Research Projects
Optimizing Chronic Disease Management in Hong Kong: A Multi-Dimensional Evaluation of Medication Adherence, Policy Simulation, and Resource Prioritization

This doctoral research conducts a comprehensive, multi-dimensional evaluation of chronic disease management in Hong Kong, specifically targeting Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Hypertension (HTN), and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Leveraging a longitudinal big-data cohort from the Hospital Authority, the project goes beyond retrospective analysis of treatment adherence and the spatiotemporal diffusion of innovative therapies. It employs advanced decision analytic modeling to simulate counterfactual "what-if" scenarios, quantifying how many lives could be saved and at what cost if 100% guideline adherence were achieved. Furthermore, the study addresses critical questions of equity and efficiency under resource constraints, such as "Who should be treated first?" and how to optimize the implementation of prescribing rules (e.g., individual vs. combined strategies). The findings will provide evidence-based recommendations to optimize healthcare resource allocation and improve clinical outcomes for Hong Kong’s aging population.

Professor D Bishai, School of Public Health

Professor David Bishai is Clinical Professor in Public Health and Director of the School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining HKU, Professor Bishai had served as Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for 27 years and served in the government as a health officer for the state of Maryland in 2021.

As a world-renowned educator, researcher, and practitioner, Professor Bishai has made lasting contributions to scholarship. A leading health economist, his research focuses on the performance and financing of global public health activities, primary healthcare, vaccines, and health disparities. He is the author of two books and more than 260 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and has raised USD50 million in grant support from NIH, CDC, World Bank, WHO, ADB and foundations. His award-winning courses on systems thinking and health economics have reached over forty-thousand students. As President of the International Health Economics Association, he helped to establish a global mentoring network for early career researchers. During his government service, he used local evidence to eradicate racial gaps in COVID vaccination.

Professor Bishai maintains certification by both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard in Philosophy and Physics, his Masters in Public Health from the University of California at Los Angeles, his Medical Doctorate from the University of California at San Diego, and his Doctor of Philosophy from the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
Lab Homepage
ORCID
dbishai@hku.hk

For more information or to express interest for this project, please email the supervisor or the specified contact point in the project description.  Interested candidates are advised to enclose with your email:

1. your CV,
2. a brief description of your research interest and experience, and
3. two reference letters (not required for HKUMed UG students seeking MRes[Med]/URIS projects).

Information on the research programme, funding support and admission documentations could be referenced online at the Research Postgraduate Admissions website. General admission enquiries should be directed to rpgmed@hku.hk.

HKUMed MBBS students interested in the Master of Research in Medicine (MRes[Med]) programme may visit the programme website for more information.  

HKUMed UG students interested in the Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme (URIS) may visit the scheme’s website for more information.