CUHK
News Centre

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and The U.S. National Academy of Medicine (NAM) today launched NAM’s first-ever International Health Policy Fellowship Program which aims to train and nurture global health policy scholars who can put forth solutions to some of the most critical health challenges facing the world today and in the future.  NAM is a leading independent advisory group on health policy in the United States and around the world. 

The launch ceremony was held today. Officiating guests included: Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President, CUHK, Dr. Victor Dzau, President, NAM, Dr. Edgar Cheng, Chairman, The Lanson Foundation, Prof. Fok Tai-fai, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, CUHK, Prof. Francis Chan, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, Dr. Derrick Au, Director, Centre for Bioethics, CUHK.  Afterwards, Dr. Victor Dzau gave a public lecture on “The National Academy of Medicine: Shaping the Future of Health & Medicine”.  The event was attended by over 150 guests and students. 

The NAM International Health Policy Fellowship Program will provide the opportunity for early- to mid-career CUHK scholars in the fields of bioethics, medical ethics and law, economics and policy, and health care to experience and participate in health care or public health studies that improve the care and access to care of patients in domestic and global health care systems.  The Program will initially run for three years, starting from 2018, with one CUHK Fellow selected per year for the two-year fellowships.  Fellows will continue working at CUHK during their fellowship terms, with six months in NAM’s headquarters in Washington, DC.  At the beginning of their fellowship, they will spend three months at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to learn about the organizations’ activities.  They will actively learn about the work of an appropriate board and expert study committee or roundtable.  Each Fellow will be assigned a faculty mentor who is a member of NAM. 

“Today health issues cross borders.  Key to solving the health issues facing mankind will be global partnerships among academic institutions, the private sector, governments, and non-government organizations such as NAM.  The collaboration between CUHK and NAM aims to nurture future talent to address complicated health issues domestically and worldwide,” said Prof. Joseph Sung.  “Health policy goes beyond individuals to populations, both local and global, and has a long lasting impact at many different levels. Sharing the experience of developed countries and the way that they cope with critical health challenges will be of enormous benefit to Hong Kong, as our own scholars and policy makers seek solutions to the same problems.” 

“The NAM has long been committed to improving health and health care worldwide,” said Dr. Victor Dzau.  “Our international fellowships will train the next generation of health leaders to develop and champion sound, evidence-based medicine and policies that will foster better health in their home countries.  But equally as important, these fellows will also help shape a global network of expertise that will undoubtedly strengthen international efforts to improve health outcomes as well as responses to health threats that affect us all.”

About NAM

The U.S. National Academy of Medicine, established in 1970 as the Institute of Medicine, is an independent organization of eminent professionals from diverse fields including health and medicine; the natural, social, and behavioral sciences; and beyond.  It serves alongside the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. National Academy of Engineering as an adviser to the nation and the international community.  Through its domestic and global initiatives, the NAM works to address critical issues in health, medicine, and related policy and inspire positive action across sectors.  The NAM collaborates closely with its peer academies and other divisions within the National Academies (www.nationalacademies.org).