Page 8 - CUHK MEDICAL ALUMNI Newsletter Issue 2 Vol 2 2015

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
07

PROFESSOR GERALD CHOA:

A VISIONARY WITH A CARING HEART

rofessor Gerald Choa became the Founding Dean of the Faculty of
PMedicine at CUHK in 1977. His role in the setting up of the medical
faculty and teaching hospital and making them into what they are today -
internationally recognised - remain a legacy. To honour his contributions,
the Gerald Choa Memorial Fund was set up in 2013 aimed at supporting
various academic activities within the Faculty, including scholarships, the
development of new curriculum and teaching facilities. Many graduates have
since contributed to the Fund, either individually or collectively, and we spoke
to some of them - known as Diamond Patrons - who donated HK$500,000 or
above. Some remembered Professor Choa as a very serious man, but they all
agreed that underneath the stern exterior, lay a very caring heart.

r Luk Che-chung (MBChB Dean (Student Affairs) of the Faculty Dr Siu Wing-tai (MBChB 1989),
D1986), the Chief Executive of of Medicine at CUHK. “Professor a specialist in General Surgery at
the Hong Kong West Cluster of Choa was a visionary leader. He the Hong Kong Sanatorium and
public hospitals, was one of the wanted to build a medical school Hospital, and one of the founding
first batch of students of CUHK’s which had an international outlook.
medical school. He described the Before CUHK, there was no such
Founding Dean, Professor Gerald thing called Chemical Pathology
Choa, as a man who shouldered and Oncology wasn't a sub-
many responsibilities. When the specialty. So he brought a lot of new
medical faculty was first established, perspectives…he introduced holistic Dr Siu Wing-tai
(MBChB 1989)
one of the many challenges care for patients.”
Professor Choa faced was just where
to send students for their clinical Professor Wing says
training. “It was only many years Professor Choa also
later, after I graduated, that I realised really cared about
the immense difficulties Professor the students. “For
Choa and his staff encountered,” example, when he
says Dr Luk. “They had to make found out there were
arrangements for students to have no recreational
clinical teaching without a teaching facilities for students,
hospital, and even weighing the he bought TV
option of sending them to the UK.” sets.”
Professor Wing Yun-kwok
(MBChB 1986)
Dr Luk says despite all the teething
problems, Professor Choa reassured
students that their studies would
not be compromised. “In short, he Dr Luk Che-chung
(MBChB 1986)
was saying just leave the troubles
to him. He was just such a great
man. “

Professor Wing Yun-kwok (MBChB
1986) is a specialist in Psychiatry at
the Shatin Hospital and Prince of
Wales Hospital and the Associate