Professor Sung Jao Yiu, Joseph
College Head

Biography

Professor Joseph Sung is presently Head of Shaw College. He received his medical degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1983 and obtained the Hong Kong Medical Association Prize in the same year. In 1989 he was awarded a Croucher Foundation Fellowship to study microbial ecology in Canada where he obtained his PhD at the University of Calgary in 1991. In 1997, he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Medicine by CUHK. Professor Sung joined the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK in 1992 and rose to Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics in 1998.

As a gastroenterologist, Professor Sung’s research interests include gastrointestinal bleeding, H. pylori and peptic ulcer, viral hepatitis and cancers of the digestive system. His study on viral genomics and carcinogenesis was awarded by the Innovation and Technology Fund. In 2006, he was awarded the Cheung Kong Scholar by the Ministry of Education of China, the first Hong Kong citizen receiving this award. In January of 2008, the Gastrointestinal Research Group of the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK led by Professor Sung won the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award second-class award for its achievement and innovation in the treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding.

In 2003, Professor Sung led his medical team to conduct a series of studies on the clinical and epidemiological aspects of the SARS coronavirus. With his outstanding contributions during the fight against SARS, he was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government and elected as “Asian Hero” by the Time Magazine.

The fight against SARS has significantly changed the life values of Professor Sung. It makes him understand the importance of life, treasure and care for others. As the College Head, Professor Sung hopes to influence students by his life experience and help them achieve all-round development. He has a passion coming into close contact with students so as to help them understand themselves and seek their goals. He also hopes to see every Shaw student care for the under-privileged, serve society and contribute to the well-being of mankind.

Professor Joseph Sung is currently the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Director of Institute of Digestive Disease, Chairman of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics of CUHK and Mok Hing Yiu Professor of Medicine. As a prolific medical scientist, Professor Sung has published over 430 full scientific articles in top journals and has edited or written more than 15 books.