Impact Report
24
As new technology continues to transform the world, we have taken significant steps to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our curricula. Meanwhile, our students continue to make a global impact by engaging in community service and furthering their quest for medical breakthroughs at leading medical schools abroad.
(data as of 31 December 2024)
01
Embracing Futuristic Healthcare
Taking AI in Medicine from the Classroom to the Lab and Beyond
The rapid development of technology has brought sweeping changes to our daily lives. In particular, AI has emerged as a powerful tool for processing and analysing large volumes of data, and assisting with decision making by providing accurate predictions in a time-efficient manner. As such, AI has unlocked great potential for the healthcare industry, from leading-edge research in novel treatment options, to better storage and handling of patient records, and much more. This is why we have invested in integrating AI into our curriculum to ensure our graduates are equipped with the crucial skills to meet the needs of our community.
With a generous HK$15 million donation from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, we have fully incorporated AI into the curriculum. Under a three-tier approach, our students gain a solid foundation in the application of AI and new technologies in the medical sector, and how these can contribute to clinical practice.
The first phase of the AI programme is aimed at furnishing students with basic literacy in AI and emerging digital technologies, which is followed up by intensive workshops in the applications of AI in medicine. In the third and final phase, students dive deep into a project-based experiential learning opportunity, where they explore and critically assess the impact of new AI-related applications in clinical practice.
Online Learning Platform Delivers Latest Trends
CU Medicine offers students online learning platforms with the latest updates on AI in healthcare. Esteemed professionals, including Dr. Alex Ng, President of Tencent Healthcare; Prof. Philip Chiu, Dean of CU Medicine; and Prof. Irwin King, Professor and immediate past Chair of Computer Science & Engineering at CUHK, have been invited to provide their expert insights on the transformative impact of AI in medicine in an online video series. Additionally, a dedicated ethics lecture series thoughtfully addresses the intricate ethical concerns and issues associated with the implementation of AI in healthcare.
Practical Experience in AI-based Clinical Diagnostics
An AI Radiology platform has been incorporated into the curriculum to provide students with practical experience in AI-driven clinical diagnostics. AI-powered clinical decision-support solutions for chest X-rays and non-contrast head CT images, developed by a leading AI company, have been integrated to enhance radiology education. Our students also have the opportunity to visit the headquarters of this AI company in Australia, interacting with engineering, clinical research, and AI teams to learn about AI development, implementation, and adoption in clinical settings.
Fostering AI-powered Research
CU Medicine students are poised to benefit from invaluable research experience in the fast-changing field of AI in healthcare. Under our pioneering AI Research Internship programme, students collaborate with mentors who are CUHK faculty members across multiple departments and Schools to engage in diverse AI-related research projects. These help to foster creativity in problem-solving and driving innovation for patient care.
02
Striving for Innovation and Excellence
CU Medicine Students Excel in Innovation and Technology Scholarship
Noting the importance of creativity in managing new healthcare challenges, we encourage our students to think out of the box and tackle issues with ingenuity. This is why our students have established a robust record in the Innovation and Technology Scholarship (ITS) during the past decade. A total of 46 CU Medicine students – including 40 from the esteemed Global Physician-Leadership Stream (GPS) – have been awarded the scholarship between 2015 and 2024, representing over 18% of the total number of awardees. This outstanding result demonstrates the continued success of CU Medicine as the top medical school in Hong Kong according to the Quacquarelli Symonds international ranking 2024, and highlights our students’ dedication to bringing innovation to healthcare.
The ITS was inaugurated by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government, HSBC and The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups in 2011. The scholarship scheme seeks to recognise outstanding young talents in Hong Kong, serving as an exceptional platform for local undergraduates to enhance their global perspectives, acquire industry knowledge, and foster their dedication to science and technology. Each year, 25 students from science, engineering, and health-related fields from local tertiary institutions are nominated by university presidents and chosen by a diverse Awardee Selection Committee. Each awardee is granted HK$150,000.
03
Making Real-World Impact
Experiential Learning Through Community Engagement
Sharing from Africa
At her second school year in MBChB GPS programme, Chloe has personally witnessed the disparities in healthcare access in Africa. During her trip to Senegal with volunteers from the GX Foundation, Chloe conducted on-site research for the medical community to learn about the local knowledge, perceptions, and actions taken towards the malaria endemic in Senegal.
“People in the sub-Saharan African region are prone to developing cataracts as young as 25 years old – just a few years older than myself. Yet, a suburban city in Senegal relies only on two ophthalmologists to support the overwhelming number of patients. My experience speaks to the wealth of human capital and the potential that can be unlocked through collaborative efforts among nations, breaking down barriers and fostering mutual understanding.”
04
Bridging Generations through Community Engagement
“The Jockey Club Intergenerational Engagement Project to Reduce Social Isolation among Elderly” aims to explore the effects of social connections in the face of Hong Kong’s ageing population – with a projected 36% of its population being over the age of 65. Through its integration with the course “Community-based Learning for Healthy Ageing”, 184 CU Medicine students have taken part since September 2022.
Students take part in ageing simulation to learn about the common daily struggles among elders related to self-care and administering health needs. They are also matched with community-dwelling elders who are at risk of social isolation, actively reaching out to the elders by initiating person-centred care via phone calls, home visits and outdoor gatherings.
A Year 2 MBChB student commented: “The course provides a real-life experience interacting with elders and understanding their needs. I now realise the severity of social isolation among elders in our community.” An elderly participant valued the friendship with a gerontology student: “I often talk to her, seek her suggestions and she is always supportive.”
05
Nurturing Lifelong Learners
Graduates Articulate to Top Medical Schools Worldwide
As future leaders in medicine, our MBChB – GPS Graduates seek articulation opportunities at leading medical schools abroad in the quest for their career goals. Some of our GPS graduates are currently pursuing PhDs in the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford in the U.K., and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the U.S.
The Journey of a Clinician-Scientist Comes Full Circle
Meet Dr. Queenie Wong (MBChB – GPS, Class of 2023), a PhD in Clinical Neuroscience candidate at the University of Cambridge dedicated to bridging the gap between medical practice and scientific discovery. Like many CU Medicine graduates, she has enjoyed an abundance of opportunities and the support of a world-class faculty since the beginning of her medical training – from well-structured mentorship, early research immersion, leadership training, and much more.
Under the guidance of her mentors, Prof. Ho-Keung Ng and Prof. Vincent Mok, Dr. Wong was inspired to embark on a Master’s in Research Medicine at the University of Oxford before entering her clinical years. Leveraging her solid background, she began fostering student-led innovation and public engagement in neuroscience by establishing the Hong Kong Student Association of Neuroscience. Showing early signs of an unwavering dedication to research and community impact, her achievements were recognised by the Innovation and Technology Scholarship, and the CUHK Outstanding Students Award. Having already built a solid foundation for her academic journey, Dr. Wong is currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge with the support of our Mabel Churn Scholarship. This demonstrates CU Medicine’s long-term vision for advancing medicine through research and education.
Sharing her plans upon completion, she expressed a keen interest in continuing the cycle of mentorship and discovery that she once received by returning to CU Medicine as an academic staff.
Dr. Queenie Wong
(MBChB – GPS, Class of 2023)
PhD in Clinical Neuroscience candidate at
the University of Cambridge
During her MSc programme, Queenie
actively participated in academic conferences, and gave poster presentations.