插队落户.在那里，她除了教农村孩子小学课程，还成为当地服务农民和知青的“赤脚医生“，并开始针灸实践.

1972年志群被选送上海市第二医学院学习西医及传统中医；1975年毕业后被分配在上海市卫生防疫总站做科研工作多年；1992年，志群因胃癌研究成果而破格获得欧共体颁发的“居里夫人奖学金”，远赴英国利物浦大学皇家医学院，完成两年之久的博士后研究；1994年转赴美国底特律市亨利福特医院研究肺癌项目；在获得全美针刺师合格证后，志群于1998年至1999年开始正式针刺医疗并开中医药方.

从1999年末到2017年秋退休，志群一直在密西根大急流城圣玛丽医院伟格中心（mercy health wege institute

for mind, body & sprint)从事针刺及开设中医处方；在长达18年于同一医院的医疗实践中，志群治疗了约1万5千多个病人的无数病种；尤其值得她兴奋和自豪的是，她用针刺及中医处方帮助不计其数的美国不孕夫妇怀上孩子.许许多多病人把孩子出生后的照片及谢卡寄给她，深切表达她（他）们对志群的感谢及敬意！

志群不仅在美国医院长期从医，而且在华人社区多年从事志愿中医服务，中医知识普及工作等，还在大急流城的多所美国大学开设中医讲座等；她甚至在从大急流城飞往上海的一次航班飞机上，及时有效地治愈一个哮喘病人，从而避免了飞机的紧急降落. 为此，她得到机长签发的感谢证书.

志群长达19年的美国医疗实践，象一座坚实辽长的桥梁，连接着无数美国病人和博大精深的中国医学，从而完成为人类造福的伟大事业！

我和志群结婚42年. 在她不幸罹患肺癌以来的近4年里，我一直尽心尽力.无怨无悔地照顾她，爱护她，陪伴她走完人生的最后一程. 这不仅是我的为夫之责，也寄托着我对她的挚爱与敬重……

“如果生活只剩下恶病痛苦，

死亡何尝不是一种幸福？”

安息吧，志群，你将永远活在你的病人和无数爱你的人心间.

贺锡翔

2024年12月22日

遵志群遗愿，不搞正式追悼会，只举行简单而庄重的告别仪式.

時間：2024年12月31日（星期二）下午2点到4点

地址：Reyers North Valley Chapel， 2815 Fuller Ave NE ，Grand Rapids, MI 49505.

电话：616-363-7755.

您可以在本网站透过点燃蜡烛或分享照片和文字的形式表达您对周志群的美好回忆和思念。