Page 7 - CUHK MEDICAL ALUMNI Newsletter Issue 2 Vol 2 2015

FEATURES
06

EYE DOCTOR’S CRAVING TO HELP

SOCIETY’S UNFORTUNATE OPENS WAY TO

SOME UNUSUAL CHARITY WORK

“CUHK stressed the importance of having an all-round
development…and this influenced me to take up
voluntary service.“

中大醫學院重視全人教育，對我日後參與義工服務有著深遠的影響。
- Dr Hunter Yuen Kwok-lai

(袁國禮醫生 , MBChB 1995)

He also credits CUHK for his choice
in becoming an ophthalmologist
because the University, at that time,
was the only teaching hospital offering
the subject. “I found Ophthalmology
very fascinating because it covers both
medicine and surgery, and the surgical
aspects are very challenging with a lot
of microsurgeries.”

This Johns Hopkins research fellow
then went on to win awards after
r Hunter Yuen Kwok-lai is always on he graduated, both for his work
Dthe move. For this ophthalmologist, in Ophthalmology and for his
helping patients with eye problems contributions to the community. In
is not good enough. He also wants 2007, Dr Yuen was chosen as one Through his voluntary work, Dr Yuen
to do more for society through of Hong Kong’s Ten Outstanding says, he got the chance to become a
charity work. Dr Yuen is a consultant Young Persons and, in 2011, he was radio host, a master of ceremonies,
at the Hong Kong Eye Hospital and presented with the 4th Hong Kong a charity organiser and an educator.
is one of the few Oculoplastic and Volunteer award. He recounts one experience he’s
Orbital disease specialists in Hong described as “amazing”. “I was invited
Kong. He is renowned for his work He is a volunteer surgeon for Project by the Life Underwriters Association
in charitable organisations and at Vision and Lifeline Express - both to give a talk about voluntary work to
the community level, he has joined charitable organisations aimed at some 1,500 agents at the Hong Kong
the Regeneration Society which combating cataract blindness and Convention and Exhibition Centre.
helps patients with chronic illness other eye diseases in mainland China. The stage was huge and the video
and depression. For instance, when Lifeline Express - screen was huge…”
a train that travels to different parts of
Dr Yuen says he owes his need to mainland China to perform eye surgery He also got to travel to places he
do voluntary work to his alma mater, - celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007, had never dreamed of ever visiting -
CUHK. “The University gave me the Dr Yuen organised the anniversary Guwahati in the north-eastern Indian
exposure to other studies. Even as celebrations in Fo Tan. “It was a state of Assam and Lahore in Pakistan.
medical students, we had to take memorable event,” Dr Yuen recalls.
up other general studies as well “I wouldn't experience these things if I
such as logic, western culture, music In that same year, the Tibet rail link was just working as a doctor,“ Dr Yuen
and so forth. CUHK stressed the was completed and Dr Yuen was says. “Working as volunteer gives me
importance of having an all-round one of the first eye surgeons on great satisfaction. You work with people
development…and this influenced board the train to perform cataract who are motivated, who are happy.
me to take up voluntary service.” eye surgery on Tibetans. And you get to make many friends”.