University of Hong Kong overhauls medicine programme to focus on innovation, fighting cancer

Dr Pamela Lee, faculty of medicine’s assistant dean, says restructured curriculum will take place October and affect year 4 students

She adds revamp based on the school’s projections of societal conditions in next five years, to ensure students stay on top of the latest trends

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Dr Pamela Lee, faculty of medicine’s assistant dean, says restructured curriculum will take place October. Photo: Sammy Heung

Published: 10:30pm, 9 May 2024Updated: 11:40pm, 9 May 2024

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) will revamp its undergraduate programme for medicine students, with a heavier emphasis on fighting cancer and incorporating the latest technological innovations into the curriculum.

Dr Pamela Lee Pui-wah, assistant dean of clinical curriculum at the university’s faculty of medicine, said on Thursday the school had restructured the curriculum and designed new teaching methods, with the change happening in October and affecting year 4 students.

She said the revamp was based on the school’s projections of societal conditions in the coming five years, ensuring students stay on top of the latest trends.

Lee said under the new curriculum, students would spend eight weeks studying cancer, as the disease might become more common among the ageing population.

“We believe that after 20 years, one-third of the population will be elderly people older than 65 years old. How will we prepare our society to better take care of this [group] is very crucial,” she said in a media briefing on Thursday.

Under the new curriculum, students will spend eight weeks studying cancer, as the disease may become more common among the ageing population, Dr Lee has said. Photo: Handout

“As our lives become longer, there is a higher incidence of cancer among our population,” Lee said. “Advancements can also be observed ... Many cancers can be treated or controlled by medications.”