Newsletter No. 84

Medical Exchange Agreement with University of Alberta, Canada An exchange agreement between the faculties of medicine at CUHK and the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, was signed on 7th February, providing a formal structure for existing collaboration between the two institutions. The University o f Alberta wa s represented by Prof. Roderick D. Fraser, president and vice-chancellor, and Prof. D. Lome Tyrrell, dean of medicine, while CUHK was represented by Prof. Ambrose Y. C. King, acting vice-chancellor, Prof. Joseph C. K. Lee, acting dean of medicine, and Prof. Teik E. Oh, sub-dean for medical education. The exchange programme enables senior academic staff to visit the partner institution for up to six weeks in a year to engage i n teaching, research, and clinical service. It is also intended to facilitate the development of a wide range of joint academic programmes, and to lead to a close and long-term relationship between the two institutions. Established in 1908, the University of Alberta has a strong medical faculty. Its MD programme and over 30 accredited postgraduate programmes in basic, clinical, and public health sciences are taught by a team of nearly 400 academic staff members, many of whom have received major national and internatioal awards for teaching and research. This i s the third medical exchange agreement recently signed by the Faculty of Medicine, the first two partners being Johns Hopkins University in the United States and Beijing Medical University. Major Advances in Burns Care A r t i f i c i al Sk i n Saves Two Live s at PWH The University's Department o f Surgery hosted the second Asian Pacific Burns Conference from 9th to 11th February at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The conference was co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Society for Burns Injuries (ISBI), the Japanese Society for Bums Injuries (JSBI), the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority, the Hong Kong Burns Society (HKBS), and the Bums Foundation. Dr. E. K. Yeoh, chief executive of the Hospital Authority, officiated at the opening ceremony o f the conference. Dr. Naoki Aikawa, president of JSBI, and Dr. Tung Man- kwong, president of HKBS, welcomed some 300 bum specialists from over 25 countries, who spoke on recent advances in bums care. These include acute and reconstructive bum management, skin substitute and tissue banking, infection and immunology, bums prevention and rehabilitation. On the same occasion, the Department of Surgery announced that for the first time in Asia, artificial skin made in the United States had been successfully applied to treat two adult patients with major bums at the Prince of Wales Hospital. The artificial skin, which consists of an outer silicone layer and an inner collagen dermis, is designed to provide long term coverage of bum wounds. For permanent coverage, the upper silicone layer is replaced by the patients' own thin sheet of skin graft 3 to 12 weeks later. Dr. Basil Pruitt, president of the ISBI, confirmed that previous clinical trials in the United States found that the artificial skin was a very effective skin substitute. There was also less hypertrophic scarring. Dr. J . C . Romer, chief o f WHO, emphasized the need to identify the leading causes of bum injury and bum death in the Asia Pacific region so that programmes can be developed to reduce preventable injuries. He also stressed the importance of raising the awareness of fire hazards through education. Faculty of Engineer ing Open Day The Faculty of Engineering held an open day on 10th February on the sixth floor of the Ho Sin-Hang Engineering Building to introduce its graduate programmes to visitors. Teachers and graduate students were available to answer questions. The five engineering departments also opened their laboratories for visits and demonstrations. Formation of CU Accounting Link The School of Accountancy recently set up CU Accounting Link to foster the school's interaction with its alumni, as well as with other members in the accounting profession and supporters in the business field. Dr. Simon S. M. Ho, director of the School of Accountancy, believes that the Link can enhance the role of the school as an international centre for excellence in accounting education and research. Potential members of the Link include approximately 2,000 accounting graduates, some 200 holders of the diploma in accounting for managers, non-accounting graduates of the University currently working in the field of accounting, former staff of the school, and friends from industry and the accounting profession. It is hoped that through this network, members will be regularly informed of the developments in accounting education at the University and in Hong Kong. They will also have a new channel to advise and support the school. The CU Accounting Link held its first homecoming tea party on 3rd February, wherein Prof. Philip Fu and Prof. K. H. Chan, both alumni of the school, shared their experiences at the University with the participants. It will hold its first management committee meeting on 16th March, and the agenda will include the organization of academic, professional and social activities for its members. The University has been a pioneer i n business and accountancy education in Hong Kong. I n 1963 i t offered the first local bachelor's degree programme in business administration with special reference t o accounting. It is also the first local academic institution to offer a Ph.D. programme i n accounting. BBA Team Win s Citibank Competition The CUHK BBA team won the Citibank inter- university marketing strategy competition held in January 1996. The competition had two rounds. The first round required the contesting teams to design a marketing proposal which would acquire 500 new customers for the bank's CitiGold priority banking services. In the second round the teams presented their marketing strategies orally. Representing CUHK were two second-year BBA students, Venus Ho Wing Yan and Irene Tang Hoi Yau. Over 60 students, staff and their family took up brooms and pails in the Chung Chi campus clean-up on 10th February in preparation for the Lunar New Year and in a spirit of love for the environment.

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