INSPIRED BY a career talk when she was studying for her A-levels, Polly Lau Mo-yee, learned about the physiotherapy profession and decided to pursue it. To a science student who was studying biology and chemistry, physiotherapy sounded like an interesting alternative to the medical profession. Today she is the president of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association. 'In those days, only limited choices were presented,' Ms Lau said. 'If not medical schools, the science students might go for teaching, which was not really my goal. 'When a former graduate came to share with us how interesting and full of prospect a physiotherapy career could be, I was excited and inspired.' After completing her A-levels, Ms Lau enrolled in the last graduating class at the School of Physiotherapy, attached to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. On completing a three-year training programme, she was hired by a government hospital. 'At the time we did not need to look for a job,' Ms Lau said. A few decades ago, the profession was mostly dominated by expatriates and the school produced only a dozen graduates each year, allowing young graduates easily to get a job at a government hospital. She has had excellent promotion opportunities throughout her career. She now heads the physiotherapy department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and oversees physiotherapy departments at several hospitals. This is partly due to the profession enjoying its highest growth over the past 20 years. Starting as a physiotherapist II and being quickly promoted to the next rank, physiotherapist I, in two years, Ms Lau reached her current management position 10 years ago. 'I was the lucky one. The profession expanded quickly and a number of people left or emigrated due to the June 4 [Tiananmen Square] incident. More promotional opportunities were offered,' Ms Lau said. The growth curve has started to flatten recently and the profession has undergone several changes. Career paths have moved from generalist to specialitist options. Technology and the information explosion have also transformed the profession. Trained as a generalist, Ms Lau was transferred from one practice to another. 'In the past decade, the entire profession was geared to a specialisation system. I was then more focused on occupational safety and health.' In her speciality, she has to deal with individual patients, their caregivers and even corporations. 'I dealt with patients with mostly neck and back problems,' Ms Lau said. 'We have to teach and train the caregivers who assist the patients in their daily lives. 'An organisation recently moved into a new office and came to seek our advice on the office setup - computers, desks and chairs. We visited the office to understand the workflow and offer our professional advice,' Ms Lau said. Occasionally, she is invited by corporations and government departments to speak on health issues. Physiotherapists have also gone through the electronic transformation age. 'I was born in the BC [before computer] time. Now, everything is computerised, from booking appointments and filing patients' details to writing reports,' Ms Lau said. As the profession adopts an evidence-based treatment approach, physiotherapists are required to do much more research than before. Also, because of the internet, knowledge is more hands-on. 'We can now easily access the vast knowledge bank in the medical field. And new courses are more readily made to help us update ourselves.' Physiotherapists are also required to be more aware of their legal responsibilities. 'These days, patients are getting more sophisticated. We need to be well aware of the clarity of our presentation and documentation to save ourselves from facing potential litigation.' Ms Lau manages about 200 people, including support staff. 'Like most of my peers who did a postgraduate degree - I completed a master's degree in health management to equip myself with the necessary management knowledge.' Lifelong learning was essential to stay ahead of this changing world, she said. And commitment was key for people interested in pursuing a career in physiotherapy. 'You cannot survive if you treat it only as a job or a money generator. You need to have a genuine caring attitude to the patients.' Physiotherapists need to possess excellent people skills. 'We need to be lively, energetic and pleasant, and always convey a positive message. I enjoy my work very much. It is dynamic and rewarding. Though I am more focused on management work now, I still assign certain times to work with my patients to keep myself up to date on the technical side. Patients are really grateful for our work, which makes me feel fulfilled.' SALARIES Senior physiotherapist More than five years' experience $48,000 or more a month Physiotherapist I More than two years' practical experience $31,000 or more a month Physiotherapist II $17,000 or more a month The structure is now under review. A postgraduate degree is usually a prerequisite for all promotions. Key qualities Excellent communication skills A caring attitude - make people feel at ease around you Lively, energetic, convincing and confident Always convey a positive message Knowledgeable and have the spirit to learn Post-graduate education preferred