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Fifteen faculty members of the School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong (HKU), are recognised as “HKU Scholars in the Top 1%” this year. The School ranks top among all HKU academic units in terms of total number of Top 1% Scholars, three years in a row. They are: Professor Cowling, Benjamin John Professor Guan, Yi Dr Ho, Daniel Sai Yin Professor Lam, Tai Hing Dr Lam, Tommy Tsan Yuk Dr Leung, Sze Man Kathy Professor Peiris, Joseph Sriyal Malik Professor Poon, Leo Lit Man Dr Schooling, Catherine Mary Dr Siu, Parco Ming Fai Dr Tian, Linwei Professor Wu, Joseph Tsz Kei Dr Wu, Peng Dr Yen, Hui-Ling Dr Zhu, Maria Huachen *In alphabetical order This list recognises HKU researchers ranked by Clarivate Analytics in the top 1% worldwide, by citations in at least one of the 22 research fields. Data is drawn from Essential Science Indicators (ESI). The School extends our heartfelt congratulations to our top scholars. Source: HKU Scholars Hub

Six faculty members from our School have been named by Clarivate Analytics in its list of “Highly Cited Researchers 2021” as the most influential in the world. Their works have been highly cited by fellow academics and are hence making a significant impact in ongoing research in their respective fields of study. Our six Highly Cited Researchers are: Professor Ester Cerin Professor Benjamin Cowling Professor Gabriel Leung Professor Malik Peiris Professor Leo Poon Professor Joseph Wu Highly Cited Researchers are selected for their exceptional research performance, determined by production of multiple highly cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and year in Web of Science. Some 6,600 researchers from over 70 countries and regions were named Highly Cited Researchers in 2021. The School extends our heartfelt congratulations to our top scholars.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) programme is inviting applications for September 2022 intake. ​ For those who are interested in joining the programme, you are most cordially invited to our Information Session where our Academic Director will share information about the unique features of the MPH curriculum, career prospects, scholarship opportunities, as well as details on the UGC Targeted TPg Fellowships for local students. Date: 24 Nov 2021 | 22 Dec 2021 | 26 Jan 2022 (Wed) Time: 7-8pm Format: Online via Zoom Webinar Registration: https://hku.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3PoA9A3ZZtSiax0

Dr Maria Zhu Huachen, Associate Professor of School of Public Health, received the 16th Chinese Young Women in Science Fellowship (中國青年女科學家獎) for her contributions to scientific research and innovation. She is the only awardee from Hong Kong this year receiving the honour. Dr Zhu’s research has focused on elucidating mechanisms that lead to the emergence of viral threats at the human-animal interface – including viruses such as H1N1, H7N9, MERS, and most recently, SARS‑CoV‑2. In the past few years, she has identified zoonotic sources, transmission routes, evolutionary pathways, and molecular aspects that contribute to such viruses being severe threats to human health. Since 2020, she has been dedicated to developing vaccines and drugs for COVID-19. Her work is widely recognised by her peers and has been published in leading journals. This fellowship is highly prestigious and was jointly established by the All-China Women's Federation, the China Association for Science and Technology, the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, and L'Oréal China. The Fellowship recognises female scientists under the age of 45 who have made important and innovative scientific contributions. The School extends our sincerest congratulations to Dr Zhu for her achievement. More details about Dr Zhu’s award and her work are available at the webpage (Chinese only).

Professor Malik Peiris, Tam Wah-Ching Professor in Medical Science and Chair Professor of Virology, is awarded the 2021 Future Science Prize in life sciences for his discoveries of SARS-CoV-1 as the causative agent for the global SARS outbreak in 2003 and its zoonotic origin, and his tireless effort in combating Covid-19 and other emerging infectious diseases. Future Science Prize is a privately funded science prize established by a group of renowned scientists and successful entrepreneurs in 2016, aiming at recognising scientific breakthroughs and innovations in the Greater China region (including Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau). More information about the prize can be found at: http://www.futureprize.org/en/index.html To learn more about Professor Peiris, please visit his profile here. The School extends our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Peiris.

Welcome on board🏄🏻‍♂️ It’s great pleasure to greet our MPH students again f2f. Hope you all enjoy the Programme Induction and the coming activities in the Orientation Weeks😃 #backtoschool #newacademicyear #HKU #HKUMed #SPH #publichealth #MPH #香港大學 #港大醫學院 #公共衞生 #公共衞生碩士

The Master of Public Health (MPH) Programme, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong will participate in a review for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) at the upcoming site visit on November 4-5th, 2021. CEPH is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs outside schools of public health. Third Party Comments- now being accepted In preparation for the upcoming site visit, CEPH will now accept third-party comments about the MPH Programme and its practices, operations, policies and procedures until October 4th, 2021. Comments will remain confidential and can be sent to CEPH via email or post, as follows: VIA E-MAIL Ms. Kristen Varol, MPH, PMP, CHES Director of Accreditation Services kvarol@ceph.org VIA MAIL TO THE FOLLOWING US ADDRESS: Ms. Kristen Varol, MPH, PMP, CHES Director of Accreditation Services Council on Education for Public Health 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 220 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Professor Ben Cowling, Professor and Head of Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, was honoured with Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. MBE is a special honour to recognise the awardees’ outstanding achievement or service to the community. Honours recipients are announced twice a year, once in the New Year's Honours List, and once on The Queen's official birthday. As the Co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, Professor Cowling has worked tirelessly on infectious diseases and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. His efforts have had significant impact on science and public health in both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, and also globally. Professor Cowling is also the Lead of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics concentration of MPH programme at HKU. We extend our sincerest congratulations to Professor Cowling for his achievement. To get to know more about Professor Cowling, please view his biography, or a video featuring his journey as a scientist.

I’m currently a part-time Year 1 MPH student in the Health Economics, Policy and Management (HEPM) concentration. I have been practising as a registered nurse in the Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care unit soon after I obtained my bachelor’s degree from HKU in 2018. Having five years of training to be a registered nurse and joining the health care team in a public hospital for three years, I am nurtured and obligated in providing quality health care service in Hong Kong. I have discovered interest in public health, where it is a mix of art and science in promoting health, preventing diseases and improving the quality of life on a large scale and thus I decided to pursue my studies in the MPH. Amidst the pandemic, I enjoy this journey and it has been one of the best decisions in life. People I have met here are all amazing and with a diverse background. It has been an incredible opportunity to connect with them and learn from them. Besides, the teaching team is professional and supportive. Not only have I gained knowledge related to study, but also the transferable skills for life. In pursuing my further studies, I wish to be better equipped to analyse, understand and address present and future public health challenges and to contribute towards the building of ethical and sustainable health systems.

Health care is vital to all of us some of the time, but public health is vital to all of us all of the time”, a famous quote from Charles Everett Koop, an American pediatric surgeon and public health administrator in the 80s. I was first impressed by this quote to begin delving into the domains of Public Health. I am a part time MPH student in the concentration of Health Economics, Policy and Management. I am also a Graduate Biomedical Engineer working at a private hospital in Hong Kong. Working in the usual hustle and bustle of a high volume usage of medical equipment, it is no surprise to ponder about the underlying reasons and find out the demands for medical supports are much wider than everyone can think of. From the use of thermometers to anesthesia machines, it is difficult if not impossible for a normal person to stand for, whereby a clear mindset and positive attitudes towards the medical industry is of paramount importance, and this paves the way why Public Health is the right choice. Thanks for the grant of the UGC Targeted TPg fellowship, it nurtures me as a person of diverse thinking. The curriculum consists of core courses and concentration courses, even the debut course – principle of public health can be quite challenging yet interesting. I was given a host of opportunities to share experience from the workplace and through numerous research, this also enlightens my angles of critical thinking plus encourages my communication skills with teammates from all walks of life. The curriculums are designed to equip students with the knowledge they need to face whatever public health issues or emergencies arise, and this topic is especially in the spotlight during the outbreak of COVID19. My future aspiration is to acquire the knowledge and utilize the skills learned within the MPH courses and to stand out for career advancement in the public health field. It will be even ideal if the proposed activities brainstormed under the assignments can come true in one day!

I graduated with a BSc degree in Public Health at the CUHK. During my undergraduate study, I was fortunate to gain work experiences at various sectors such as the Department of Health, NGOs and university affiliated researches. Driven by my passion to improve population health, I became increasingly drawn to this field because I realised the window of opportunity to build sustainable healthcare through disease prevention in Hong Kong and beyond. I was motivated to pursue a MPH because I wanted to equip myself with more rigorous training in epidemiological and biostatistics. I believe they are important methodology and research skills that will help me excel in qualitative and quantitative research. I was very excited to be granted the UGC Targeted TPg Fellowship. The most rewarding part of receiving the UGC Targeted TPg Fellowships was to know that I am not alone in my journey to pursue a career in public health. Although this field can be overlooked or underappreciated by some people, it was wonderful to know that there are abundant financial resources to support us towards our passion. My MPH study has been very rewarding so far. It was very intellectually enriching to be taught by some of the leading epidemiologists and researchers in this field. I was inspired and stimulated to hear about their work and learn from them. In particular, I really enjoyed doing the newsflashes during the Dean’s class in the first semester. The process of discussing recent public health news taught me to tackle issues with multiple lenses including political, social and economic consideration. Working with classmates from diverse backgrounds also provided me with practical experiences in interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork skills. Overall, I am impressed with the quality of teaching in the MPH course. Professors and teaching assistants are always there to help us improve by giving us insightful feedback and comments

Professor Roberto Bruzzone, Co-Director of the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, was awarded the insignia of Officer in the French National Order of Merit. A ceremony, presided over by Mr Alexandre Giorgini, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, was held on 10 June, 2021 at his residence. Professor Bruzzone has been a major factor and the driving force behind the development and success of the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, and the recent establishment of the Centre for Immunology & Infection (C2i) at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, a new centre dedicated to research on the immune response and infectious diseases. This honour recognises his leadership in promoting Louis Pasteur’s vision, scientific excellence, and collaborations between France and Hong Kong. Professor Bruzzone has been teaching CMED6227 Biological basis of disease for the MPH programme. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Bruzzone. More details about Professor Bruzzone’s award, and his work, are available at the webpage of the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau.