The information contained in this publication is solely for the purpose of reporting the Faculty’s latest developments. None of such information is intended to be for, nor shall therefore be treated as, dissemination of professional service information of doctors to the public.
by Professor Chak-sing Lau Dean of Medicine 11 July 2026
In recent years, the medicine and health sector has seen a significant surge of opportunities, and our Faculty has responded proactively to capitalise on them. We have embraced new technologies to increase our teaching and research activities, grown our connections with other institutions in the nation and around the world, and deepened our collaborations with local partners to extend the reach of our clinical services. All of this makes it a very exciting time to be associated with HKUMed! While I have the pleasure today of reporting on our latest advances, I would also like to ask you to remember the most important part of our mission – and the theme of my deanship – that is, People First. The idea of People First is easy to grasp. HKUMed’s achievements are first and foremost about the staff and students we recruit, and the support we offer them to constantly improve patient care. But how does that play out in person – in the clinic, the lab and the classroom? Today, alongside my regular reporting, I will relate to you some of the stories that illustrate the impacts of our efforts on individuals and the community – how we open our students’ eyes to the human side of medicine, how we work to translate scientific findings into something that can help people, and how we respond to the needs of the community. State of the Faculty Address 2026 2
Kindness and compassion for others is at the heart of medicine. At HKUMed, it is cultivated, firstly, in our teaching and learning programmes. We continue to refine and reform our programmes, and introduce new ones, to meet the needs of students and society, especially with the growing influence of AI and other technologies, as well as new expectations from our profession and the community. To keep on top of these changes and ensure we do not lose sight of our commitment to People First, I have expanded several portfolios in the Deanery to put a greater focus on student wellness, enrichment, and partnership. I also want to ensure our teaching programmes remain globally excellent, so a new Assistant Dean for Pedagogy and Assessment has been appointed and a team earmarked to oversee the systematic adoption of simulation technologies in all our education programmes. Technology may evolve, but the core of medicine remains human. A longstanding anchor of this effort is our Medical Ethics and Humanities Unit, or MEHU, which has integrated and coordinated ethics and humanities teaching for our undergraduate medical students. Through MEHU, students are encouraged to reflect not only on what can be done medically, but what should be done humanely. One final-year MBBS student recently shared an encounter with an older patient suffering from end-stage liver cancer. Despite her condition, she spoke warmly of her grandchildren, hopes and daily joys, joked with nurses, and even asked after the student’s well-being. The student came away deeply moved by her resilience and positivity. Encounters like this remind us that patients are also our teachers. They teach our students about courage, dignity and hope – lessons that no textbook, and no technology, can fully provide. Alongside this humanistic foundation, the programmes themselves have also increasingly emphasised personal as well as professional development. This is helping us to attract students who are not only academically gifted, but committed in their hearts to medicine and health. For instance, the new Graduate Entry Track of the MBBS – a four-year programme for degree holders that builds on the strong foundation of our Second Chance Scheme – welcomed its inaugural cohort of outstanding students last September. These students opted for medicine after thoughtful consideration. One student, Nathan, is a Cambridge graduate in Natural Sciences, who had an offer to pursue a Master’s degree at Cambridge. He chose HKUMed instead because he had long wanted to do medicine and to return to Hong Kong to serve our population. Nathan’s qualities of persistence and unswerving commitment exemplify the values that we are cultivating here. Cultivating a Human Touch 3 STATE OF THE FACULTY ADDRESS 2026
The Distinguished MedScholar track, or DMS, is also growing in popularity and attracting very high calibre students who have shown that they not only possess great intellect and excellent grades, but a genuine desire to make a difference. On the intellect side, some have been invited to prestigious programmes, such as the International Student Programme in Research Experience in Australia and the Summer Global Health Immersion Programme in the Philippines. On the impact side, DMS students have also put themselves out in the community to inspire positive change. Recently, I was contacted by the Chief Executive and Medical Director of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, who told me that when our DMS students helped out in blood drives, the number of donor registrations and donations increased by 30 per cent. That is a big impact and evidence of the sincerity of our students’ commitment to helping others. The Enrichment Year (EY) is another area where HKUMed students demonstrate both intellectual heft and compassion – this includes our graduating MBBS students here today. Since 2018, EY students have published more than 250 research papers, won nearly 50 prizes, been awarded grants and scholarships, and participated in over 220 conferences. These impressive achievements help to attract new partners to the Faculty for things like intercalated degrees and research attachments. 4
Just as pleasingly, more and more service and humanitarian organisations around the world are welcoming our EY students, such as the Cambodian Children’s Fund, New Sight in Congo, and the Stanford University-ABCs for Global Health Foundation in the Philippines – all recent partners. The most rewarding part is perhaps the feedback we receive from students about how much they have benefited from these experiences. I am sure each of you has your own stories from EY, so let me share a couple of recent examples. Ken, an MBBS student, went to Vanuatu for three months to work at a local clinic and emergency department that had only one X-ray machine and one ultrasound machine and relied on medicines donated from other countries – often already expired. In one heartbreaking case, a little girl with hydrocephalus could not undergo surgery because there was no anaesthetist available. The insights into medical resource inequities were profound. But so were the insights into people. Ken said he came away with great admiration for the community culture of the Vanuatu people, and their self-sufficient, closely-knit way of life. Another example is Josephine, who volunteered with Ukrainian refugees in Poland through the organisation Operation Mobilisation Hong Kong. She worked with children affected by the war, including a child who had, tragically, watched their parents take their own lives. Josephine also organised gatherings for Ukrainian women. Even though they did not share a language, they managed to bond with the help of Google translate. She subsequently joined MV Logos Hope, visiting refugees in five countries. All these experiences have deepened her resolve to give back. She intends to volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) after she becomes a qualified doctor. 5 STATE OF THE FACULTY ADDRESS 2026
These stories are very heartening to me personally. I firmly believe that real-world experiences, like those provided through the EY, are important for students’ personal and professional development. This is true for students of all our programmes, not only MBBS. Nursing, for instance, has a Life Enrichment Learning Course that keeps expanding exchange opportunities, recently adding institutions in Ningxia and Guizhou. The BASc(GHD) places students with organisations such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva, UNICEF in New York City, and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing. Students are also awakened to the human dimensions of medicine through real world exposure in the curriculum. The HKUMed Community Pharmacy, now in its second year, gives Pharmacy students opportunities for handson, face-to-face work. Hong Kong’s first Chinese Medicine Hospital will give our Chinese Medicine students opportunities for local clinical attachments. The School of Biomedical Sciences has strengthened connections with industry partners, such as Merck Pharmaceutical, to enhance education and talent development, while also revamping its curriculum to give students more options for majors. There is one other programme to mention, that will contribute in a different way by helping to bring innovations to patients. The BEng[BME] has been revamped to provide students with clinical, research and industry exposure, and is now housed in the new School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME). The programme has attracted a high number of applicants from students who are keen to help solve real-world healthcare problems. This mindset is reflected in one of our graduands today, who completed both BEng[BME] and MBBS at HKU. He shared that this dual training has taught him to think as both a doctor and an engineer – to understand the technologies behind clinical practice, break down complex problems and work across disciplines. Most importantly, it has strengthened his desire to translate technology into better patient care. That is precisely what we hope to cultivate through SBME: innovation not for its own sake, but in service of people. 6
That covers our specific teaching programmes. I would like to touch on one issue affecting all of them: artificial intelligence. HKUMed has been ahead of the curve adopting AI in teaching and learning and making sure our students can use it safely and effectively. We also want them to be aware of the human consequences of AI and the need to use it ethically and with integrity. These principles are promoted to our members and the public through MEHU, as well as the Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, which we operate jointly with the Faculty of Law. We are committed to advancing these efforts even further in the years ahead. 7 STATE OF THE FACULTY ADDRESS 2026
I am also happy to report that the Faculty, as a whole, has launched a new project that facilitates human contact and care for others among our students and all involved. On 7 April, the World Health Day, HKUMed launched a major community project with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and Care Teams. For one full year, our professors are giving health talks to the public, and our students and professionals are offering free health screenings in all 18 districts of Hong Kong, including for diabetes and stroke, eye health and children’s physical and mental health. This is a way to give back, in person, and help improve the community’s health and well-being. 8
Research with impact Good research can also help others by improving health outcomes. But that requires a bridge between the bench and the bedside. Over the past couple of years, HKUMed has been boosting our ability to translate research results into benefits for patients. This starts, firstly, with the right talent to support that goal. The SBME is one example because it is dedicated to training people who can translate research results. We also have our Technology Transfer Unit, or TTU, which is lighting a fire under staff and students across the Faculty to think more ambitiously about how they can apply their ideas to help patients. Let me give you some examples of TTU’s work. Last autumn, TTU launched a flagship programme, HKUMedXelerate, to identify and support research with translational and commercial potential. Some 64 applications were received from both basic and clinical researchers, and the top five were awarded up to $1.5 million each under the HKUMed Tam Wing Fan Innovation Start-up Grant, to advance their innovations. That grant, by the way, is funded by the generosity of Mrs May Tam. The winning projects showcased our breadth of expertise – such as a NanoPowder nasal spray for pre-hospital ischemic stroke management, a telerehabilitation platform powered by AI, and an AI system for discovering antibody oligonucleotide conjugates (AOC) related to neuromuscular diseases. These projects are the product of years of persistent research and translational work, and they embody our commitment to advancing patient care. Our efforts, however, have not stopped at funding alone. We continue to create opportunities for our innovators to connect with partners beyond Hong Kong. One such example was a four-day industry immersion visit to Jiangsu, where participants engaged with a range of potential partners from across the border. 9 STATE OF THE FACULTY ADDRESS 2026
TTU also runs a Student Ambassador Scheme that trains 30 students per year as advocates for innovation and tech transfer and cultivates their awareness of commercialisation and interdisciplinary thinking in medical research. A Summer Internship Programme is also giving selected undergraduate and postgraduate students industry exposure in Chinese Mainland. Another new avenue for translation is the Centre for Health AI Research and Translation – CHART for short – that does as its title suggests: supports the development and commercialisation of AI- or big data-enabled health innovations, whether they come from researchers, clinicians, teachers or students. It is supported by the generosity of The D. H. Chen Foundation and Mrs Carol Murray. CHART will work closely with the University’s Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science and the School of Computing and Data Science to ensure the integration of AI into what we do, be it in educating our next generation of healthcare workers or improving the health of our patients. 10
Our engagement with the Chinese Mainland also continues to grow. HKUMed was named one of the key host institutions of the CMB Foundation’s Global Health Initiative to welcome top US scholars for up to 12 months. We also have the Medical-Nursing Collaboration with Peking Union Medical College Hospital, which has programmes to strengthen teaching, leadership and interprofessional engagement. HKUMed partners at the global level, too. In March, our Primary Health Care Academy was designated to host a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Health and Nursing Workforce Development in Primary Health Care. This centre will be a platform for capacity building, research and partnership in the Western Pacific Region. Global Partners Collaboration with outside parties is essential to strengthening our ability to make breakthroughs in research and translate that into new innovations. It is also important for talent development. Recently, we established new initiatives with elite institutions such as King’s College London, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, Tsinghua University, the University of Cambridge and the University of Toronto to offer joint PhD and student placement programmes, joint fellowships for junior researchers and principal investigators, and funding for joint symposiums and research projects. We are also working with other strategic partners, including Boston University, Columbia University, Harvard University, Monash University, and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, to develop similar opportunities. 11 STATE OF THE FACULTY ADDRESS 2026
Clinical Collaborators I cannot talk about partnership without mentioning our biggest and most important partner, the Hospital Authority (HA). We work closely together every day in the hospital wards, and this year, our relationship became even closer through new developments within the HA. The Hong Kong East and Hong Kong West clusters have been merged, essentially doubling our clinical facilities for teaching and research. Our flagship teaching hospital, Queen Mary Hospital (QMH), has also restructured its governance along four pillars, one of which is technology, education, research and innovation. HKUMed is a close partner in this pillar. Already, we have established a new Clinical Neuroscience Consortium, where experts from QMH and HKUMed will collaborate on neurological conditions and advance research, innovation and patient outcomes. We are grateful to Mr and Mrs Tim and Jill Gallie for their generous support in making this development possible. We will explore more such chapter-based collaborations in future. Beyond the hospitals, we are bringing our clinical expertise closer to the public through community-based services. Recent and forthcoming initiatives include the HKUMed Orthopaedic Clinic, and plans to further expand the reach of HKU Eye Centre through satellite clinic services. We also now serve the HKU community through the University Health Service @ Sassoon Road, which recently came under our remit and provides an additional option of family medicine and primary care services to the University population. Our Travellers’ Clinic also supports EY students with free consultations, vaccinations and medication advice before they travel abroad, including meningitis B vaccine for students going to the UK if they wish to have this. 12
HKUMed also serves the Hong Kong community by responding to immediate needs. The tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November required a comprehensive emergency response, including from HKUMed which sent resources and medical relief in the immediate aftermath. We now provide longer-term medical, social and mental health support for fire victims through four Family Support Hubs located near transitional housing sites, that are operated in collaboration with the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong and the Heep Hong Society. This work is having profound impacts on the lives of the victims. For instance, one resident who was severely injured had recurring psychological trauma. Our health screening diagnosed her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and arranged for follow-up, and she has now stabilised. Another resident was also diagnosed with PTSD and treated through our psychiatric outreach clinic. There are numerous stories like this. Our students also help with this project, where they witness the human impacts of such tragedies and, most importantly, how we can use our training to help others. HKUMed provides community clinical services in less tragic circumstances, too. Last November, we sent a team to provide emergency medical care during the 15th National Games in Hong Kong. This was a great learning experience for 20 students who observed first-hand how doctors, nurses and paramedics work together to manage on-field emergencies. HKUMed Sports Health members also accompanied the Hong Kong, China team to a Zhanjiang competition and plan to contribute at the Asian Games to be held in Japan later this year. 13 STATE OF THE FACULTY ADDRESS 2026
Supporting Our People The importance of kindness and care also relates to how we treat our staff and students, and the spaces we provide for all members of the Faculty to study and work effectively. Let me first update you on spaces. HKUMed is expanding to accommodate our growing student and staff numbers and activities. Renovation work is nearing completion on floors three to six of the William MW Mong Block that will complete its transformation into a hub for student-centred activities. Work is also well underway at the Pauline Chan building to modernise it into an innovation hub with advanced research facilities. Another project that has just started is the Clinical Training Amenities Centre at the site of the Madam SH Ho Residence. Two upcoming projects will be the renovation of No. 8 Northcote Close, the old Caritas school behind us, which is awaiting final funding approval, and the Patrick Manson Building redevelopment, for which a Technical Feasibility Study has been completed. All of these projects will enhance and upgrade spaces and facilities for students and staff. 14
As for staff development, we continue to recruit globally. In the past few months, my team and I have visited New York City, Boston, Shenzhen, Sydney and Melbourne and we were very warmly received. At the same time, we are working to take care of our existing staff through the People First initiative that supports their personal and professional growth. Over the past year, we organised tenure and promotion workshops and activities such as the 2nd HKUMed Sports and Family Fun Day and New Year Thanksgiving lunch. We also opened the new restaurant 1887 to provide staff, students and alumni with a place to connect and collaborate – with good food! I encourage you to try it. This year we also launched the HKUMed Staff Charter, which outlines our commitment to creating a supportive and growth-oriented work environment that puts mutual care and concern at the heart of our work. Our excellence in teaching, research and clinical care is sustained when we work as a team with care for each other and with integrity. 15 STATE OF THE FACULTY ADDRESS 2026
Reasons to Celebrate The past year has been tumultuous for our city and the world – and not all in bad ways! It has been exciting to be part of the advances in science made possible by big data and other technologies, and the new opportunities opening up for our students and researchers. But our ability to make the most of these opportunities depends on our people power. HKUMed’s core mission is the betterment of humanity and that includes staff and students, as well as patients. Our success in fulfilling that mission can be seen not only in our growth, but also in our enduring legacy. This academic year alone, our Department of Surgery celebrated its 110th anniversary, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology its 100th anniversary, the School of Nursing its 30th anniversary and the School of Biomedical Sciences its 10th anniversary. At the end of this year, HKUMed as a whole will begin celebrating our 140th anniversary. As we look ahead to this important milestone, I am reminded of a saying often attributed to Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine: ‘Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity.’ These words speak deeply to who we are and what we stand for. For nearly 140 years, HKUMed has advanced medicine and health not as ends in themselves, but in service of people – through education, scientific discovery, clinical care and compassion. We will honour our excellence, our resilience and, above all, our commitment to putting People First. On this special occasion, let me extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you. Your achievements now form part of this proud tradition, and I hope these values will stay with you as you move on to the next phase of your professional development. The success of HKUMed has always been built on our people – past, present and future – and that includes each of you. You will be hearing more about the anniversary in the months ahead, and I very much hope you will stay in touch! 16
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