History

Public health has a long established tradition at The University of Hong Kong. It was first introduced into the medical curriculum at the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese (the forerunner of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong), which was established by Sir Patrick Manson1, Sir James Cantlie and Sir Ho Kai in 1887. In 1891, Sun Yat-sen, one of the first students of the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, sat the professional examination on public health. In 1950, the Department of Social Medicine was established. In 1970, the name was changed to the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, and to the Department of Community Medicine in 1974. 

In 2004, The University of Hong Kong approved the proposal to establish a School of Public Health2, the Public Health Research Centre was established as one of the five research centres in the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, and Master of Medical Science (Public Health) was transformed into our own postgraduate degree programme - the Master of Public Health. In 2005, the University Research Committee recognized public health as one of nineteen Strategic Research Themes for the University. In 2009, the inauguration of the School of Public Health was officiated by Professor Chen Zhu, Minister of Health for China.

In 2013, the School of Public Health formally incorporated the Department of Community Medicine and the Behavioural Sciences Unit.

In July 2016, the academic and research arms of the Institute of Human Performance were incorporated into the School of Public Health of Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine.

In 2019, the School introduced a ground-breaking Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Global Health and Development [BASc(GHD)] programme, the first of its kind in Asia, to train the next generation of leaders in global public health.

Heads
Years Name Post
1950-1952 TS Sze Chair, Department of Social Medicine
1952-1957 KC Yeo Chair, Department of Social Medicine
1957-1974 PH Teng Chair, Department of Social Medicine (1957-59)
Chair, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (1959-74)
1974-1980 MJ Colbourne Head, Department of Community Medicine
1978-1987 J Anderson Head, Behavioural Sciences Unit
1980-1987 JWL Kleevens Head, Department of Community Medicine
1987-2000 AJ Hedley Head, Department of Community Medicine
1987-2013 R Fielding Head, Behavioural Sciences Unit
2000-2012 TH Lam Head, Department of Community Medicine,
Director, School of Public Health (2004-2012)
2012-2013 GM Leung Head, Department of Community Medicine,
Acting Director, School of Public Health
2013-2017 JSM Peiris Director, School of Public Health
2017-2021 Keiji Fukuda Director, School of Public Health
2021-2022
GM Leung
Interim Director, School of Public Health
2022-2023
Vivian Lin
Interim Director, School of Public Health
2023-
David Bishai
Director, School of Public Health

Notes:

1. A slideshow on "A Tribute to Sir Patrick Manson" as played at the MOU Signing Ceremony with London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine held on 10 December 2013 is as below:

2. A slideshow on "Past, Present & Future, and A Legacy of Excellence at SPH, HKU" as played at the Roasted Pig Cutting Ceremony at Patrick Manson Building held on 2 April 2014 is as below:

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