Clinician Profile: ZiLi Wang, Physiotherapist

Zili Wang, Physiotherapist, LIH Olivia’s Place Shanghai

ZiLi is a physiotherapist from Montreal, Canada, who obtained his Masters in Physical Therapy from McGill University. He has previously worked in a sports and orthopedic environment treating both adults and children, and has worked at Olivia’s Place since 2014. He has experience treating a variety of neurological and orthopedic conditions, including developmental delay, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida, and sports injuries. He speaks fluent English, Mandarin, Cantonese and French

How long have you been in China?

I first moved to China in 2013, initially to learn acupuncture and tuina techniques. Since then, I’ve lived in Guangzhou and Beijing, before finally settling in Shanghai.

Why did you choose to work at LIH Olivia’s Place?

I chose Olivia’s Place because it is pioneering pediatric rehabilitation in China, and gives me a chance to be part of a team that will help bring about evidence based, high quality care in China. Olivia’s Place has also given me opportunities to volunteer my time to help children who otherwise cannot afford therapy, including traveling to remote areas in China and working with orphanages.

Why did you choose your field?

I have always felt that pediatrics was one of the most challenging aspect in physical therapy, but at the same time one of the most rewarding. Especially with early intervention, it has the chance to have some of the biggest impact on a child’s life, improving their function, independence, and quality of life.

What are some of the most rewarding experiences you have had in your chose profession?

There are so many! Helping a little girl go from not being able to crawl to running around the room. Helping a child with cerebral palsy transition from using a walker to using crutches. Educating parents and local therapists on different techniques and exercises for children. Every day that I treat a patient or educate a parent feels rewarding to me.

 What’s your favorite thing about living in China & working at LIH Olivia’s Place?

Living in Shanghai, I feel like I get the best of both worlds – I get to connect with my Chinese roots, yet at the same time through the expatriate community feel right at home. Coming from Canada, a country with barely 30 million people, living in Shanghai is definitely a change in pace and scale. Working at LIH Olivia’s Place is also a great joy – when you are surrounded by people who are super passionate about what they do, and who all will give their best for a good cause, it makes you very motivated to come to work every day.

What would you like to be doing in 5 years’ time?

I would like to see more work being done in the realm of sports rehabilitation. While developmental pediatrics is still definitely a priority in China’s pediatric rehab world, sports injury treatment and prevention, especially in young athletes, is uncommon (or restricted to very high level competitive sports). I would like to bring my experience working with sports teams to help foster a healthy new generation of young athletes in China, in addition to my work in developmental pediatrics.