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Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Coordinates: 22°16′03″N 114°07′42″E / 22.26748°N 114.12834°E / 22.26748; 114.12834
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The University of Hong Kong
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
香港大學李嘉誠醫學院
MottoStrength From Diversity
TypePublic
Established1 October 1887; 137 years ago (1887-10-01)
PresidentXiang Zhang
DeanLau Chak-sing
Undergraduates2,900 (2021)[1]
Postgraduates1,700 (2021)[1]
Address
21 Sassoon Road, Pok Fu Lam
,
Hong Kong
AffiliationsQueen Mary Hospital
Ruttonjee Hospital
Kowloon Hospital
Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital
Websitemed.hku.hk
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Traditional Chinese香港大學李嘉誠醫學院
Simplified Chinese香港大学李嘉诚医学院
Literal meaningUniversity of Hong Kong Li Ka-shing Medical School
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXiānggǎng Dàxué Lǐ Jiāchéng Yīxuéyuàn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinghoeng1 gong2 daai6 hok6 lei5 gaa1 sing4 ji1 hok6 jyun6*2
HKUMed
Traditional Chinese港大醫學院
Simplified Chinese港大医学院
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGǎng Dà Yīxuéyuàn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinggong2 daai6 ji1 hok6 jyun6*2

The HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, branded as HKUMed and formerly named as the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, is the medical school of the University of Hong Kong, a public research university.

The school consists of several schools and departments that provide tertiary programmes in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and Chinese medicine. English is the medium of instruction for all classes, while Chinese is retained for the teaching of Chinese medicine. It is located several kilometres away from the university's main campus and is near the Queen Mary Hospital, which is its main teaching facility and research base. Founded in 1887, it is also one of the oldest western medical schools in the Far East.

HKUMed is the older of the two medical faculties in Hong Kong, the other one being the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Together, they are the sole two tertiary institutions offering medical and pharmacy education and research in the city.

History

[edit]

The London Missionary Society founded the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese in 1887.[2] Kai Ho, James Cantlie, Patrick Manson and G. P. Jordan were the founding professionals.[3] Important initiatives[clarification needed] were led by notable members such as Patrick Manson, an experienced medical practitioner who made his name in the field of tropical medicine. Having served in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs as a medical officer for 18 years, he took up private practice in Hong Kong from 1883 to 1889. Sir Kai Ho Kai was also a member of the Chinese elite in colonial Hong Kong.[4] He played a major role in convincing the Chinese population that western medicine was acceptable in a culture that had been largely dominated by traditional Chinese medicine.

In 1907, the school was renamed the Hong Kong College of Medicine.[5] In 1908, it was authorised to sign death certificates.[6] The nucleus of the school would later create the foundation for the new University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 1910. Chinese society at the time was not quite ready for western medicine; as a result, many of the college's medical graduates had difficulty finding employment.[5]

The college was merged to become the medical school of HKU in 1911,[citation needed] one of the university's first faculties.[citation needed] The establishment of the Queen Mary Hospital in 1937 brought the faculty a major clinical teaching and research base.[citation needed] However, the Japanese occupation of the city during the Second World War disrupted teaching, and many staff and students were imprisoned.[citation needed] Following the end of the war, it reopened and soon became an important training centre of clinicians in the city, with many departments and schools in healthcare and medical sciences opened.

Important milestones of the medical school include being the world's first team to successfully identify the SARS coronavirus, the causative agent of the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak, on 21 March 2003.[7] This was followed by the visit of Wen Jiabao to the faculty acknowledging the institute's contribution, the first time a premier of China had visited a university in Hong Kong.[8] Moreover, a State Key laboratory for emerging infectious diseases was established,[when?] the first of its kind located outside mainland China.[8] The faculty launched a Bachelor of Pharmacy programme in 2008, being the second and of two institutions in the city offering pharmacy education.[8]

Programmes offered

[edit]

As of 2024, HKUMed offers seven undergraduate degree programmes:[9]

  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
  • Bachelor of Nursing
  • Bachelor of Chinese Medicine
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy
  • Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Global Health Development
  • Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences
  • Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics

Medical graduates are awarded the M.B., B.S.; the equivalent degree offered by the faculty of medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is the M.B., Ch.B. Both degrees are based on the UK model for medical degrees. HKUMed also provides various postgraduate programmes, including postgraduate diplomas, master's and doctoral degrees.

In July 2024, HKUMed revealed plans to establish a graduate medical programme, which would cover the content of the normal six-year undergraduate curriculum within a study period of four years. The first cohort could be admitted as early as 2025, dependent on approval by local health authorities. The faculty also expressed confidence that it could increase its annual intake of medical students from 295 to 400 students, amid Hong Kong's long-standing shortage of doctors.[10] The announcement is seen as efforts to compete for talent,[10][11] and had followed news a few days earlier that the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was in talks with Imperial College London about establishing and jointly operating the city's third medical school, which would also admit students with an undergraduate degree.[10][12] Two days after HKUMed's announcement, CUHK's medical school similarly announced plans to introduce a graduate medical programme.[11]

Schools and departments

[edit]

HKUMed is mainly organised into five schools and one department, as of August 2024:[13]

  • School of Biomedical Sciences
  • School of Chinese Medicine
  • School of Clinical Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • School of Public Health
  • Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy

The School of Clinical Medicine further consists of 14 departments, as of August 2024:[14]

  • Anaesthesiology
  • Clinical Oncology
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Family Medicine and Primary Care
  • Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopaedics and Traumatology
  • Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
  • Pathology
  • Psychiatry
  • Surgery

Controversies

[edit]

Criticism of Prince of Wales hospital by dean during SARS epidemic

[edit]

During the 2003 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, the faculty's dean, Lam Shiu-kum, publicly criticised the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) and its associated medical school of The Chinese University of Hong Kong for their alleged poor handling of the outbreak. As PWH was at the centre of the outbreak, Lam wrote in a letter to the South China Morning Post (SCMP):[15][16]

"Why was the index of suspicion so low in Hong Kong, the acuity of judgment so raw, the sense of infection control so weak and the mechanism for instituting isolation so rusty? It took the Prince of Wales two weeks to decide to ban visitors to its wards."[16]

In response via a letter to the SCMP, more than one hundred doctors from the PWH refuted his claims and called for unity. They wrote that they found it "objectionable and distressing to be subjected to such accusations" and that such criticisms had been "very damaging to the morale of the frontline staff" at the hospital, adding that they had been under extreme stress for more than four weeks.[15][16]

Lo Wing-lok, president of The Hong Kong Medical Association, said that "this type of mud-slinging was unhelpful" and that "we did not have the benefit of hindsight when we were facing this catastrophe".[16] Similarly, Ho Shiu-wei, Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, said that Lam's accusations were easy in hindsight.[17] Both attributed the criticisms to the long-standing rivalry between the two medical schools and their teaching hospitals, and called for solidarity and collaboration.[16][17]

Renaming of the faculty

[edit]

As one of the founding faculties of the University of Hong Kong, the Faculty of Medicine changed to its present name after securing a pledge of a HK$1 billion donation from businessman and philanthropist Li Ka-shing under the funding of Li Ka Shing Foundation. The renaming was objected to by many students and prominent alumni of the faculty.[18][19] Despite this, the university officially renamed the faculty on 1 January 2006.

Patient billing controversy and jailing of former dean

[edit]

In January 2007, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) set up an inquiry committee after receiving complaints "relating to certain billing arrangements in respect of private patients of a clinical department of the university".[20] In March amid the investigation, the faculty's dean, Lam Shiu-kum, abruptly resigned, citing "personal reasons".[20][21] HKU acknowledged that Lam's resignation was a "highly unusual" event.[citation needed]

HKU was questioned by legislator Kwok Ka-ki on why it had earned only slightly more at its Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) than The Chinese University of Hong Kong did at their Prince of Wales Hospital, despite conducting three times more operations a year.[22] In an article published by the South China Morning Post in March 2007, an anonymous medical source familiar with the faculty's operation said that there had long been a lack of monitoring and transparency concerning the faculty's billing of private services. The source was reported saying, "[f]or example, the surgical department alone can make more than HK$10 million a year. But for years frontline doctors are not told where the money goes, it is a black hole".[21]

In September 2009, Lam was sentenced to 25 months in jail after pleading guilty to misconduct in public office. Between 2003 and 2007, Lam had induced 12 of his patients at QMH to pay what appeared to be medical bills issued by the university and the hospital, but were payable to Gastrointestinal Research, a company wholly owned by Lam. The payments totalled HK$130,000.[23][24] Lam had also asked three patients to make HK$3.8 million in donations to medical research, which he then pocketed.[24][25] In passing sentence, judge Li Hon-leung said that although the patients' well-being was not compromised,[25] Lam had seriously breached the trust of both the faculty and his patients, and had attempted to cover up his misconduct.[24][25] The judge said he had taken into account 22 letters that spoke highly of Lam's character and contributions to medicine, including one from former Chief Executive, Tung Chee-hwa,[24][26] who Lam was personal physician for.[26] Setting a starting point of five years jail, the judge deducted 35 months for Lam's guilty plea, his good character, and the fact that he had repaid all the money, leaving 25 months.[25] Prosecutors were advised by the Secretary of Justice not to proceed with 33 charges of fraud and theft, which were thus left on file.[24][25][26]

After the scandal, HKU introduced 16 measures to eliminate loopholes concerning the billing of private patients by faculty staff.[26] In August 2010, Lam was released early from prison after serving 11 months of his 25-month sentence, but was required to live under supervision in a correctional services hostel for six months.[27]

Notable alumni

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Hong Kong College of Medicine

Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong

Teaching hospitals

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "About HKUMed - HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine". www.med.hku.hk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  2. ^ Dafydd Emrys Evans (1987). Constancy of Purpose: An Account of the Foundation and History of the Hong Kong College of Medicine and the Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong, 1887-1987. Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 9789622091948.
  3. ^ a b "History". British Medical Association (Hong Kong Branch). Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  4. ^ Sweeting, Anthony. (1990). Education in Hong Kong, pre-1841 to 1941. HK University Press. ISBN 962-209-258-6
  5. ^ a b The University of Hong Kong. (2003). 'Growing with Hong Kong: The University and its Graduates, the first 90 years'. ISBN 962-209-613-1
  6. ^ Starling, Arthur. Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society. Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society Staff. (2006). Hong Kong University. ISBN 962-209-805-3
  7. ^ "WHO-SARS Update 12 (SARS virus close to conclusive identification, new tests for rapid diagnosis ready soon)". Archived from the original on 11 April 2003. Scientists at Hong Kong University had previously announced, on 21 March, the isolation of a new virus that was strongly suspected to be the causative agent of SARS. (5th paragraph)
  8. ^ a b c "HKU Medicine Brochure" (PDF). Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  9. ^ "HKUMed Undergraduate Admissions". Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine.
  10. ^ a b c Hoi-ying, Lo (13 July 2024). "University of Hong Kong plans to offer new graduate-entry medicine programme". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  11. ^ a b Li, Ambrose (15 July 2024). "Chinese University of Hong Kong aims to launch new medicine graduate programme". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  12. ^ Cheung, Elizabeth (8 July 2024). "Exclusive | HKUST 'in talks' with Imperial College London to set up third Hong Kong medical school". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Departments and Schools". HKUMed. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Departments and Units". School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  15. ^ a b More than 100 professors and doctors of the Prince of Wales Hospital and its SARS team (15 April 2003). "The virus in our worst health crisis is still an enigma". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ a b c d e "HK doctors in the spotlight". BBC. 15 April 2003. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  17. ^ a b Ho, William (11 April 2003). "Why medical schools must work together in the Sars crisis". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  18. ^ Parry, Jane (23 May 2005). "Concern over renaming at HKU". www.the-scientist.com. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  19. ^ 港大校友斥徐立之賣醫學院「神主牌」 [University of Hong Kong alumni criticise Tsui Lap-chee for selling out [the] medical school's "spirit tablet"]. Hong Kong Inmedia (in Chinese). 24 May 2005. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008.
  20. ^ a b Ann, Mary; Benitez, Mary Ann (9 March 2007). "Committee of inquiry set up after complaints". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  21. ^ a b Lee, Ella; Ann, Mary; Benitez, Mary Ann (8 March 2007). "HKU dean of medicine quits amid fees probe". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  22. ^ Goh, Lilian; Ann, Mary; Benitez, Mary Ann (29 March 2007). "Former HKU medical dean breaks silence". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  23. ^ Parry, Jane (8 September 2009). "University of Hong Kong's former dean of medicine is jailed". British Medical Journal. 339 (b3668): b3668. doi:10.1136/bmj.b3668. S2CID 71593988. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Ex-HKU medical school dean jailed for 25 months". South China Morning Post. 4 September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  25. ^ a b c d e Nickkita, Lau (4 September 2009). "Bitter pill". The Standard. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  26. ^ a b c d "HKU dean admits inducing patients to donate HK$4m to firm". South China Morning Post. 2 September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  27. ^ Lee, Ella (11 August 2010). "Ex-medical dean freed early from prison term". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  28. ^ Cheung, Elizabeth (17 June 2024). "Hong Kong's Yuen Kwok-yung shares his journey to becoming top disease expert in new book". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
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