2026.10.09
CU Medicine Celebrates Decades of Philanthropic Support from The Shaw Foundation with Auditorium Opening Ceremony And Seminar on Mental Resilience
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) held the Shaw Auditorium opening ceremony alongside a cross-disciplinary seminar titled “Life as an Arena: Ring, Stage, Operating Table”, served to celebrate the decades of steadfast support from The Shaw Foundation of CU Medicine’s medical education, scientific research and innovation. The event features a special dialogue between Hong Kong award-winning actor Mr Gordon Lam and the Dean Professor Philip Chiu on mental resilience. Dr Raymond Chan, Chairman of The Shaw Foundation, officiated at the ceremony and delivered an address.
The Shaw Foundation has long been dedicated to advancing healthcare and medical education in Hong Kong. Since the establishment of the CUHK Faculty of Medicine in the early 1980s, the Foundation has actively supported its growth, nurturing medical talent to benefit patients and the wider community. In the early 1990s, the gastroenterology team at CUHK and the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) pioneered the application of advanced endoscopy in Hong Kong and Asia. The Foundation’s support enabled the team to introduce cutting-edge endoscopic equipment and expand professional manpower. The Shaw Endoscopy Centre was established at PWH in 1994, providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art endoscopic diagnostic and minimally invasive procedures for patients with gastrointestinal diseases. Over the years, the Foundation has continually funded the acquisition of advanced medical equipment, including modern ultrasound systems, and the renovation of teaching and research facilities, significantly enhancing the faculty’s academic and clinical capacities.
To support CU Medicine in nurturing medical talent, the Shaw Foundation donated HK$20 million in 2001 to build the Shaw Auditorium, which has become a vital teaching facility for the Faculty. It also serves as an exchange platform for international medical conferences and academic forums, witnessing the birth of numerous healthcare innovations and driving medical development both locally and regionally.
In 2025, the Foundation donated an additional HK$10.5 million for a comprehensive renovation. By upgrading the infrastructure, the Foundation aims to provide a modern learning environment for students at CU Medicine and attract top global experts, further strengthening the leading position of Hong Kong as an international hub for medical innovation and academic excellence.
Speaking at the Shaw Auditorium opening ceremony, Dr Raymond Wai Man Chan, Chairman of The Shaw Foundation, addressed: “The Shaw Foundation and CUHK share a deep bond forged over decades of close partnership. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with CU Medicine in cutting-edge medical fields, jointly driving healthcare technology and innovation, translating research outcomes into clinical applications that benefit society.”
Guided by its “patient-centred” educational philosophy, the faculty regards mental resilience as an indispensable core competency for future doctors. Following the ceremony, the faculty held a cross-disciplinary seminar titled “Life as an Arena: Ring, Stage, Operating Table”, featuring acclaimed Hong Kong actor and winner of the Best Actor award at the Hong Kong Film Awards, screenwriter and producer Mr Gordon Lam Ka Tung and Dean of CU Medicine Professor Philip Chiu Wai Tan, moderated by Professor Tony Mok Shu Kam, Associate Dean (Translation and Entrepreneurship) at CU Medicine. Drawing from their personal growth and career setbacks, the three speakers shared candid accounts of how mental resilience helped them overcome hardship, offering valuable stress-management wisdom and life insights to students facing academic pressures and preparing for clinical clerkship.
