US health expert backs Hong Kong plan to adopt the American model for third medical school

A top US health expert has thrown his weight behind the approach taken by Hong Kong authorities to adopt the American model in developing a third medical school, citing successful examples in Singapore.

Professor Victor Dzau, president of the US National Academy of Medicine, shared his views on Wednesday before the Chinese University of Hong Kong conferred on him an honorary doctorate of science.

Dzau played an instrumental role in the establishment of Duke-NUS medical school in Singapore in 2005, which adopted the American model admitting degree holders keen on pursuing a career in research.

“When you decide to become a doctor at age 17, you’re very young, and then suddenly your only life is seven years of studying medicine,” he said.

“But this [US] model allows you to study humanities, social science, literature, biology … so you have a very different, and much broader background.”

The joint-degree model would also offer some flexibility, allowing students to receive training and be licensed in both countries, he noted.