Dr Chen Haiyan combines her medical expertise with her artistic talent when she draws weekly comic strips and posts them on a nonprofit public account she has opened on the social networking app WeChat.

The cardiac ultrasonography doctor at the Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital already has more than 2,000 followers on her “EbiEhua” account, which began on August 4 and has so far published nine pieces. “I have always had a thing for drawing since I was a little girl, and I’m so happy that my work and my hobby can dovetail in such a productive way,” said the 32-year-old Chen.

She has never had any professional training in drawing. Between the rigors of medical school and then the long hours at the hospital, Chen didn’t have the time to develop her artistic bent. In fact, it lay dormant for years until her son Dongdong began learning to draw in kindergarten.