Page 5 - HKU Nursing 25th Anniversary Booklet

3

Message from
Dean of Medicine

Professor Gabriel Leung
Dean of Medicine
The University of Hong Kong

I congratulate the School of Nursing on its remarkable achievements over the past 25 years.

Founded in 1995 as a department with 42 students, the School of Nursing has now grown
into a leading educator, researcher and knowledge exchange facilitator in nursing with more
than 400 graduates this year. Such an achievement is absolutely impressive by any standard,
notwithstanding the various challenges brought by the socio-economic conditions of Hong Kong
over the past quarter of the century, which the School has worked dauntlessly to overcome and
move beyond.

Indeed, the year 2020 has been extraordinary with the COVID-19 pandemic, which threatens the
health of millions around the world and impacts the livelihood of many more. Nursing, along with
other disciplines of medicine and healthcare, has been working around the clock to safeguard
public health. The contributions of nursing in looking after the patients, educating them and
their families, as well as supporting medical treatment and research must not be understated.
During these challenging times, how to work smarter to achieve better results has become a dire
question for all.

Nursing has always been at the forefront of striving for excellence in education, research and
service, even in challenging times. Most recently, the 10 Hong Kong International Nursing
th
Forum cum 3 Sigma Asia Region Conference was held on 7- 8 December 2020 to discuss and
rd
exchange insights on the evolving roles of nursing in transforming global health. HKU Nursing
also took the initiative to equip the local community with the essential skills and tactics to combat
COVID-19, ranging from online courses for caretakers and volunteers in the elderly service
sector to regular tele-counselling for socially isolated senior folks to address their physical and
mental health needs. All these initiatives, big or small, are perfect examples of the unwavering
commitment of the School of Nursing in protecting the people of Hong Kong and beyond.

Once again, warm congratulations for your 25 anniversary. I wish you many more fruitful and
th
rewarding years ahead.