My Life in Medicine: A Hong Kong Journey

From humble beginnings in Hong Kong, Yuen Kwok-Yung rose to international prominence as an academic, physician, and microbiologist. As an advisor to governments, he and colleagues made discoveries that helped the world cope in often controversial ways with unprecedented threats to public health, including the COVID-19 pandemic. In this compelling memoir, Dr. Yuen weaves personal stories with those from his extraordinary medical careers to take readers on an inspiring journey about perseverance, courage, faith, and the ongoing peril of infectious diseases. Yuen Kwok-Yung (袁國勇), Henry Fok Professor and Chair in Infectious Diseases of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, is a physician, virologist, microbiologist, and one of the world’s foremost medical and scientific researchers. He has been named as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate and one of the top one percent of most influential scholars in the world. “This autobiography and lesson on medical ethics reveals how Professor Yuen has strived and overcome many adversities to complete his university education and work as a doctor in a public hospital, how fate has made him turn to an academic career and paved the way for him to become a clinician scientist to pursue research. With his curiosity, talents, perseverance, devotion, and excellent leadership he has made his team the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ for emerging infectious diseases. I must say he was the right person at the right time and the right place.Despite his lifelong outstanding achievements, he is a modest person, well aware of his own shortcomings and attributes most of the credit to his teammates.”—Professor Rosie Young Tse-Tse, former pro-vice-chancellor and senior pro-vice-chancellor, The University of Hong Kong“Professor Yuen’s excellence as physician, surgeon, clinical scientist, and public health advisor has culminated in his crowning achievement—the body of research on H5N1 influenza which helped so much to contain the SARS virus outbreak and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic.K.Y. has given us his life story—a fascinating and instructive journey in overcoming hardships, challenges, and vicissitudes. This autobiography will educate readers in humanity, dedication, and unwavering devotion to hard but important work, both within the medical profession and Hong Kong’s wider community.”—Professor Richard Yu Yue-Hong, former president and senior advisor, The Hong Kong College of Physicians“For the many admirers of Professor Yuen Kwok-Yung, this book helps us understand what made him the brilliant scientist, the popular communicator, the motivating leader, the inspiring teacher, the devoted doctor, the devout Christian, and most importantly the loving person. His life story is that of a most representative son of Hong Kong, whose decades of hard work have earned him the respect and trust of the worldwide medical fraternity. His thirst to learn every step along the way has turned what to others might have been negative impediments to positive energy, achievement, and influence. How can we not be touched by his description of his childhood, his relationship with his family, his recollection of his patients, and his recognition for the value of constructive dissent? And we will aways remember his invaluable advice, ‘We must live wisely and fully before our deaths to make life meaningful’.”—Mrs. Selina Chow Liang Shuk-Yee, media expert and former Legislative and Executive Councillor Read more