The School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) hosts the sixth Hong Kong Public Health Forum today.  The theme of the Forum is "Crossroads: What Is the Future of Public Health?". Five eminent international scholars who are in the vanguard of research, education and practice from Asia, Europe and the Americas shared their thoughts on the global and regional future of public health and how schools of public health can better equip their students for the fast-changing world. More than 250 colleagues and students, healthcare leaders, policymakers, public health practitioners and researchers had attended the Forum, which was a full house event.    

                        “In today’s complex world, improving the health and well-being of people and communities requires addressing a combination of long standing and newer challenges and transformational opportunities that could not have been imagined a few decades ago.", said by Professor Keiji Fukuda, Clinical Professor and Director of School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, HKU at the opening address. Professor Fukuda hoped that the Forum would provide a platform to examine the core approaches and tools of public health such as research, epidemiology, laboratory sciences, biostatistics, communications and policy shaping and thus help contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the way forward in tackling current and future public health challenges.

                         Under the moderation of Mr James Chau, Special Contributor of CCTV News and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals and Health, there was an animated discussion on how Hong Kong and her neighbours can better contribute to enhancing regional and global public health from a panel comprising Professor Yoshio Hirota, Professor Emeritus of Osaka City University, Japan; Professor Didier Houssin, Professor of Surgery and Liver Transplant Specialist of the University Paris-Descartes, France; Dr Jeffrey Koplan, Vice President for Global Health of The Emory Global Health Institute, USA; and Professor Keiji Fukuda, Director of School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong. The panel also gave a perspicacious analysis of what schools of public health would need to do to help ensure that today's public health students are optimally prepared for the future.

                        The culminating point of the event was a presentation of gifts to Professor Richard Fielding, former Head of the Public Health Research Centre and Co-Convenor of the Public Health Strategic Research Theme, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing faculty of Medicine, HKU; and Dr Janice Johnston, Deputy Director of Education and Division Head of Health Economics, Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing faculty of Medicine, HKU for their tremendous contributions to research and education in public health, which have benefited many scholars and students in healthcare over the years.

About the School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, HKU

                           The School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong has a long and distinguished history in public health education and high impact research. With world leading research in infectious diseases as well as on non-communicable diseases of both local and global importance, the School has made significant contributions through its research and advocacy to improve the health of populations and individuals, both locally and globally.  The School is a leading research and teaching hub in public health on influenza and other emerging viruses, control of infectious and non-communicable diseases, tobacco control, air pollution, psycho-oncology, behavioral sciences, exercise science, life-course epidemiology, and health economics, health services planning and management. This work has informed international (e.g. the World Health Organisation, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations), national and local public health policies.

Media enquiries

                          Please contact Miss Cherry Chui (Tel: 3917 9044) of the School of Public Health Health, Ms Florence Cheng (Tel: 3917 9995 / 9107 1676)or Miss Pinky Yu (Tel: 3917 9306 / 6823 6796) of Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.

(From left) Professor Keiji Fukuda, Director of School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong; Professor Didier Houssin, Professor of Surgery and Liver Transplant Specialist of the University Paris-Descartes, France; Dr Jeffrey Koplan, Vice President for Global Health of The Emory Global Health Institute, USA; Professor Yoshio Hirota, Professor Emeritus of Osaka City University, Japan and Mr James Chau, Special Contributor of CCTV News and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals and Health