Page 6 - CUHK MEDICAL ALUMNI Newsletter Issue 1 Vol 5 2017

FEATURES
05

ROWING ENERGISES SURGEON

TO WITHSTAND LONG WORKING

HOURS AT THE OPERATING TABLE

“Rowing is like being a surgeon…you need “Your body is just completely
perseverance and commitment…and be strong separated from your mind and your
and tough-minded.” soul. You endure the pain in your
muscles and ignore the screaming
- Dr Shannon Melissa Chan of your lungs for air…you are just so
focused. At that moment, it’s just
（陳詩瓏醫生, MBChB 2007） you, the boat, your crew.

“And when you hear the coxswain
say: 'Last 20 strokes…!' you just push
yourself to the limits and give all that
you can.”

But like many other sports, there are
risks. Dr Chan suffered a very painful
back injury during her third year - a
prolapsed intervertebral disc, common
among rowers.
The injury happened two weeks before
the Hong Kong Universities Rowing
Competition in 2004. And because
Dr Chan was the stroke - basically the
leader - she could not bow out of the
race. It would be difficult for the crew to
really great when all of us are moving find a replacement in so short a time.
towards the same goal.”
Not wanting to let her mates down,
She gravitated towards rowing when Dr Chan decided to grin and bear the
she first started medical school at pain. But in the end, it was well worth it
The Chinese University of Hong Kong because they emerged victorious - by
(CUHK) in 2002. The sport is a big just one bow ball!
resh from her trip to South Sudan thing at CUHK and teams have been “It was such a wonderful moment,”
Fwhere she had been volunteering on a winning streak for many years. Dr Chan recalls. “We were throwing
her services for at least three months, She had also seen the Cambridge people into the Shing Mun River and
Dr Shannon Chan could not wait and Oxford Universities’ rowing races. into the air.”
to get back to the Prince of Wales “The paddlers seem so graceful and
Hospital where she works as a elegant and their boat just glides so “Rowing is similar to being a surgeon,”
surgical resident specialist. effortlessly.” Dr Chan says. “You need perseverance
and commitment. Surgeons often have
She had also been looking forward Being in CUHK gave Dr Chan the to stand for very long hours during
to getting back to her other passion chance to practise in the nearby Shing surgery. So you really need to be strong
- rowing. “Rowing is a very special Mun River. Training was gruelling - six and tough-minded. Rowing helps me
sport,” she explains. “It is structured, days a week. It was exhausting but that to be mentally strong and tough.”
disciplined and a regimented practice did not affect her studies. In fact, she
with quantifiable results.” says, it energised her. And, she says she learnt about
commitment - and caring for patients -
Dr Chan’s specialty is the Fours and Dr Chan likens competitive racing to from her CUHK professors. “They are
Eights, but admits she is drawn to an out-of-body experience. “When among the best,” she adds.
the Eights. “I love the Eights because you go to the starting line and the
there are nine people in the team, coxswain says: ‘All crew ready…!’ Her advice: “Find meaning in your life
including the coxswain, and it feels everything just vanishes. and do things that make you happy.”