Page 4 - CUHK MEDICAL ALUMNI Newsletter Issue 2 Vol 12 2019

FEATURES

Grit and guts are what
these alumni learnt from It’s through collaborations
medical school at CUHK to that doctors can learn about
other medical disciplines.
excel as doctors overseas. 共同合作，是醫生進入更廣闊

醫學領域的大門。

Professor Jimmy So Bok-yan
蘇博欣教授 (MBChB 1991)
Singapore

Collaboration and Teamwork over

the years Served this Surgeon Well

團隊合作乃成事之道

here was no doubt in the mind CUHK, adding his passion for research 蘇博欣教授自小已立志要行醫助人，經多年
of young Jimmy So that, in began at medical school. “I was especially 努力不懈，他順利考進醫學院，至大學三年級，
T order to help people, he had to inspired by my teachers like Professors 他覺得外科醫生就如汽車維修技工，當身體出
be a doctor. He studied hard, obtained a Sydney Chung and Joseph Sung who’ve 現故障時，就可用手術去「修理」，而手術的
place in the medical school at CUHK and played a big role in my life.” And despite being 效果更是立竿見影，因此對於講求速度的蘇教授
in year three, he opted to become a a famous doctor in the island city-state, he is 來說，就順理成章地選取外科。
surgeon. “I found surgery very exciting,” contributing to his alma mater by fostering
he explains. “Surgeons are like car many research collaborations which have 現時，蘇教授身兼新加坡國立大學癌症中心
mechanics - they diagnose the health resulted in joint scientific publications 腫瘤外科部主管、新加坡國立大學醫院上腸胃
problem and then ‘fix’ it with surgery. between NUS and CUHK. 外科主管及高級顧問、以及新加坡國立大學
Secondly, patients will reap the benefits （國大）外科教授等多職。形容自己愛冒險和
of surgery much faster than when taking Never shy away from teamwork 發掘世界的他，雖然很容易便適應了與香港相似
medicine. And, I’m a person who likes The surgical oncologist stressed the 的新加坡社會，但某次他獲邀到華語電視台接受
quick results hence surgery suited me importance of collaboration and teamwork. 訪問，節目竟為他的普通話配上了中文字幕，令
more.” “This experience served me well in the past 他不禁莞爾一笑。蘇教授不忘補充道，隨時間
他的普通話程度已進步不少了。
Years later since graduating in 1991, years. Together with gastroenterologists, 中大醫學院讓蘇教授踏上研究之路，他深受
oncologists and scientists, we established
Professor So now heads the Surgical 鍾尚志教授和沈祖堯教授等老師啟蒙。為回饋
Oncology Division at Singapore’s National the Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium 母校和老師的栽培，他促成和發表了多項國大
- a network of collaboration across
University Cancer Institute. He is also a 與中大的共同研究。期間深感「團隊合作」的
Senior Consultant and Head of Upper GI various hospitals and research institutes in 重要性，促使他與腸胃科及腫瘤科專科醫生、
Surgery at the National University Hospital Singapore for gastric cancer research.” 科研人員等合力成立了「新加坡胃癌聯盟」，
and Professor of Surgery at the National 建立研究胃癌的合作網絡，聯盟至今已發表逾
University of Singapore. The network has published over 200 scientific 二百份文獻，並獲批約四億港元的研究撥款。
papers and received over S$75 million in 他認為醫生可透過合作，學到其他醫學範疇
Adventurous spirit spurs him on grants for research. “It’s through collaborations 的知識，有助研發治療。人在他鄉，蘇教授仍
Why Singapore? “I’m an adventurous that doctors can learn more about other 心繫香港，不忘提醒師弟妹們穿白袍的使命：
medical disciplines and then devise
person who likes exploring the world. And 「無論你在何地工作，都應以病人為先。」
Singapore is the easiest place to integrate treatments,” he adds.
because it has similar characteristics to
Hong Kong.” However, he faced a major HK always in his heart
challenge during his early days. “I was once Professor So’s heart undoubtedly still
interviewed by a local Mandarin-speaking beats for Hong Kong - his parents and
TV news programme. Even though I was many of his good friends live in the city
speaking in Mandarin, they had to put and he often visits them.
Chinese subtitles for my interview,” he
laughingly recalls. His fluency in the He reminds young doctors medicine is
language has since improved, he adds. a calling. “Make caring for your patients
a top priority…regardless of where you
Professor So is grateful for his time at work.”

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