Page 12 - HKU Surgery 110 Anniversary E-Book

Over the past 110 years, the Department of Surgery
at The University of Hong Kong has weathered momentous
socioeconomic changes; our people have participated actively
in the occasionally bumpy development of the University;
and our work has contributed towards the wellbeing of
countless patients, the nurturing of generations of doctors,
the advancement of science, and the global standing of our
beloved city. It has been an enthralling journey almost thrust
upon us, and we, as if in requital, have thrown ourselves into
these worthwhile causes with gusto up to this day. The School of Clinical Medicine is, to
say the least, enormously proud of and grateful for the Department’s accomplishments.
As a member of this Department, it is my honour to be part of the team putting
together this monograph. But just as no single individual should claim total credit for the
Department’s remarkable achievements, no single book could ever capture all the sweat
and tears shed, and days and nights of hard work committed by so many who deserve to
be commemorated. It is therefore only with the greatest deference, gratitude, pride and
humility that we present our story as a reminder of how much we owe to those who came
before us, and how much more there is for us to do.
Many congratulations!
Professor Gilberto Leung
Director
School of Clinical Medicine
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
The University of Hong Kong
12 | Department of Surgery 110 Anniversary
th
I am delighted to extend my heartfelt congratulations to
the Department of Surgery at The University of Hong Kong’s
th
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine on its 110 anniversary. This
milestone represents the department’s pioneering work and
unwavering commitment through the decades to excellence
in healthcare, education, and research.
The remarkable achievements of the department and its
forerunner, the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese,
span the entire history of modern surgery in Hong Kong.
For more than a century, the department has led the way in
setting rigorous academic and clinical standards to nurture
generations of leading surgeons—who combine exceptional skills with innate compassion.
Its alumni today serve in public hospitals across the territory and are the backbone of
Hong Kong’s healthcare system, embodying its mission to provide the best possible
patient-centred care. The department excels not only in passing on medical knowledge
and surgical expertise, but also in imparting a powerful understanding of medical ethics,
cultivating among its graduates’ empathy for patients and dedication to the community.
The department has a particularly close partnership with Queen Mary Hospital
(QMH) which served as the Faculty of Medicine’s teaching hospital since its establishment
in 1937. Both QMH and the department have played major roles in the extraordinary
advances in Hong Kong’s medical education and healthcare, raising the bar for clinical
service, research and education. For more than 40 years, the department and QMH have
co-organised the prestigious biennial Hong Kong Surgical Forum, bringing together
leading scholars from around the world to share clinical insights and innovative practices.
As a highlight of the celebratory events, the Forum this year will continue to serve as an
excellent platform to explore advances in surgical science, and strengthen Hong Kong’s
standing as an international centre of medical excellence.
Beneath the fierce glare of surgical lights, the department’s students and alumni
continue to perform daily miracles as they bring new hope by pushing at the boundaries
of medical possibility. They not only save lives but also bring warmth and compassion
to every corner of society through their professionalism and dedication. With its richly
storied past and a future full of promise, I have every confidence the department will
carry forward its well-deserved reputation for outstanding practice, serving Hong Kong
with distinction and devotion and healing generations of patients to come.
Mr Henry Fan
Chairman
Hospital Authority
Department of Surgery 110 Anniversary | 13
th