PUBLIC HEALTH FORUM 2025

The School of Public Health (SPH) hosted the Public Health Forum 2025 entitled “Translating Science to Better Health” on April 12, 2025. The Forum aimed to explore the practical applications of research findings to enhance public health outcomes, bridging the gap between scientific discoveries and real-world impact.

The Forum began with welcome remarks from Professor Zhang Xiang, HKU President and Vice Chancellor, and Professor Chak-sing Lau, Dean of HKU LKS Faculty of Medicine, who emphasised the vital role of research in advancing public health practice.

The guest lectures were delivered by two distinguished speakers. Professor Hu Qinghua, Deputy Director of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, demonstrated how multi-source disease surveillance systems transform outbreak response. Dr Fan Ning, Founder of Health in Action and Chairman of Forget Thee Not, explored how public health principles extend across professional disciplines.

A key highlight of the Forum was the roundtable discussion, moderated by Professor David Bishai, Director of the School of Public Health. The discussion featured an esteemed panel of speakers, including Dr Rebecca Grais, Executive Director of Pasteur Network, Professor YY Teo, Dean of Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore; and Professor Eng-kiong Yeoh, Professor and Director of Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research at the JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The panel discussed strategies for converting research into community benefits. The discussion sparked thought-provoking conversations and provided actionable insights for attendees.

The Public Health Forum 2025 brought together more than 160 participants, it clearly demonstrated how scientific knowledge can translate into real-world health solutions when researchers, practitioners and students come together. The Forum also featured a poster session, where 50 posters were displayed, showcasing the research and findings of our next-generation public health professionals.

The winners of the Poster Session are as follows:

Best Student Poster Award
Winner: Ms Ma Sze Wai Tiffany (PhD)
Poster Title: Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Cross-National Analysis of 17 Countries

First Runner-up: Ms AU Wing Yin Whitney (PhD)
Poster Title: Effectiveness of a School-based Physical Activity Intervention on Reducing Adiposity and Improving Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Preschoolers with Obesity: Preliminary Results of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial  

Second Runner-up: Ms LO Hei Tung Scarlett (MPhil)
Poster Title:The Effectiveness of a Physical Activity-Embedded Curriculum on School Readiness among Kindergarten Children: Preliminary Results of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial