Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Celebrates 25 Years of Medical Excellence

The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (the “Academy”) concluded the 25th Anniversary celebrations, themed “Medical Excellence for a Healthy Future”, with the Anniversary Congress held at the Academy building on 7-9 December 2018. The three-day Congress gathered over 500 local, mainland and overseas participants to discuss the latest developments and challenges in relation to healthcare and medical excellence. Council Members, Past Presidents and representatives of the Academy and its 15 constituent Colleges, Fellows, as well as local and overseas guests also joined the Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner on 8 December to celebrate this important milestone of the Academy.

25th Anniversary Congress

The Guest of Honour, the Honourable Mrs. Carrie LAM, The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), together with Professor LAU Chak-sing, President of the Academy; Dr. LAU Chor-chiu, Chairman of the 25th Anniversary Celebration Organising Committee; and Professor Gilberto LEUNG, Vice-President (Education and Examinations) of the Academy, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Congress in the morning of 8 December.

Reflecting on the past 25 years, Professor LAU Chak-sing applauded the Academy and its Colleges for the hard work to safeguard the health of the public by training specialists of high standards and promoting the advancement of knowledge through continuing medical education (CME) and continuous professional development (CPD). From around 2,000 Fellows in 1993, the Academy has now grown to have over 7,900 Fellows under its 15 constituent Colleges. For the accomplishments of the Academy over the years, he remarked, “I would like to thank all my predecessors for their tremendous contributions in building a strong foundation for the Academy before me. My special tribute to our Founding President, the late Professor Sir David TODD, for his wisdom and vision in establishing this Academy.”

To achieve the vision of “Medical Excellence for a Healthy Future”, “we will continue to uphold medical professionalism in the practice of medicine through promoting integrity and ethical standards with fit for purpose training curricula, CME/CPD activities and credentialling, and at our regular conferences”, Professor LAU said.

The Congress, with the theme “Beyond 25: New Paradigms in Healthcare”, served as an excellent platform for participants to share views on medical advances, innovative technologies and challenges in different specialties. Distinguished speakers of two major plenary sessions, Halnan Lecture and David TODD Oration, were Dr. Humayun CHAUDHRY, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc. and Immediate Past Chair, International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities, and Professor YUEN Kwok-yung, Chair of Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, respectively.

Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner

The gala dinner, featuring various performances by the multi-talented Academy Fellows and College representatives, was hosted to celebrate the remarkable achievements over the past 25 years. Attending the gala dinner were officials of the Government of the HKSAR including the Guest of Honour, the Honourable Matthew CHEUNG, The Chief Secretary for Administration, the Honourable Paul CHAN, The Financial Secretary, the Honourable John LEE, Secretary for Security, and Professor the Honourable Sophia CHAN, Secretary for Food and Health; presidents and representatives of overseas medical academies and colleges; as well as local, mainland and international guests.

It was a full house of guests to share the joyful moment on this special night. Dr. LAU Chor-chiu, Chairman of the 25th Anniversary Celebration Organising Committee, took the opportunity to thank the Congress speakers, Fellows and College representatives who performed in the opening ceremony and gala dinner, sponsors and all those who had supported the celebratory activities held throughout the year.

(From left) Dr. LAU Chor-chiu, Chairman of the 25th Anniversary Celebration Organising Committee; the Honourable Mrs. Carrie LAM, The Chief Executive of the HKSAR; Professor LAU Chak-sing, President of the Academy; and Professor Gilberto LEUNG, Vice-President (Education and Examinations) of the Academy, officiate at the opening ceremony of the 25th Anniversary Congress

Drum performance by College representatives at the opening ceremony of the 25^th Anniversary Congress

(From left) Dr. LAU Chor-chiu, Chairman of the 25^th Anniversary Celebration Organising Committee; the Honourable John LEE, Secretary for Security; the Honourable Matthew CHEUNG, The Chief Secretary for Administration; Professor LAU Chak-sing, President of the Academy; the Honourable Paul CHAN, The Financial Secretary; Professor the Honourable Sophia CHAN, Secretary for Food and Health; and Professor Gilberto LEUNG, Vice-President (Education and Examinations) of the Academy, officiate at the Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner

The Guest of Honour, the Honourable Matthew CHEUNG, The Chief Secretary for Administration (7^th from the left, front row) joins Professor LAU Chak-sing, President of the Academy (8^th from the left, front row) and Past Presidents, Officers and Council Members of the Academy at the cake-cutting and toasting ceremony during the Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner

Singing performance by Dr. David FANG, Past President of the Academy (right in the front), and Dr. Michelle TSUI, a Fellow of the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (left in the front), at the Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner

Live music performance by representatives of the Academy Colleges at the Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner

Opening Ceremony, Fellowship Conferment Ceremony and David Todd Oration

Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner