CUHK SCAP July 2021

This year, I was lucky enough to be nominated by the school to take part in the CUHK Summer Clinical Attachment Program. This program, hosted by the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is a 4 half-day program. It also aims to introduce the Faculty as well as to give more insight on what it means to be a professional working in the field of medicine. Although the doctor shadowing program was cancelled due to complications caused by COVID, the organizers made a conscious effort to replace it with live demonstrations and practicals aimed at introducing the many specialties that one can choose, along with lectures and talks from distinguished professionals. All this provided me with a lot more information about a possible future career as a medical professional, broadening my horizons. Not only did they place emphasis on the general route to being a medical doctor, but also introduced medical research professions, as well as the possibility of working for the Government to establish general healthcare community standards, which was particularly relevant due to the pandemic. Furthermore, it provided me with a more in-depth understanding of the healthcare system’s adaptations and workings in a pandemic-ridden Hong Kong.  I was also equipped with more context and information on CUHK’s teaching environment and methods, allowing me to understand the teaching philosophy and approach to education. Meeting current medical students has also imbued me with a renewed appreciation of what they have accomplished, inspiring me to do my utmost in pursuing medicine in higher education, especially at CUHK.

The four days at the Summer Clinical Attachment Programme at CUHK was an inspiring and eye-opening experience. Lectures given by university researchers and medical professionals exposed me to a multitude of specialities. Hands-on work at a dissection laboratory and interactions with medical students gave me an insightful taste of university life. I was fascinated by the state-of-the-art technology from visits to the CUHK Medical Center and the Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center. The clinical attachment focused on how the advent of modern medical technology can increase the safety and success of medical procedures which would otherwise be risky or inoperable. A lecture given by Professor Dennis Lo highlighted the importance of medical research for future innovations to support patient wellbeing and health. Professor Simon Ng, a colorectal surgeon, showed that traditional open surgeries would be highly traumatic to patients. With present improvements, minimally-invasive surgery and robotic technology can improve the safety and feasibility of complex medical procedures. I learned that future developments in medical technology will continue to play a significant role in the success of medicine and surgery. Other than the medical knowledge I gained, the friendly atmosphere and welcoming environment of the university is also an unforgettable aspect of the summer programme. My group leaders were affable and the professors were open to any questions we had. I met people from different backgrounds and we were able to bond over our interest in medicine. Overall, the programme was a fruitful and rewarding experience, and it has consolidated my choice to pursue a future career in medicine.