Yimin Zhao is a professor of prosthodontics at School of Stomatology, the Air Force Medical University. In 1991, he obtained his Ph.D. degree in stomatology from the Fourth Military Medical University and currently, he is the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, Honorary President of the World Military Dental Society, Honorary President of the International Society for Maxillofacial Rehabilitation, Honorary President of the Chinese Stomatological Association, Editor-in-chief of Chinese Journal of Stomatology, and a member of the State Council of disciplines.

He has long been engaged in research, teaching and clinical work in Stomatology, and his main research focus is Prosthodontics and Maxillofacial Prosthetics. During the past 3 decades, he has established the Subject of Maxillofacial Prosthetics in China and put forward the new concept of ‘digital rehabilitation and functional rehabilitation’ in the repair of Maxillofacial defects. He has created a technology system involving intelligent simulation design, rapid fabrication, and multiple new materials, hence realized simulation repair, smart repair, fast repair, and remote repair of facial defects in clinics; it is a revolutionary invention in maxillofacial prosthetic technique. He has created a magnetic retentive technology for oral and maxillofacial prostheses. In this context, he has pioneered the polar-plate close-field magnetic attachment to bypass the risks of using high magnetic materials in human beings, and he pioneered the implant-magnetic attachment technology to successfully solve the retentive problem of oral and maxillofacial prostheses. In addition, he has created a technology system to achieve the reconstruction of masticatory function in rehabilitation of maxillary and mandibular defects, wherein the biomechanic balance between the occlusal force and the supporting force of the maxillary/mandibular tissues has been resolved. Collectively, his research has made significant contributions to the advance of maxillofacial prosthetic as well as to the increase of life quality of patients, and, significantly increased the international impact of Chinese maxillofacial rehabilitation community. His research has been supported by many important grants, including key project from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Key Cooperative Projects from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, as well as the “10.5, 11.5, and 12.5” Key projects from the PLA. He has published over 270 papers in peer-reviewed journals, including 59 in SCI journals. He is the sole author of Maxillofacial Prosthetics (3 series books ) and editor-in-chief of the national text book ‘Prosthodontics’. Based on his scientific achievements, he has achieved 10 National invention patents and received many awards, including1 First Class State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, 2 Second Class State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, and 2 First Class Scientific and Technological Progress Award from the PLA. In recognition of his excellent work, he was granted Science and Technology Progress Award of Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation, Gold Medal in teaching by the PLA, and Chinese Physician Award. In 2011, he was awarded the honourable title of the 1^st PLA Merit.