Bulletin Summer‧Autumn 1992

THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AT THE AGE OF 10 Prof. Joseph C. K. Lee Associate Dean, Faculty o f Medicine It has been10 years since the Faculty ofMedicine admitted itsfirst students. Ten years may be ashort time in the life ofan educational institution, but can be substantial in the lives of the young men and women who study and teach in it, especially when the institution has beenbuilt upfrom nothing into afully-accredited body internationally recognized. Looking back, how are we tojudge the successesorfailures ofour medical school? What yardsticks should we use? Perhaps one can look at what ourfounders expected of us. What is Expected of the Faculty? Speaking in 1978, Dr. C.M. L i, then vice-chancellor o f the University, said, 'We welcome the addition o f medical teachers on our staff for they w ill doubtlessly add lustre and prestige to the University by their contribution to the advancement o f medical science through their work and research, and fru itfu l exchange o f expertise with colleagues in other disciplines.' ‘Our objective,' he continued,'is to give the students a medical education and to prepare them to serve the community.' Prof. Ma Lin, his successor, also said, 'We anticipate expanded e fforts in medical research. We look forward to substantial improvements in the delivery o f health care to rural districts in the not too distant future. And recognizing that a medical institution is there first and foremost to serve the local populace, we can foresee further undertakings in the development o f a medical education, perhaps at a postgraduate level, which is in tune with local needs.' And Prof. G.H. Choa, founding dean o f the Faculty o f Medicine, so described the objective o f the new faculty: ‘ The goal of Professors o f the Faculty o f M edicine, 1981. 2