A family doctor’s artistic dream
In the Mui Wo Family Medicine Clinic, surrounded by lush greenery and overlooking the Silver Mine Bay, Doctor-in-charge Dr Shek Hon-wing is conducting patient in a unique way. Dr Shek has been serving the outlying island for two decades, spending 15 years in the Tai O and Mui Wo clinics. Having practiced drawing since childhood, the paintbrush was once his primary language for exploring the world. Although he stood at the crossroads between Medicine and Art during his university years, his passion for drawing has never faded. While the busy life as a doctor forced him to set aside his hobby, he has rediscovered it through his work in recent years—transforming his past cityscape sketches into comics filled with human touch.
Documenting life: From pencils to stylus pen
From the 5B pencil to the stylus pen, and from urban sketching to digital illustration, art remains Dr Shek's tool for documenting life. His tablet serves as a gallery for his diverse portfolio, featuring fine brush painting, watercolors and landscape painting, alongside the comics he has drawn the most in recent years. His column in the Family Medicine Department's publication, titled ‘My Sheep's Stories', allows him to seamlessly switch between the perspectives of doctor, patient, and carer to share tips on doctor-patient relationships. "Colleagues sometimes lack flexibility, and there can be potential blind spots in the patient journey," he explains. "I hope my comics inspire colleagues to go the extra mile with flexibility."
Last year, General Out-patient Clinics renamed Family Medicine Clinics to better align with the development of primary healthcare services. Dr Shek designed a brochure in a comic style to tell the story of a patient suffering from chest discomfort. While she initially feared a heart condition, her family doctor found that her pain actually stemmed from the grief of losing a loved one. "Family medicine emphasises communication with patients," says Dr Shek. "Beyond examinations, a family doctor analyses the root cause of an illness. Explaining a condition in detail significantly improves treatment outcomes." He believes that painting has gifted him with patience, concentration and communication skills that serve as the perfect ‘remedy' for fostering doctor-patient bonds.
A path where medicine and art intertwine
Currently, Dr Shek focuses on designing patient thank-you cards, brochures, and logos, blending art with medicine. His creativity is highly acclaimed. He cites a quote from the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh: I dream my paint, and then I paint my dream. For him, the first half describes his creative process—the painting composition appearing in his mind before he starts. The second half represents how he has realised the artistic dream deep within his heart through his long years in medicine.
Dr Shek plans to compile his artistic journey, from his student days to his medical career, into a book. While returning to physical painting may have to wait until retirement, his daily work has already merged medicine and design into one, providing a different kind of ‘prescription for the soul' for both his patients and colleagues.
