The Government today welcomed the appointment of Prof Li King-chuen as the Founding Dean of Medicine at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST).

It added that the appointment, which takes immediate effect, marks a new milestone in the university’s preparatory work for the establishment of the city’s third medical school.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau iterated that the establishment of the third medical school is of great importance to the long-term development of Hong Kong’s healthcare system.

He highlighted that Prof Li served as Founding Dean of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States and possesses relevant practical experience that will be invaluable.

“I look forward to the HKUST’s medical school continuing to smoothly advance the relevant preparatory work under his leadership,” the health chief added.

Such work includes recruitment of teaching and research teams; the formulation of teaching programmes; participation in overall planning for the Ngau Tam Mei campus and the new integrated teaching and research hospital; deepening collaboration with local healthcare institutions and teaching partners; and co-operating with the Medical Council of Hong Kong with regard to accreditation for the curriculum.

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin said Prof Li possesses outstanding leadership experience in medical education, an interdisciplinary academic background, and extensive experience in establishing a medical school.

“It is hoped that, with his global vision, academic and clinical experience, and extensive connections in the international medical community, he will lead the HKUST’s medical school in leveraging the strengths of clinical medicine, engineering, data science, and emerging technologies to develop an innovative education model that meets local professional standards, while also being forward-looking and internationally oriented.”

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Prof Li is an internationally renowned physician-scientist, biomedical innovator, and academic leader. He is currently Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, and Adjunct Professor of Radiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine in the United States.