clinical work,’ he said. The HKU Eye Centre will be central to those goals. Located on one full floor in Wong Chuk Hang, it benefits from the developer’s concessionary rent and a major donation to support pro bono services for those in need, such as residents of sub-divided units and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance households – an urgently needed provision given the wait for cataract operations alone extends to four years in Hong Kong’s public healthcare system. ‘The HKU Eye Centre will be a hub of clinical service, clinical research and charity,’ he said. The Department is also working with Orbis this year on a territory-wide project to identify patients with eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts and agerelated macular degeneration and treat those in need. This will also provide a wider pool of subjects for research. Other items on Professor Leung’s to-do list include recruiting more talent, enhancing mentorship for colleagues, providing greater support for research development, and building stronger bridges with cell biologists, computer scientists and AI experts. Connections are also being made with other disciplines, such as a project with the Department of Mechanical Engineering to develop noninvasive imaging approaches to measure blood flow in the eye. Progress has been somewhat slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Professor Leung remains energised and optimistic through his love of work, his Christian faith, and regular physical activity such as weekly hikes in the country parks around Queen Mary Hospital. ‘My message to colleagues and students is, don’t give up. There have been frustrations and inconveniences these past two years, but there are always new opportunities. Seize the day,’ he said. ↓Team members of the Southern District Signature Project - Eye Examination Scheme. 「社區重點項目計劃」 之「眼科檢查計劃」團隊 成員。 Professor Christopher Leung Kai-shun Chairperson of Ophthalmology 15 HKUMed News Summer 2022
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzg4NDg0