Top Medical Experts and Scholars to Guide HKUST Council on the Third Medical School Development | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) announced today the formation of a Council Advisory Group (CAG) to offer professional and strategic advice to the University’s Council for its aspiration to establish Hong Kong’s third medical school. The CAG will be chaired by Dr. the Hon. LEONG Che-Hung, a highly respected leader in medicine, public health and education. 

The CAG features a diversified line-up of renowned medical experts and scholars with a wide breadth of knowledge and perspective from around the globe. Members include Prof. the Lord Ara DARZI, former UK health minister and Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery at Imperial College London who has advanced minimally invasive surgery and the use of technologies including surgical robots and image-guided surgery; Prof. David HO, a highly regarded Professor of Medicine at Columbia University who revolutionized HIV treatment with his invention of combination anti-retroviral therapy, commonly known as 'cocktail therapy'; Prof. Roger KORNBERG, a prominent Professor of Medicine at Stanford University’s School of Medicine who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2006 for his research on the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription; and Prof. WONG Tien-Yin, a preeminent Singaporean ophthalmologist and physician-scientist who became the Founding Head of Tsinghua Medicine in 2022.

The CAG bolsters the University’s ambition to build the city’s third medical school, as announced earlier this year, in support of the government and its newly established task group’s vision to nurture more doctors and transform Hong Kong into an international hub for medical training, research and innovation. The CAG will offer its expertise and critical insights to the University Council, which will assist in steering the direction of key development of this important project to address the challenge of shortage of doctors amidst aging population. 

With nearly 60 years of experience as a medical doctor specialized in urology, Dr. Leong brings a wealth of expertise in both the medical and public sectors. He has held numerous public roles, including serving as a medical functional constituency lawmaker, chairman of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, and non-official member of the Executive Council. Additionally, Dr. Leong played a key role in the establishment of the HKU-Shenzhen Hospital during his tenure as Council Chairman of The University of Hong Kong (2009-2015). Currently Dr. Leong is an Honorary Professor at the HKU Faculty of Medicine.

HKUST Council Chair Prof. Harry SHUM warmly welcomes Dr. Leong to his new position.  He stated, “I am both honored and excited to have Dr. Leong and all other renowned scholars and medical professionals to join our CAG for the establishment of the HKUST Medical School. As we stand on the brink of a new era in medicine, where the transformative power of artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize disease prevention, medical diagnostics and treatment, we aim to train future-ready doctors who can integrate innovations with clinical skills.  I am confident that Dr. Leong’s deep understanding of Hong Kong’s public healthcare and education sector will guide our efforts in pursuing an innovative strategic position that complements the two existing medical schools and addresses the evolving needs of our healthcare system.”

HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP is also grateful to Dr. Leong’s participation. “I am delighted that Dr. Leong, a distinguished figure in local medicine, has agreed to lead a global team of esteemed scholars and medical experts from around the world. His profound experience, spanning over six decades in Hong Kong’s public healthcare, talent development and education, is an invaluable asset to HKUST in preparation for this critical initiative. Their collective expertise will be vital in advising us on and monitoring the progress of the proposed HKUST Medical School to meet Hong Kong's future medical needs.  I look forward to welcoming more medical practitioners to join us in this endeavor, with a vision that promotes high-quality development in medical education and research,” she said

Chairman of the CAG Dr. Leong said, “I am both thankful and excited to contribute to such an important project, drawing on my life of experience in public service and medical training. Innovation has always been, and will continue to be, essential to medical practice and public healthcare.  In just over 30 years, HKUST has impressed me with its innovative spirit and can-do attitude, which has led to its many remarkable achievements in both academic and research. In collaboration with CAG’s other talented members, I hope we can provide valuable insights to help establish a medical school that effectively addresses the needs of our healthcare system and prepares future doctors for the challenges ahead.”

The CAG will continue to recommend and recruit external members to enrich its expertise and insights for the third medical school initiative.

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university that excels in driving innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, while 12 of its subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, with "Data Science and Artificial Intelligence" being ranked first in Hong Kong and 10th in the world. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In terms of research and entrepreneurship, over 80% of our work was rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of October 2024, HKUST members have founded over 1,800 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 14 exits (IPO or M&A).