Professor Belkin from the United States, along with his students, gives a thumbs up to Zhoushan Dinghai Guanghua Hospital. [Photo/zhoushan.com]

"I'm feeling much better now. Doctor Zhou Chao is very skilled at what he does," said Professor Belkin from the United States at a hospital in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province.

Professor Belkin came from the University of Rhode Island half a year ago to give lessons at Zhejiang Ocean University. 

He injured his left foot several days ago when climbing a mountain and sought medical attention at the Zhoushan Dinghai Guanghua Hospital on July 8.

After a thorough examination, Surgeon Zhou Chao found a bone spur in his left foot, which, according to Belkin, has troubled him for many years and went undiagnosed in his home country.

Surgeon Zhou Chao checks up on Professor Belkin after surgery at Zhoushan Dinghai Guanghua Hospital. [Photo/zhoushan.com] 

Zhou surgically removed Professor Belkin's bone spur on July 9. 

During his stay in the hospital, Belkin was attentively looked after by nurses and visited by his students, leading Belkin to joke that being in the hospital is like being at home, and he wished he could stay a bit longer. 

Belkin is expected to be discharged in two weeks, said Surgeon Zhou.