Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1978

Faculty News "Medical Education and The Chinese University" Subsequent to the Meeting o f the Medical Academic Advisory Committee) Professor Gerald H. Choa gave a talk at the Rotary Club o f Hong Kong Island West on "Medical Education and The Chinese University o f Hong K ong " on 10th March, 1978. The aim of the new Medical School at The Chinese University of Hong Kong is to offer the students a medical education, which is defined as a continuum that spans the period from the pre-medical year or years, through the pre-clinical and clinical years, into graduate medical education and ultimately into continuing education. This will therefore be carried out in 4 stages. In the first stage, which is a year of pre-medical studies at the University, the curriculum will be so designed as to communicate to students further knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology which is relevant and essential to the study of medicine. Also included in the curriculum will be, under general education, psychology and sociology, two subjects which are closely related to medicine, and English and Chinese which all first-year students at the University are required to take in order to improve their proficiency in these two languages. It is considered that a pre-medical year in a six-year course in a medical school has much greater educational value and advantages than another year in a secondary school. The second stage consists of two years of pre- clinical studies and 3 years of clinical studies, followed by a year of internship. This is in line with the standard curriculum in British medical schools. It is hoped that graduates from the new medical school at The Chinese University of Hong Kong will be able to do their internship not only in their own teaching hospital but other approved institutions so as to obtain more varied and wider experience. The third stage is the provision of post-graduate training programmes in all specialities, including com­ munity medicine and general practice, two subjects to which the new Medical School will pay particular attention as there is always a need to train these two types of doctors for the community. Graduates will thus be able to serve the medical service while under­ going further training in the field that they choose to specialise. This is also a solution to the problem of shortage of man-power in the public sector. In the fourth stage, continuing education is offered to all practising doctors in the region served by the hospital by organising refresher courses and seminars at frequent intervals for them so that they will have opportunities to refresh themselves all through their professional careers. 31