Biography

Professor Rosie Young is a highly distinguished and widely respected luminary in Hong Kong. Over the past many decades Professor Young has been Professor of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, Honorary Consultant at Queen Mary Hospital and Hong Kong Sanatorium Hospital, and has taken on numerous leadership positions in higher education, the healthcare system, and public services. Born before World War II, her life experience shaped her career choices. After obtaining MBBS from the University of Hong Kong in 1953, she embarked on an outstanding research career, becoming the first person from Hong Kong to have obtained MRCP from both the Edinburgh College and the London College. In addition to breakthrough scientific discoveries in her role as a world-leading endocrinologist, Professor Young has served as the first female Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Pro-Vice Chancellor at The University of Hong Kong, Chairman of the Medical Council, and has established the blueprint for primary care development in Hong Kong. Her many achievements and contributions have been widely recognized with prestigious honours and awards, including Honorary Doctor of Science degree from her alma mater. At the age of 93, she still works full time and continues to see patients, teach students and younger doctors, and contribute to various education and charity organizations. Hers is indeed an exemplary life and an inspiring model for many to follow, driven by a strong sense of duty and a lifelong passion for medicine and public service.

Interview of Professor Rosie Young by Dr Emmy Lau was conducted on 7 August 2024.

Biography

Professor Richard Yue Hong Yu graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1958. After completion of training at the Government Medical Unit of Queen Mary Hospital (GMU), he went to the U.K. for the MRCP examination of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. During this time, he furthered his nephrology training and obtained his Ph.D. in experimental renal hypertension from the University College Hospital, London, in 1966. He was promoted from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer at UMU. He obtained his MD degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1972. In 1974 he moved into private practice, but has continued the teaching of undergraduate medical students at both Medical Schools and the training of doctors at hospitals under the Hong Kong Hospital Authority since. He is currently Honorary Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is also Honorary Consultant Physician at Ruttonjee Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital.

Professor Yu was first to establish the Nephrology Specialty in Hong Kong, and the Division of Nephrology at the HKU Department of Medicine. He was a Founding Member of the Hong Kong Society of Nephrology and the Hong Kong Kidney Foundation, and is still serving in both organizations as Senior Advisor and Honorary Patron. He was one of the Founders of the Hong Kong College of Physicians, which was established in 1986. He served as Honorary Secretary of the College from 1986 to 1995, and was College President from 1998 to 2004. He is presently Senior Advisor to the College. In addition to being a Founding Fellow, he has been conferred Honorary Fellowship by the Hong Kong College of Physicians in recognition of his numerous contributions to the College and Internal Medicine over the past four decades. He is a Fellow of the three Royal Colleges of Physicians in the U.K., the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, and the Academy of Medicine, Singapore. In recognition of his contributions to community, he was conferred Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa by The University of Hong Kong in 2010, and by The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2011.

Interview of Professor Richard Yu by Dr. Emmy Lau was conducted on 7 August 2024.