New HA Board Member
Professor Anthony Chan: Dedicated to patient-centred care through professional excellence
Professor Anthony Chan has served on the Hospital Authority (HA) Board for nearly a year. Since returning to Hong Kong after completing oncology training in the United Kingdom in 1993, he has been a member of the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for over 30 years, dedicating himself to nasopharyngeal cancer research. He established the standard of care for advance disease, transforming the lives of countless people. In 2023, he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the European Society for Medical Oncology in recognition of his contributions in the field. His patient-centred philosophy remains steadfast over the years.
Embracing diverse voices
"I hope to promote a more refined and transparent system that allows patients, staff and different stakeholders to fully express their views," Professor Chan says. He points out that while Board members come from different sectors of society, he views his role as a ‘bridge' – one who empathises with the pressure faced by frontline medical staff while understanding the vital importance of research in driving medical progress. He believes a robust governance structure must embrace diverse counsel. "Whether it is the needs of patients, the concerns of frontline staff, or the vision for medical research, all must be reflected at the decision-making level. Only then can the healthcare system provide the highest quality of care through the most effective means."
Regarding trends in medical development, Professor Chan believes that artificial intelligence (AI) technology has reached maturity and can help address human resource challenges. "Medical staff often has to handle tedious administrative tasks. If AI can assist colleagues in organising and filtering information, they can free up time to focus on clinical services, research, and further studies. The satisfaction of seeing patients regain health or extend survival through our research findings far outweighs anything."
Teaching the art of communicating with patients
Despite his heavy administrative duties, Professor Chan insists on going to the hospital one day a week to see patients and teach students. He believes that the most important thing to teach students is not knowledge, but how to communicate effectively with patients. "Sometimes doctors use a lot of jargon that patients not only fail to understand, but may even misinterpret. I teach students how to personalise complex medical terms so that patients can understand, make them feel at ease." Professor Chan believes that oncologists and patients have to establish a relationship with mutual trust so that they can stand together against disease.
Professor Chan holds various roles but he remarks with a smile that he does not feel stressed, as he finds music and family provide the perfect balance. Having learnt piano as a child, playing music remains his favourite hobby outside of work. Additionally, walking around the CUHK campus with his wife and enjoying family life also provide a welcome respite. Professor Chan has always remembered the advice from his wife when they were young, and he now passes it on to the next generation. "You must constantly equip yourself. When opportunities or challenges arise, only those who are prepared can be ready when called."
Profile of Professor Anthony Chan
- Pro-Vice-Chancellor / Vice-President (Alumni / Community Engagement & Institutional Advancement) of CUHK
- Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Professor of Clinical Oncology
- Director of the Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer
- Honorary Consultant of the Department of Health
- Cluster Coordinator (Clinical Oncology) of the New Territories East Cluster of the HA
- Director of the Hong Kong Cancer Institute
- Motto: Prepare for a rainy day before it arrives. Do not wait until you are thirsty to dig a well.
