The 2-year term of office of the current 5 elected Council members will expire at the conclusion of this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for 6 December 2019. Pursuant to the HKAM Ordinance, an election will be conducted.

A total of 115 new Fellows were admitted at the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 20 June 2019.

The Academy congratulates the following distinguished Fellows, who were recognised with honours on the HKSAR Establishment Day (1 July 2019).

Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) 
Prof. LEONG Chi-yan, GBS, JP (The Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) 
Dr. the Honourable LAM Ching-choi, SBS, JP (Hong Kong College of Paediatricians)
Prof. CHAN Ka-leung, Francis, SBS, JP (Hong Kong College of Physicians)

Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) 
Dr. CHING Cheuk-tuen, Regina, BBS, JP (Hong Kong College of Community Medicine)

Medal of Honour (MH)
Dr. CHAN CHENG Yuk-hing, Deborah, MH (The College of Dental Surgeons of Hong Kong)

Chief Executive’s Commendation for Community Service
Dr. LAM Kin-kwan (Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine)

Justices of the Peace (JP)
Dr. CHENG Ning-man, JP (Hong Kong College of Physicians)
Dr. FAN Yuen-man, Cecilia, JP (The Hong Kong College of Family Physicians)

The Academy is delighted that the 2018 Journal Impact Factor of the Hong Kong Medical Journal (HKMJ) is 1.588 (Journal Citation Reports, Clarivate 2019), which is a remarkable improvement over the 2017 Impact Factor (1.226). The proportion of articles that involved international collaboration increased from 1.3% in 2016 to 19.3% in 2018, reflecting an increase in high-quality international submissions and the growing appeal of HKMJ beyond Hong Kong.

The Editor-in-Chief of HKMJ and Editor of the Academy Prof. Martin Wong would like to express sincere gratitude to the Editorial Board members, International Advisers, reviewers, and editorial office staff, who have dedicated their time and effort to producing the HKMJ over the past year. Most of all, the Academy wishes to send appreciation to Fellows and other authors who have provided support by submitting their articles to the HKMJ, and without whom the HKMJ would not be able to thrive as it has.

This prize aims to recognise excellence in research conducted by young Fellows of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine.

Submissions on any subjects that relate to clinical practice and research in any specialties of medicine are welcomed. Research must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal no earlier than 1 January 2018.

Submission is open to only principal authors who have been awarded HKAM Fellowship within the past 10 years. The winner of the award will receive an engraved gold medal and a prize equivalent to HK$25,000.

Interested Fellows should submit a structured abstract of not more than 500 words, together with a completed Submission Form and a copy of their published full manuscript no later than 30 August 2019.

For further details, please see the instructions: page.hkam.org.hk/borf2019-info

• Sample Abstract
• Submission Form

The Prize for Best Original Research by Trainees of the Academy recognises excellence in research done by doctors who are having specialist training. Submission deadline for the year 2019 award has been extended to 31 July 2019 (postmark). Interested trainee doctors may download the following documents for details.

• Information about Prize for Best Original Research by Trainee
• Abstract Form (PDF, Word)
• Sample Abstract

The Academy and the Colleges have lost contact with the following Fellows and need your assistance in locating them. If you happen to know their whereabouts, please contact the Academy Secretariat by telephone at (852) 2871 8888, fax (852) at 2505 5577 or email to [email protected], or ask the Fellows concerned to contact us directly.

• LING, Cho Feng Francis (The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists)
• CHOW, Wun Chung Stephen (College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong)
• WONG, Wing Hung Andrew (The College of Surgeons of Hong Kong)

The Academy, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, Academy of Medicine, Singapore and Hong Kong College of Family Physicians are co-organising the 4^th AMM-AMS-HKAM Tripartite Congress cum 53^rd Singapore Malaysia Congress of Medicine & Hong Kong Primary Care Conference 2019 on 6-8 December 2019. The Congress theme is “People-centred Care: Towards Value-based Innovations”.

Details about the programme can be found at the Congress website: http://tripartitecongress2019hk.com

Call for abstracts: The Congress welcomes the submission of abstracts around the main theme for poster presentation on or before 31 August 2019.

Please click here to register now!

Major maintenance and repair works on the external walls of the Academy building are now being carried out. The Phase I works are expected to complete in August 2019. For safety reasons, the Fellows’ Garden on 3/F is now closed temporarily until further notice. The Academy will try best to make sure events held at the building during the maintenance period would be affected as minimal as possible.

The First Hong Kong-Shenzhen Simulation Education Conference, Shenzhen, 8-9 July 2019
Vice-President (General Affairs) Dr. C.C. Lau officiated the opening ceremony of the Conference, organised by HKU-Shenzhen Hospital and Guangdong Medical Doctor Association, and delivered a welcome speech.  Being one of the co-organisers, HKJC ILCM of the Academy invited Dr. Catherine Morse of the Center for Medical Simulation to share experience at the Conference.  Besides presentations on simulation and faculty development, Honorary Director and representatives of HKJC ILCM hosted a one-day workshop covering knowledge and techniques required for simulation education and debriefing.

HKJC ILCM Upcoming Courses:

For details of the above courses, please visit ILCM website at www.hkjcilcm.hk
Enquiries: 2871 8718 or [email protected]

Course Highlights:

Comprehensive Simulation Educator Course (CSEC)
The CSEC aims to provide the essential knowledge, and develop learners’ competence, in planning a simulation-based education activity, scenario development, direction, execution and debriefing methods. This course will enable the participants to have an understanding of the basic concepts of learner-centred education.

Different types of simulators and simulation techniques, and their respective applications will be covered to provide the participants with the resources for their teaching purposes. At the end of the course, the participants will have the basic knowledge and skill to plan and run a simulation-based training course, develop the necessary training material, direct a scenario and debrief the learners on the learning objectives. The course also intends to cultivate interest and passion in simulation-based education, and learners are provided with different methods to maintain and enhance their knowledge and skills in simulation-based education.

For courses in 2019, please refer to the table above. Application has started.

For details and application, please kindly visit HKJC ILCM website at www.hkjcilcm.hk

Debriefing Skills for Simulation Instructors Course (DSSIC)
This newly developed DSSIC aims to provide the essential knowledge and skills to develop learners’ competence in debriefing methods commonly used in simulation training courses. This course is suitable for those who wish to learn more about simulation-based learning and to apply the techniques of debriefing and feedback as a tool in teaching adult learners.

DSSIC is a two-day course and will be held at HKJC ILCM on the dates listed above. The primary audience is healthcare professionals who would like to start simulation-based teaching in their field.

For details and application, please kindly visit HKJC ILCM website at www.hkjcilcm.hk

Advanced Simulation Training in Mechanical Ventilation (ASTiM2)
HKJC ILCM has newly developed the ASTiM, in collaboration with Hong Kong Society of Critical Care Medicine (HKSCCM) and Hong Kong College of Critical Care Nursing (HKCCCN), aiming at enhancing knowledge and skills in “Advanced Mechanical Ventilation” through interactive learning activities and hands on simulation training workshops with advanced respiratory ventilator.

ASTiM is a one-day course which will be held at HKJC ILCM on the dates listed above. The primary audience is healthcare professionals taking care of patients requiring mechanical ventilation; while those not in this specialty are also welcomed.

Cost Fee for ASTiM: HK$4,000 (HK$3,200 for HA members)

Applications may need to go through a selection process.

For details and application, please kindly visit HKJC ILCM website at www.hkjcilcm.hk

Annual Conference on Disaster Preparedness and Response 2019 Successfully Held
The Annual Conference on Disaster Preparedness and Response 2019 with the theme of “Reduce Risks · Build Resilience” was successfully held on 29 June, at the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Jockey Club Building. The 2019 Annual Conference is the fourth in this series of conferences, and had successfully engaged a wide spectrum of more than 300 participants from different sectors.

Vice President (General Affairs) Dr. C.C. Lau delivered the welcome address on behalf of the Academy, followed by keynote speeches by Mr. Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities of Rockefeller Foundation, and Mr. Zhang Shaobiao, Vice President of Shenzhen Urban Public Safety and Technology Institute. The two speakers shared their tremendous experience from a global and China perspective of building urban resilience. A range of concurrent scientific sessions followed. Apart from the main scientific conference, the pre-conference workshop titled “Use of Big Data and Social Media in Time of Crisis” and the post-conference visit to the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters were also organised on 28 June and 30 June respectively.

Conference Programme Book, speaker presentations, photos and video recordings of 2 selected sessions are now available at the Conference website: http://acdpr.hkjcdpri.org.hk/download.php.

It is Council's policy that late subscriptions received by the Academy after 30 June will be subject to a surcharge defined by Academy on the subscription amount. According to the Academy Council's resolution, subscriptions received by the Academy after 30 June will be subject to a surcharge of HKD1,000 for those paying full subscription rate (or on a pro-rata basis of the HKD1,000 for those paying reduced subscription rate). In addition, the College may also impose a surcharge for the College’s subscriptions where applicable.

Revised Demand notes for the 2019 subscriptions have been sent to Fellows in July 2019. Please settle the payment as soon as possible.

Reminders:

1. All payments must be received by the Academy before 30 September. According to Bylaw 6.4, if a member's fee or any other moneys due by a member to the Academy is not received by the Academy within 9 months after such payment falls due, despite two written reminders by the Academy to pay, the member shall automatically forfeit his membership.
2. Fellows aged over 70 do not need to pay any subscription and will not receive a debit note.

Fellows residing outside Hong Kong or have reached the age of 65 and have retired from all remunerative practice/job/business must submit written applications for reduced rates before 31 December if they wish to enjoy the reduced rates next year. For details, please visit http://www.hkam.org.hk/fellows_area/reduced_rate.pdf.

To facilitate more efficient payment procedures, the Academy has started to provide credit card online payment service since January 2018. Now, Fellows can save time and settle HKAM Fellowship annual subscription effortlessly, conveniently and quickly through online payment on the iCMECPD website.

What are the benefits?

• Save time and postage cost
• Settle the annual subscription anytime, anywhere by using computer or mobile devices
• Ensure your subscription can be settled on-time without delay
• Payment history and e-receipt are available anytime
• Go paperless to help the environment and reduce paperwork

How to get started?

Fellows can log into iCMECPD (https://www.icmecpd.hk/) and choose “Annual Subscription” under “Fellow’s Area” in the main menu to settle the payment.

Click HERE to read the quick user guide

Fellows can log into iCMECPD (User's Corner > Receipt for Annual Subscription) to view and print their Annual Subscription receipts online (e-receipts for subscription from 2017 are available). To reduce environmental impact, Fellows can indicate their preference in the debit note on whether to receive official receipt by post while settling the payment by cheque or Dah Sing HKAM Platinum Card.

Please note that the CME/CPD Principles & Guidelines for the cycle 2017-19 will remain unchanged, i.e. no more than 75 points can be awarded for passive participation in a 3-year cycle. Fellows are strongly advised to maintain a balanced CME/CPD profile with a mix of different activities, in order to capture the full benefit of different types of CME/CPD activities.

The document, Principles & Guidelines 2017-19, is available online here on the Academy website.

(Note: Individual Colleges will have their own set of guidelines based on what have been agreed at the Academy level. There may be specific rules or requirements that the Colleges determine to be relevant for their specialties.)

The Academy sometimes gets error messages when sending messages to Fellows' registered emails, which may be caused by full mailboxes, invalid addresses, etc. A valid email address is an essential detail for Fellows to gain access to iCMECPD account and view the CME/CPD profile. In order to help us maintain an up-to-date database, please keep us informed whenever there are changes to your email address, mailing address or contact number by logging into your account of iCMECPD (http://www.icmecpd.hk). Please also be reminded to keep your registered emails active by ensuring there is sufficient mailbox capacity.

To further enhance the online services for CME/CPD, the Academy has developed a mobile application for capturing attendance - iCMECPD App. It is now available at Apple's App Store and Google's Play. Fellows may download the App by scanning the respective QR code below (or search "icmecpd" from App Store/Google Play) and install it in their smartphone with operating system in iOS (8.0 or above) or Android (4.3 or above).

Starting from 2017, Fellows may capture their attendance by using the App to scan the QR code for CME/CPD activities held by the Academy/Colleges at the HKAM Jockey Club Building. The Academy has started liaising with organisers on pilot runs of the App for their activities to be held so that they will gradually use this paperless online accreditation application and attendance capture process from 2017 onward. In addition, briefing sessions will be conducted for organisers to further promote the App and the system.

iCMECPD App

Please visit the CMe-Learning of iCMECPD website (www.icmecpd.hk) for the latest CME/CPD materials.

Latest articles available at www.hkmj.org:

CME  Original Article
Faecal microbiota transplantation for treatment of recurrent or refractory Clostridioides difficile infection in Hong Kong Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of diarrhoea, with significant morbidity and mortality; recent antibiotic-resistant strains are a particular threat. Clostridioides difficile infection is associated with disruption to the normal gut microbiota. Lui and colleagues share a series of cases of Clostridioides difficile infection treated with faecal microbiota transplantation, and recommend wider adoption of this intervention. Hong Kong Med J 2019 Jun;25(3):178–82  |  Epub 29 May 2019	The latest information on the HKMJ CME Programme can be found here: www.hkmj.org/cme/cme.html
CME  Review Article
Statins role in preventing contrast-induced acute kidney injury: a scoping review Anjum and colleagues review the literature on statin use for prophylaxis of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in order to reveal any gaps in the literature and to suggest areas for future research. They found that, despite reported benefits of short-term high-dosage statin use in preventing contrast-induced acute kidney injury, statin therapy is not yet a standard prophylactic regimen. The authors recommend larger well-designed trials to mitigate the wide variations among previously reported results. Hong Kong Med J 2019 Jun;25(3):216–21  |  Epub 29 May 2019
Medical Practice
Peanut allergy and oral immunotherapy Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in the world, and it can be fatal. Lee and colleagues review modern management strategies for peanut allergy, and present their results using a combination of anti-immunoglobulin E and oral immunotherapy in a Hong Kong population. Hong Kong Med J 2019 Jun;25(3):228–34  |  Epub 10 Jun 2019	Image: Petr Kratochvil; CC0
Reminiscence: Artefacts from the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
Glass undines for eye irrigation These two undine ophthalmic irrigation devices were donated to the Museum in 2005 by Dr FK Wong. Made by British surgical instrument specialist, Dixey Instruments, Ltd, the date of production is unknown. They were mostly used between the 1930s and the 1960s before single-use plastic disposable equivalents were available. Although they have retired from use, they bore witness to a fascinating period of eye care and eye diseases in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Med J 2019 Jun;25(3):262–3	Image: HKMJ; CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

With support from the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission, the SZ-HK Medical Specialist Training Centre was formally established by the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine and Shenzhen Medical Doctor Association on 2 July 2019. 

President of the Academy Prof. C.S. Lau, together with Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government Ms. Wu Yihuan and representatives from Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Shenzhen Medical Doctor Association, HKU Faculty of Medicine and HKU-Shenzhen Hospital, officiated the unveiling ceremony held in Shenzhen.  Presidents and representatives of Academy Colleges also attended the ceremony to celebrate this milestone.

HKCOG 31^st Anniversary Ceremony, 1 June 2019
President Prof. C.S. Lau attended the ceremony as a platform guest. He also addressed the newly admitted College fellows and expressed his sincerest congratulations on their remarkable accomplishments.

Opening Ceremony of the Exhibition “The Hong Kong Ophthalmological Development: Past, Present and Beyond”, 2 June 2019
President Prof. C.S. Lau attended as the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. Taking place at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences from June to September 2019, the exhibition also celebrates the 65^th anniversary of the Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society and the 25^th anniversary of the College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong.

32^nd Conferment Ceremony and 30^th Dr. Sun Yat Sen Oration of the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians, 9 June 2019
Vice-President (Education and Examination) Prof. Gilberto Leung attended the ceremony as a platform guest and shared the happiness of the newly admitted fellows who have achieved a successful milestone in their career.

Conferment of the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 23 June 2019
In recognition of President Prof. C.S. Lau’s significant contributions to medicine, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) awarded him an Honorary Fellowship, the highest honour of RCPI.

There will be a booth selling an exclusive range of Maxim’s mooncakes, including the signature lava series, during Yum Cha on 11 August 2019 at 12:00 nn - 3:00 pm. Offer valid while stocks last, and no pre-order is available.

Make a booking to enjoy dim sum with your family members and friends now!

The Academy offers a wide range of venues suitable for meetings, conferences and your special occasions of different scales. Onsite logistical and technical support, event planning as well as catering services are also available. Please click here for details or enquiry.

A wide range of well-designed, quality Academy gifts and accessories are available at the Academy Lounge. You may also place an order by completing and returning an order form to the Secretariat.

• Order Form

The Academy Lounge is a nicely decorated place with cosy atmosphere ideal for social occasions. The Lounge offers a menu of gourmet appetizers and drink specials.

The Academy is organising the 2019 Golf Tournament at Eden Course, Fanling, Hong Kong Golf Club on 9 October 2019 (Wednesday). Shotgun start is expected at 12:30pm.  All participants will be invited to a reception after the tournament, followed by an early dinner with prize presentation and lucky draw.

All Academy Fellows, medical alumni of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The University of Hong Kong are welcome. For more details, please visit http://page.hkam.org.hk/golf2019.

Click here to register now

Deadline for Entry: 16 September 2019
Enquiry: [email protected]

Enjoy 12% off My Floral Tint Afternoon Tea at Lion Rock by presenting a valid Fellowship card at the beginning of meal for a maximum party of 12 until 31 July 2019. Advance booking is required. Please click here for details.

Enjoy the hotel’s opening corporate dining offers by presenting a valid Fellowship card at the beginning of meal.

Blackout dates: 14 September, 1 October, 22, 24-26 & 31 December

Maximum party of 12 person(s) per reservation can enjoy the above offers. Advance booking is required.
*Offers apply before 10% service charge

For details / reservations, please call (852) 3555 1688.

Place order(s) now to enjoy discounts offered exclusively for Fellows

• Imperial Patisserie (leaflet and order form)
• Island Shangri-La (order form)
• Kowloon Shangri-La (leaflet; online order link; promotion code: HKAM )
• Maxim’s (leaflet and order form) *Early bird prices valid till 31 July
• Royal Plaza Hotel (order form)

Should you be interested, please complete and email the completed order form(s) to respective providers. Offers valid while stocks last.

Enjoy 15% off a la carte lunch and dinner by presenting a valid Fellowship card at the beginning of meal for a maximum party of 10 person(s) per reservation until further notice. Advance booking is required. Please click here for details.

Offers are valid for individual travelers only and are not applicable for groups related room blocks or meetings / conferences. Hotels could be contacted directly to enquire about rate details. When making reservations, please quote “Hong Kong Academy of Medicine” and attach a copy of your Fellowship card.

The Hong Kong College of Community Medicine (HKCCM) will be organising the Annual Scientific Meeting on 28 September 2019. The theme of this year’s Meeting is “Looking for future progress in Community Medicine”.

• Registration form
• Programme
• Abstract submission (rules, abstract form)

Please visit the HKCCM website for details:
http://hkccm.org.hk/index.php?route=news/news/get_list&category_id=91

The Scientific Symposium on Emergency Medicine (SSEM), organised by Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine and supported by Hong Kong Society for Emergency Medicine and Surgery, Hong Kong College of Emergency Nursing and Hong Kong Emergency Nurses Association, will be held on 26 October 2019 (Saturday) at the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Jockey Club Building, Aberdeen, Hong Kong.

• Programme
• Register here
• Call for Abstracts

More information will be available at the website: http://www.ssem2019.org/

The Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (“the Ordinance”), passed in November 2018, provides for a new regulatory regime for private healthcare facilities.  Under the Ordinance, all premises where registered medical practitioners and/or dentists practise are required to have either a licence or a letter of exemption from the Department of Health (DH). 

DH is organising a series of briefing sessions on the Ordinance with interactive discussions in various venues on the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, starting August 2019. 

Seats are limited.  Please register early.

For enquiry and registration, please contact DH at (852) 3107 2939.  For details on the briefings and on the regulatory regime, please visit: www.orphf.gov.hk

The Academy is one of the supporting organisations for the Asia Pacific Electronic Health Records Conference, co-organised by Hong Kong Society of Medical Informatics, eHealth Consortium and HL7 Hong Kong, to be held at the Hong Kong Science Park on 17-18 October 2019. 

The Conference will provide a timely opportunity for national policy makers, professionals from healthcare and health informatics industries, as well as the ICT industry players from different parts of the world to share experiences and discuss the policy issues with the professionals and experts in Hong Kong.  For details, please visit the Conference website at http://www.ehealth.org.hk/APEHRC2019

The Academy of Experts (AoE) will run several Expert Witness training courses in Hong Kong in November 2019. The Academy is a supporting organisation for the courses. Fellows can enjoy special rates. All the registrations should be sent directly to the organiser. Please click here for further details.

The Academy supports the symposium, titled “Novel Strategies for Treatment of Neurologic Disease”, organised by the Stanford University School of Medicine to be held in Hong Kong on 16 November 2019.  Speakers will include distinguished faculty and experts in Neurosurgery, Neurology, Radiation Oncology, and Radiology from Stanford University.  The symposium will also feature case presentations with input from local experts.

Please note the following announcement from the Drug Office of Department of Health:

• Gentian violet-containing human health products - Assessing the potential risk of cancer
• Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs): increased risk of recurrent thrombotic events in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (Letter to Healthcare Professionals)
• GLP-1 receptor agonists: reports of diabetic ketoacidosis when concomitant insulin was rapidly reduced or discontinued (Letter to Healthcare Professionals)

The eHealth News is published to help people understand better the latest eHR development. The most recent issue of eHealth News has been published and is available at the Electronic Health Record (eHR) Office website:

• eHealth News (English | Chinese)