e-Bulletin June 2024

Civilizing Public Health
SPH’s Faculty Connecting to the Community

Biological nervous systems have three parts: sensory intake, information processing, and motor execution. Public health practice is similar, which is why schools of public health require multiple disciplines to contribute to the mission. Epidemiology, psychometrics, laboratory sciences, computer engineering, applied math, etc. focus on harvesting signals and starting the work of processing information. The execution arm must be politically and socially aware of context. Optimized technically correct solutions routinely fail in human systems when they are not understood and endorsed by the humans who could benefit. The frontier is co-production of solutions by listening and adapting to local culture. Ironically this same frontier pre-dates the technocratic age by 10,000 years. Social creatures like us solve problems by respectfully listening to each other as well as deferring to powerful leaders.

I love seeing how academic teams at our School apply co-production to their work every day. Students and faculty meet each semester to work on teaching quality. Placement opportunities bring us into our communities every day. This month’s bulletin features several great pieces on knowledge-exchange like Little Dr Flu and our media outreach. The future holds more promise as our scholars work to improve the human interface of artificial intelligence solutions for public health.

Professor David Bishai
Director and Clinical Professor
School of Public Health, HKU

Professor Hui-ling Yen Awarded Rosie Young 90 Medal for Outstanding Woman Scholar
Encourages Young Scholars: “Embrace Challenges and Don’t Give Up”

“Embrace challenges and don’t give up” – these powerful words of encouragement came from Professor Hui-ling Yen, Associate Professor of the Division of Public Health Laboratory Sciences of our School, who was recently honoured with the prestigious “Rosie Young 90 Medal for Outstanding Young Woman Scholar 2023”.

Established in 2020 to celebrate the 90^th birthday of Professor Rosie Young and honour her immense achievements and contributions to the University, the Medal aims to recognise and encourage talented young female academics to follow Professor Young’s illustrious footsteps for many years to come.

“Professor Rosie Young is an exceptional role model for all members of HKU, and I am truly humbled and honoured to be selected as one of the awardees. Her achievements will continue to inspire generations of female scholars,” said Professor Yen.

Expressing her gratitude towards colleagues, students, and mentors who she has had the privilege of working with, Professor Yen added, “Research is a collaborative effort that requires teamwork, particularly in today’s world with growing importance of multidisciplinary collaborations.”

Four SPH Staff Received Long Service Awards
Years of Dedication, Commitment and Loyalty to HKU

The University of Hong Kong held a Long Service Awards Presentation Ceremony in Loke Yew Hall on June 14, 2024, presenting awards to over 230 awardees to recognise their many years of dedication, commitment and loyalty to the University.

In our School, we have four staff on the list of award recipients receiving the 15 years’ awards. They are (in alphabetical order of surnames): Professor Dennis Ip, Clinical Associate Professor and Division Head of Community Medicine and Public Health Practice; Ms Liu Yongmei, Senior Research Assistant; Ms Cynthia Yau, Research Officer; and Mr Eric Yip, Technical Manager.

Joining our School in 2008 as a Senior Research Assistant and as her first full-time job in Hong Kong, Ms Cynthia Yau has always seen SPH as her second home. “I am filled with gratitude as I humbly accept this long service award,” Ms Yau expressed. “It is a reflection not just of time, but of trust, collaboration, and countless challenges navigated together. It is my honour to be a part of this prestigious school and I hope to continue contributing in the quest to putting ideas for human betterment into action every day.”

Publications in May 2024
Scholars’ Output Highlighted

The following are research papers published by SPH researchers in May 2024:

Remark:

• This list is compiled by searching in Scopus using the keywords “School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong” for May 2024
• * Member of School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
• Arranged by date of publication

Little Dr Flu 2.0
Inspiring Public Health Little Scientists through Lab Visits and Hands-on Experiments

Over the years, the Division of Public Health Laboratory Sciences of our School has been organising the Little Dr Flu 2.0 programme to educate primary school students with knowledge on respiratory diseases through laboratory visits, and raise personal hygiene awareness among our next generation.

On May 18, 2024, around 20 students from St Paul’s Co-educational College Primary School took part in the programme and became “public health little scientists” during their visit to the Laboratory Block of LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU. Apart from attending the Little Dr Flu Classroom and learning new knowledge on bacteria and viruses and the transmission routes of influenza virus, the students also had the opportunity to visit various laboratories, including the cell culture station, autoclave, liquid Nitrogen (N₂) tank, bio-bank, and a biosafety level 3 laboratory.

During the practical session, students cultured bacteria from their fingertips and tested germ levels on unclean, soap-washed, and hand-sanitised fingertips, from which they got to understand the importance of maintaining proper hand hygiene. They were also offered the chance to observe SARS-CoV-2 infected cells and normal cells from the alveolus, nasopharynx, and bronchus under the microscope.

Launched in 2013 by Professor Michael Chan, Associate Professor of our School, Little Dr Flu aims to raise awareness of influenza virus infection, promote understanding of public health, etiological agents and the human respiratory system, and inspire children’s interest in science. In 2024, the programme was upgraded to Little Dr Flu 2.0, with information on COVID-19 introduced.

Kudos to education ambassadors who made this community engagement project possible (in alphabetical order of surnames): Ms Jenny Chan, Ms Manka Chan, Mr Owen Chan, Dr Rui Chen, Dr Rachel Ching, Dr John Ho, Professor Kenrie Hui, Ms Tonia Kam, Ms Lucy Kwok, Dr Rita Lai, Ms Edwina Lee, Mr Leon Leung, Dr Angel Ma, Mr Ka-chun Ng, Dr Mark Sze-To, Ms Nicole Tsang, Mr Peter Wong.

Interactive Dialogues at JUPAS Information Sessions
Showcasing the BASc(GHD) Programme to Prospective Students

The JUPAS Information Sessions were held on May 16 and 17, 2024, during which prospective students were offered the opportunity to explore more about the BASc in Global Health and Development [BASc(GHD)] programme and engage with current students.

Highlight of the event was a poster presentation by six BASc(GHD) Year 4 students, whose experiences from their 6-month placements were shared. This session demonstrated the programme’s focus on experiential learning and its commitment to addressing pressing global challenges.

The event attracted keen interest from DSE students to engage in lively discussions with current students. The School looks forward to welcoming the next generation of future public health leaders who aspire to make positive impact in the world.

Coffee and Career Talks by PD Hub
Sharing by Dr Alice Abou-Nader of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance

As part of the “Coffee and Career” talks series organised by the Professional Development Hub (PD Hub), Dr Alice Abou-Nader, Senior Country Manager at  GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, was invited for an interactive discussion with students from the Master of Public Health programme. The event attracted a diverse audience, both in-person and online, with over 20 attendees.

During the session, Dr Abou-Nader shared her career journey in public and global health, provided valuable insights into her experience working with GAVI, and offered practical guidance on career development in public health. The sharing was followed by a thought-provoking Q&A session moderated by Dr Polly Wong, Senior Lecturer of our School.

The PD Hub has been inviting professionals across different public health and global health fields to share their experiences, and offer participants exclusive opportunities to interact and learn first-hand career information from experts in the field. Stay tuned for the upcoming events by following PD Hub’s LinkedIn.

SPH’s Commitment in Nurturing Future Public Health Leaders
Professor Pui-hong Chung Promoted BASc(GHD) Programme in RTHK

On May 20, 2024, Professor Pui-hong Chung, Assistant Dean (Health Sciences Admissions) of LKS Faculty of Medicine, and Director of the BASc(GHD) Programme, was invited to a media interview in RTHK’s “Young and Old Alike (老細一齊嚟)” programme.

During the interview, Professor Chung shared his experience working with the World Health Organization, expressed the significance and impact of public health in today’s world, and showcased the commitment of HKU’s BASc(GHD) programme in nurturing future public health leaders through a wide range of interdisciplinary courses and a 6-month field placement.

To watch the interview, please click here (Part 2, starts at 13’00).