The MEC2018, entitled “Cultivating Professionalism and Research in Medical Education”, was well attended by over 200 local and international medical experts, educators, researchers and allied healthcare professionals. They gathered at the Academy to discuss and share views on ways to cultivate the development of healthcare providers with professional attributes and to nurture research in medical training, as well as future direction of postgraduate education.

Prof. LAU Chak-sing, President, started the MEC2018 with a welcome remarks at the opening ceremony officiated by Prof. Sophia CHAN Siu-chee, JP, Secretary for Food and Health of the Government of the HKSAR. Prof. CHAN congratulated the Academy for organising the fourth annual conference and shared plans of the Government to address different healthcare, medical training and manpower issues. The hard work of the Organising Committee of the MEC2018 was appraised.

The one-day conference provided a rich programme delivered through thought-provoking plenary lectures, symposia and workshops. There was also a forum for young Fellows to share experience doing medical researches. Delegates were inspired by the plenary lectures delivered by Prof. LAU, Prof. Sir Terence STEPHENSON, Chair of the General Medical Council of the UK and Prof. Paul LAI, Chief of Service of the Department of Surgery of the Prince of Wales Hospital and the Cluster Coordinator for Surgical Services at the New Territories East Cluster of the Hospital Authority.

We would like to express our sincerest thanks to all our speakers for their insightful speeches and sponsors for their generous support.

MEC is jointly organised by the Academy and its simulation training centre, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Innovative Learning Centre for Medicine (HKJC ILCM). It is one of the flagship events of the Academy to pursue the goal to maintain high standards of medical education. The next MEC will be held in May 2019.