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Education and Training

  • To align with the Faculty’s initiative of promoting “integrative medicine”, the elements related to western medicine have been well incorporated in the curriculum design of both Undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes as to nurture students to become competent and all-round Chinese Medicine professionals. Elements related to western medicine have been reviewed regularly as to keep students abreast of the latest developments and technology breakthroughs in modern medicine.

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Bachelor of Chinese Medicine Programme (BChinMed)

The 6-year full time BChinMed programme offers comprehensive and systematic Chinese Medicine and biomedical sciences courses delivered by teachers from the School of Chinese Medicine and clinical departments of the HKUMed respectively. Throughout the whole programme, there has been much emphasis on fostering inter-disciplinary collaboration with different healthcare disciplines, through various experiential learning opportunities.

Inter-professional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP)

Under the IPECP, BChinMed students engage in clinical case discussions with students of diverse background such as MBBS, nursing, pharmacy, social work and psychology. Together they will propose a care plan as a group, by contributing knowledge of their respective disciplines. Through this unique learning opportunity, students are able to learn from each other as well as attaining a better understanding in the therapeutic approach adopted by different disciplines. It also serves as a simulation of the real life situation where different healthcare professionals work together in clinical settings.

Patient Care Project

Through the Project, BChinMed students work with other students of different disciplines such as Nursing to interact with real patients with chronic illness and appreciate person-centred care.

Bedside training

Each BChinMed student is required to attend bedside training with MBBS students at the medical wards of Queen Mary Hospital, comprising general examination, abdomen, cardiovascular system and respiratory system, and central nervous system. The training aims at equipping students with the essential skills in conducting a clinical examination of various human systems in an organized manner, as well as acquiring the skills in interpreting the relevance of abnormal physical sign(s) elicited during bedside clinical examination. All these learning opportunities/training have not only enhanced the students’ communication and interpersonal skills, but also the development of an open mindset, as well as the awareness of the potential synergy between Chinese and Western Medicine for the benefit of patients in future.

Master of Chinese Medicine (MChinMed)

Following to the launch of the revamped 2-year part-time MChinMed curriculum in 2019/2020, there are three streams at present, namely Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Gynaecology and Oncology. Under the new curriculum, students are required to attend common courses regardless of the streams during the first semester of their studies, followed by the core courses, clinical attachment and capstone in later years of their studies. Among the core courses, other than the principal theories and concepts of Chinese medicine, there are also much coverage on the western medicine discipline, equipping students with the essential knowledge with respect to their streams from the perspective of western medicine. For example, for the stream of Oncology, one of the core courses “Introduction to Oncology for Chinese Medicine Practitioners” covers an overview of the modern diagnostic approach adopted in western medicine, including underlying concepts, investigations such as laboratory tests and radiology, and practical applications for treating illnesses related to Oncology. For the stream of Gynecology, teaching staff from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology have been invited to deliver specific topics on common examinations adopted in western medicine, including pelvic examination, cervical smear, laparoscopy, and common lab tests such as hormonal assays and the strengths and drawbacks of ultrasonography, etc. There is a distinguishable core course “Distinctive Therapies for Gynaecological Illnesses by Chinese and Western Medicine” under which the strengths and weaknesses of both Chinese and western medicine disciplines are elaborated and several major illnesses such as Endometriosis, Intrauterine adhesions are discussed. Besides, assisted reproduction of the western medicine is covered as well. As for the stream of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, there is also a core course “Biomedical Courses Allied to Acupuncture” through which essential topics such as neurochemistry in terms of biochemical basis of neural functions, equipping students with the modern knowledge in the safety, role and mechanism of the use of acupuncture. Other than the conventional lectures, there is also a visit to the anatomy lab to reinforce students’ understanding of the mechanism by observing specimens and detailed explanation.

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Chinese medicine courses offered to health-related professional programmes

The School has been proactive in promoting the Chinese medicine and embraced integrative medicine among different schools/departments under the HKUMed with no effort spared. It engaged in delivering basic Chinese medicine knowledge and theories for BNurs, MSc(Nurs), BPharm and MBBS students. The collaborations with various departments, Schools and the Faculty help promote the importance of integrative medicine and enhance the awareness among the students, and teaching staff as well, paving way for the favourbale development of integrative medicine in near future.

BNurs & MSc(Nurs) students

For more than a decade, the Chinese medicine course for BNurs students aims to provide them a knowledge framework consisting of basic concepts, fundamental theories and commonly used therapeutic modalities of Chinese medicine. It is hoped that through the course, students are capable to get a basic understanding of Chinese Medicine system, enhance their awareness of implementing Chinese medicine in Nursing and clinical practice. Major topics include pathology, physiology , diagnostics of TCM, acupuncture and related therapies, etc. Following to the restructuring of the BNurs programme in 2021-22 , a total of additional 6 teaching hours have been added to the re-vamped course in 2022-23, to which in-depth analysis on the treatment approach adopted by Chinese medicine with respect to specific illnesses such as mental disorder, cardio-vascular diseases and oncological illnesses are introduced. The course has been well received by the students throughout the past years. With effect from 2023-24, the School has also delivered Chinese medicine teaching for students of the self-funded MSc(Nurs) programme. In addition to the conventional lectures, a 1.5-day visit to the Chinese Medicine Department at HKU-Shenzhen Hospital has also been arranged as an experiential learning activity as to enable the MSc(Nurs) students to gain the exposure of how Chinese medicine theories and concepts could be applied in the nursing care of patients in practical settings. With the relatively large annual students’ enrollment of around 240 for both UG and TPg courses, it helps reinforce the importance of adopting integrative medicine across different professional disciplines under the Faculty.

MBBS students

Likewise, the Chinese medicine teaching offered to MBBS students has been regularly reviewed and evolved throughout the past years as to meet the changing training needs of the students as well as the increasing recognition of the therapeutic effectiveness of Chinese Medicine among the general public, particularly in relieving the complications during the recovery of the COVID-19 epidemic. The Chinese medicine teaching used to comprise conventional lectures, demonstration on acupuncture and cupping, as well as visits to Chinese medicine clinics. During the visit, students are able to witness how Chinese Medicine practitioners conduct diagnosis and perform treatment, as well as developing the awareness that both the Chinese and Western Medicine may supplement each other as to maximize the therapeutic effect for the benefit of patients. To align with the Government’s initiative of promoting the adoption of an integrative medicine approach, there has been active discussion among which additional sessions focusing on specific diseases such as cancer, and cardio-vascular and cerebrovascular diseases, etc., will be delivered when the students start their clinical training in their senior years with effect from the academic year 2024/25. Under this re-structured framework, students may gain insights in how integrative approaches can be applied in real-world clinical scenarios in the sense that they would have a better grasp of the suitable point where Chinese medicine treatment may be adopted in additional to Western Medicine treatment. Under such new arrangement, not only there will be a continuation of the Chinese medicine element alongside the MBBS curriculum, this approach also advocates inter-professional collaboration, emphasis on providing holistic, patient-centered care for the benefit of patients.

BPharm students

This elective course for BPharm students aims at introducing the basic theories, principles and practice of Chinese medicine, enabling these students to appreciate the differences between Chinese Materia Medica and pharmacy in concepts, theories and practices, increasing the awareness of Pharmacy professionals about the common use of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong community, improving communication and promoting interactions between Pharmacists and Chinese medicine practitioners in patients’ care. Recognizing the significance of integrative medicine, the School of Chinese Medicine and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy have launched discussion for revamping the educational framework of Chinese medicine in the tertiary professional training of Pharmacists in HKUMed, by trying to introducing more fundamental Chinese medicine theories to students during their earlier stage of studies, and offering detailed analysis of some pre-selected illnesses such as endocrine system, cardio-vascular diseases, immune diseases, etc. later years of studies.

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Common Core Course offered to all HKU students in different disciplines

CCCH9029 Ideas and Practices of Healing Arts in Traditional Chinese Medicine is a common core course that introduces HKU students from all disciplines to the ideas and practices of healing arts in TCM. It explores ancient Chinese philosophy and the dynamic development of TCM, aiming to enhance students' interests in ancient medical practices and enrich their knowledge of key concepts in medical sciences, philosophy, religion, and literature. By engaging in cross-cultural inquiry and comparing TCM with modern medicine, students will delve into influential TCM theories such as Yin-Yang and Qi, while participating in debates and hands-on experiences to stimulate critical thinking and foster cross-cultural discussions.

Certificate in Chinese Medicine for Medical and Healthcare Professionals

(Coming Soon)