Newsletter No. 339

No. 339, 4.6.2009 十 方 吐 露 TEN QUESTIONS FOR 下回〈十方吐露〉將訪問何凱琳同學 Miss Ho Hoi-lam will be featured in the next instalment of ‘TEN QUESTIONS FOR’. 預告 Coming 紅貓 黃綺琪,藝術系二年級 Red Cat Wong Yee-ki, Year 2, Department of Fine Arts (接上頁 Continued ) The reform was initiated and implemented by the two former deans, Prof. Joseph C.K. Lee and Prof. Sydney Chung. Without their leadership, the reform would not have been so smooth. I was responsible for the implementation. Any kind of reform arouses panic and worry. People worry that their beliefs and interests would be affected. That is why communication and transparency are vital. To elucidate the rationale for the reform and convince people there wouldn’t be budget cuts for any department/units, engagement sessions were held. We also interviewed individuals to clear their doubts. As a result, the reform was implemented smoothly and didn’t encounter much disagreement. It’s not easy to assess the outcome because the real outcome can only be observed through the performance of the graduates when they are in practice. However we can have some idea by looking at the process. Students like the reform as less time spent learning material by rote allows them to take part in extra-curricular activities. They can enjoy university life during Years 1 and 2. The feedback from their bosses during internship has been encouraging too. 6 作為首位全職院長,對醫學院的發展有甚麼計劃? Being the first full-time appointed dean, what plans do you have for the Faculty? 醫學院要維持競爭力,必須多方面發展,而推動生物醫學 的科研,更是不可或缺的一環。因此,院方自6月起,把解剖 學、生物化學、藥理學及生理學四個臨床前期學系整合為生 物醫學學院,目的就是集合力量,以產生協同效應,推展生 物醫學研究。基於相同原因,公共衞生學院亦將與社區及家 庭醫學系合併,於8月成立公共衞生及基層醫療學院。 今年9月開始,我們會開辦全港首個公共衞生理學學士課 程,回應社會對公共衞生人才的需求。雖然只有三十五個名 額,但申請踴躍。 The Faculty must keep developing in all aspects to maintain its competitiveness. Promoting research in biomedical sciences cannot be neglected. In this connection, the Departments of Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Physiology have been integrated into the newly established School of Biomedical Sciences this June. The integration of the four departments ensures effective coordination and synergistic use of resources. For the same reason, the Department of Community and Family Medicine and the School of Public Health will also be merged to form the School of Public Health and Primary Care in the coming August. Starting from September, a Bachelor of Science Programme in Public Health, the first and the only of its kind in Hong Kong, will be offered to cope with the needs of the community. There are only 35 places but the number of applications is overwhelming. 7 你怎樣看香港的醫療發展前景? What are your views on the development of public medical services in Hong Kong? 香港醫療開支只佔國民生產總值不到百分之五,卻可維持 一個差不多是免費的全民醫療系統,是做得不錯的。其他 實施完全或近乎免費醫療系統的國家,如加拿大、英國,都 是徵收重稅的,香港則仍採低稅率制。可是當人口老化,醫 療費用日趨昂貴,香港是否可繼續施行現有的制度?我認同 政府的想法,長遠來說,醫療改革是需要的,但並不輕易。 With medical expenses making up only 5% of its GDP, Hong Kong nonetheless offers public medical services that are almost completely free-of-charge. This is quite an accomplishment. Countries offering low-cost or free medical services usually impose high taxes. As society ages and medical expenses escalate, can Hong Kong continue to maintain free medical services? I agree that medical reform is necessary but it won’t be easy. 8 唸醫科需要有甚麼特質?你有甚麼忠告? What qualities should medical students possess? Do you have any advice for them? 醫科生和其他學生沒有兩樣,除智商外,更重要的是兼備情 緒智商和逆境智商。現今學生大多是獨生子女,備受父母溺 愛,沒有經歷挫折或失敗。但是,唸醫科遇到挫折的機會較 其他學科學生多,因為自實習開始,每天面對的是疾病和傷 亡,實習醫生既是病房中資歷最淺者,又得肩負不少工作,較 易導致情緒問題。是以,醫科生必須經得起磨練。 Medical students are no different from other students. In addition to Intelligence Quotients, Emotional Quotients and Adversity Quotients are important. Most students nowadays are pampered by parents at home. That said, compared to other students, medical students have more chances of encountering emotional problems and frustration during their internship because they have to face sickness and death everyday. Moreover freshman medical students are often assigned heavy workloads at the wards. They have to be tough and persevering. 9 你不單每年參加半馬拉松(二十一公里)長跑,更於 醫學院組隊參賽,為何熱愛長跑? You take part in the annual 21-km marathon, and help to organize members of your faculty to take part. Why are you so fond of long distance running? 長跑是健康需要。十多年前,我患上糖尿病,便以長跑減 肥,每天跑約四十五分鐘。四個月下來,減了十多公斤。反正 每天都在練跑,參加馬拉松也不是難事。開始時是跑十公 里,後來再轉戰半馬。至於發起醫學院師生參賽的,是熱愛 長跑的鍾尚志教授。我們曾創下二百多師生參賽的記錄,賽 前又來個大合照,很是高興。可惜近兩年賽會把十公里和半 馬分開比賽,不能全體師生一起跑了。 I run for my health. I started running over a decade ago when I had diabetes. I ran 45 minutes a day and lost over 15 kg in the first four months. It is not hard for someone who runs everyday to take part in a marathon. I started with the 10-km race, then the 21-km. It was Prof. Sydney Chung, a fan of distance running, who initiated the faculties to race. We had a record of over 200 staff and students participating in the event and took group photos before the marathon. Those were such great moments. But we have not been running together since the 10-km and the 21-km marathons have been held separately for the last two years. 10 你於訪問中曾說家人投訴你工作太忙,沒有時 間陪伴他們,你怎樣處理這些投訴? During a past interview, you said that your family members complained that you didn't spend enough time with them because of work. Was that true? How did you handle it? 其實家人沒有正式投訴,我想他們心裏可能對我早出晚歸, 星期天也不在家的工作方式有些意見吧。以前上班,不到半 夜不回家,即使不需當值,也要凌晨才回家。我兒子(現為眼 科醫生)小時候曾說不願唸醫科,因為不想像爸爸般晚歸。 處理方法嘛,就是沒應酬的話,早點回家。 My family never complained formally. I guess inwardly they’d rather I didn’t leave so early in the morning, return home after midnight or have to go out on Sundays. In the past, I would go home at 3 or 4 am when I was on duty, and around midnight when I was not. My son—now an ophthalmologist—once said he would not study medicine because he did not like coming home as late as I did. The solution? I would go home early if there was no appointment.

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