SUMMER / 2008
Your BIG or small Donation
will make an Impact !
The Department of Rehabilitation
Sciences (RS) has been providing highquality internationally benchmarked
entry-level education to occupational
therapists and physiotherapists for 28
years. Our graduates are competent
professionals serving clients in Hong
Kong, Mainland China, and many other
countries. We also offer excellent
opportunities to practitioners and
researchers for pursuing further
education from a disciplinaryspecific or multidisciplinary
perspective in rehabilitation sciences.
In order to achieve its mission of
providing high-quality education and
mediating professional development, our
Department still has a lot to do in the future.
Your support is vital to facilitate this process!
Please offer your support by
making a donation. Your donation, no matter
whether big or small, will make an impact on
the future of rehabilitation in Hong Kong and
throughout the world.
SUMMER / 2008
Also in this issue:
p.2
RS Departmental
Retreat 2008
Leaping Beyond the
Competitive Edge
p.6
Cover Story
In SI CHUAN
Liu Mu-Qing & Dr. Xianna Guo
T
Donation Form
Name:
Prof. / Dr. / Mr. / Mrs. / Ms. / Miss
Address:
Contact Tel. No.:
Email:
Company:
Position:
Year of Graduation:
(For RS alumni only)
Donation Amount:
16
We are determined!
We are ready
for the Olympics!
I wish to contribute to the development of RS;
please allocate my donation for the following purpose(s).
(Please add a “✓” where appropriate)
❏ Research conducted by RS
❏ RS student development
❏ At the discretion of RS
❏ Other (Please specify):
Please make your cheque payable to:
THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
and mail it to:
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
Hung Hom, Hong Kong
Signature:
Date:
** A donation receipt will be issued by the University for
tax deduction purposes
he earthquake measuring 8.0
on the Richter scale rocked
Sichuan province on 12 May
2008. Tens of thousands of
people lost their lives. I couldn't
help bursting into tears whenever
I read the stories about the
earthquake online. I was crying
not only for the dead, but also for
the love and the spirit those still
living have demonstrated. All of
China was mobilized immediately
after the tragedy.
I am honoured that I
had the opportunity to go there
as a volunteer with Drs. Guo and
Zongkang. During my six days in
Our volunteer team
Sichuan, I was moved by the
heroic soldiers, the selfless doctors, the sympathetic volunteers
and the staunch survivors as well.
To aid the victims as quickly as possible, two staff
transported 1000 braces donated by TongJiTang by driving 13
hours without a rest. The
braces were all stored in the
Air Force Chengdu Hospital
(PLA 452 Hospital) late in
the night with the help of
the doctors and soldiers of
the hospital.
We began our
work immediately with the
approval and assistance of
the Sichuan Red Cross the
Applying the brace to an injured lady
following day. We sent 120
braces to Chengdu Building Hospital, where an old woman from
Mian Zhu with a Colles' fracture was treated with one of them.
We also took the braces
to Mian Yang and provided
training to volunteer
orthopaedic teams from
ShangHai TongJi University
and 4th PLA Medical
University, which served
in An Xian.
Although what
we've done might be nothing
compared with the heroic
stories at the very front, I
am still glad that I could do
something for the people
in Sichuan.
We were invited to
attend a celebration of 6-1
Children's Day at the "Steel
Army School" at Du Jiang Yan, and we sent the children electronic
music keyboards, basketballs, volleyballs and chocolates. When
I saw the smile on the children's faces, I saw hope as well. The
disaster may have
taken lives, but it
cannot take away
hope and love.
I'm so proud to be
a Chinese! We'll
always stand
behind the people
in Sichuan because
we are one.
Although
there's still a
Visiting children at a temporary shelter
long way to go to
completely recover from the calamity, we all believe that Sichuan
will win this challenge, and China will too!
SUMMER / 2008
We are DETERMINED!
We are READY for the OLYMPICS !
Clinical Specialty :
My Experience in Hand Physiotherapy
Raymond Tsang
Senior Physiotherapist
Advanced Practitioner in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
Fellow of Hong Kong College of Physiotherapy
Queen Mary Hospital
1985 Physiotherapy graduate
T
he Beijing Olympics
are just around the
corner, and it is
particularly exciting for
RS volunteers, as they
will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
support the Olympics
being held in our mother
country. RS will be
sending forth volunteers
to provide professional
services in sports therapy
for athletes from all over
the world during the
Olympic Games in the
cities of Beijing, Qingdao
and Hong Kong. To
demonstrate their
determination, RS held a
mass pledge ceremony
on 6 May 2008.
In the special
ceremony held on the
PolyU Campus, the RS
volunteers pledged their
We are ready!
support for the Games in
the presence of Prof. Yu Changlong, Counsellor of the
Medical Services/Games Services Department of the Beijing
Organizing Committee for the 29th Olympic Games, who
made a special trip to Hong Kong for this event. He was
joined by PolyU President Prof. Poon Chung-kwong; Prof.
Thomas Wong Kwok-shing, Dean of PolyU's Faculty of Health
and Social Sciences; and Prof. Chetwyn Chan, Head of RS.
A stringent selection process was conducted on the
university campus in March of this year. A total of 15
volunteers were subsequently appointed, including seven
graduates of RS and six third-year and two second-year
students. They will be stationed in the Beijing Olympic
Hand-in-hand support for the Olympics
More than 15 years ago, I was
Village and join forces with mainland therapists in providing
professional services for athletes from all over the world.
In addition, RS will send forth some 21 faculty
members and students to Qingdao - the venue of the 2008
Olympic Sailing Competition - to provide professional services
to sailing athletes. At the same time, 32 students from the
department will assist the medical teams of the Hong Kong
Hospital Authority at the Olympic Equestrian Events and the
Paralympic Equestrian Events to be held in Hong Kong.
We sincerely wish the RS volunteers, joining hands
with other volunteers, good luck in contributing to making
the Beijing Olympics a resounding success!
“Next to the Brain, the Hand is the
greatest asset to man, and to it is
due the development of Man's
Handiwork.”
Sterling Bunnell
taught to treat patients with acute
hand injuries in Queen Mary Hospital
by Mrs. Carol Crosby, one of the
pioneer physiotherapists in
developing hand physiotherapy in
Hong Kong. The '80s and early '90s witnessed many industrial
accidents involving the hands. It was common to see patients
with severe crush hand injuries with comminuted fractures and
complex soft tissue trauma, cut tendons, and digital and hand
amputations. In the orthopaedic wards of Queen Mary Hospital,
there could be 10 to 20 hand patients who needed wound
management, exercise therapy and pain relief treatment given
by physiotherapists everyday.
With the support of Prof S.P. Chow, physiotherapists in
Queen Mary Hospital learned to provide wound care to hand
patients. We learned to use forceps and scissors to debride
wound debris and scabs, whirlpool baths to treat dirty wounds or
open amputations, steri-strips to appose dehiscent wound edges,
as well as to mould deformed pulp shapes. One of the amazing
therapies that I learned for treating acute hand injuries was the
application of boxing glove bandaging. This method of bandaging
is effective in providing rest and reducing oedema in the acute
stage. However, it is not easy to do
properly and requires a lot of practice. I
remember that one senior colleague
spent a whole hour applying the boxing
glove bandaging to a hand patient to
meet the satisfaction of Mrs. Crosby.
When hand patients were discharged from the wards,
they would undergo follow-up in our out-patient Hand Class. In
those old days, we had more than 10 physiotherapists working in
the Hand Class to cope with the large number of patients with
hand injuries. I was once called to return to the department to
help during my vacation leave, as the number of out-patient hand
patients had exceeded 110 that afternoon!
With the migration of local factories to Mainland China
and improved occupational safety measures, acute traumatic
hand injuries have been greatly reduced. More hand patients with
overuse syndromes, infections and rheumatological conditions,
such as rheumatoid
arthritis and systemic
lupus erythematosus,
are now seen.
Reconstructive
surgeries are more
Wound management of hand patient
common and pose greater
challenges for hand
physiotherapists. Continuing
education is essential for hand
physiotherapists to keep abreast
of the trends and best evidence
available in hand surgery and
rehabilitation. We get used to
reading relevant journals,
attending local and overseas
conferences and organizing
lectures and workshops.
After working for
so many years in hand
physiotherapy, I feel that there
is still much to learn!
RS volunteers pledge their support for the Beijing Olympics
Giving a lecture to nurses in a course of flap surgery and rehabilitation
2
3
SUMMER / 2008
OT ALUMNI with Clinical Specialty in
Hand Rehabilitation
Hand Rehabilitation -
A Creative Practice of ART and SCIENCE
Mike Kwan
Senior Occupational Therapist
The Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital
1986 Occupational Therapy Graduate
Josephine Wong
Occupational Therapist
Prince of Wales Hospital
Founding Chairlady, Hong Kong Society for Hand Therapy
During my first three years of clinical
practice at Prince of Wales Hospital, a magic
bond seemed to develop between hand
rehabilitation and my career.
Hand rehabilitation is a highly
challenging specialty in the field of
rehabilitation. The demand for this service
during the '80's was very high in Hong Kong,
and I had plenty of opportunities to nurture
and practise my knowledge and skills through
my day-to-day management of hand injuries.
At that time, labour-intensive
industries on the Mainland also grew rapidly
from the early to mid '80's. The great leap in
industrial development was followed by the
mass establishment of manufacturing factories
there, which also increased the number of hand
injuries, partly due to workers' inadequate
awareness of occupational safety measures.
With the rising demand for hand rehabilitation
services, I visited plenty of provinces on the Mainland from
1994 by participating in the volunteer services. On one hand,
I
still remember when I was bombarded by Dr. Bamboo Dasari at
the anatomy viva during my first year of study - I was asked to
recite the hand and wrist landmarks, and the extrinsic and
intrinsic muscles of the hand. To me, the hand is the most
complex part of the body in terms of musculoskeletal structures.
I ran out of the examination room after the viva, feeling
exhausted but not realizing that threatening experience was the
latent start of my future career.
The first splint I prescribed to a client was a short
mallet splint when I worked in the Kowloon Rehabilitation Centre
in the old days. When I was a brand new freshman in managing
hand injuries at that time, I tried to sew a pressure glove by
myself for my client, who had a burn on his hand, trying to
master a skill which I was really scared of.
The clinical pictures of acutely injured hands change
everyday, no matter how similar the patterns of injuries are. Hand
rehabilitation in its essence is an "art and science" that demands
teamwork from a multi-disciplinary team. It is an "art" when we
always provide tailor-made treatments to our clients which are
individualized according to different clients' conditions. The
creative design of splinting, pressure garment and padding, is
already an excellent "art" we have to perform everyday. It is an
"art" when we use different approaches to communicate with our
clients from our passionate hearts. It is also a "science" when we
apply our knowledge and skills, i.e. basic anatomy and
biomechanical principles, in treatment, which are sound in
scientific basis and is evidence-based.
Every day is a challenge to me. It makes me satisfied
when clients gain from our work; and it also thrills me at times if
I get lost, motivating me to keep on learning day by day.
I provided occupational therapy services, while on the other,
I mentored hospital staff and assisted in developing
rehabilitation services in various hospitals.
With more
than 10 years'
experiences in
volunteer service, I
treasure the
opportunities in
exchanging knowledge
and clinical techniques
across borders; this
in turn has refined my
skills and widened
my horizons, which
used to be narrow
and self-contained.
Geographical
boundaries, language
barriers and resource
constraints should
never become
obstacles hindering
the development of
forward-looking hand
rehabilitation
services in China.
Josephine demonstrating her splinting skills
4
5
SUMMER / 2008
Staff Activities
RS Departmental RETREAT 2008
My Memorable Learning Experience in PERTH
Sammi Tsui
Physiotherapist
Rehabilitation Clinic, PolyU
Leaping Beyond the Competitive Edge
Michelle Leung, Sharon Tsang & Stephen Barker
Organising Team
Retreat 2008
T
he annual departmental
retreat was held on 9 and
10 January 2008. With the
theme "Leaping Beyond
the Competitive Edge" this
year, emphasis was put on
sharing and on discussing
the direction and
Inspiring sharing by Dr. KP Kwan
development of the
department concerning education, research and clinical services
in the coming years.
On the second day of the retreat, Dr. KP Kwan of the
Education Development Centre (EDC) delivered a talk on
"Assessing Programme Learning Outcomes: Challenges and
Possibilities". Dr. Kwan shared his experiences in assessing
programme outcomes and possible methods for further
improving current programmes.
Our colleagues brainstormed and formulated plans for
achieving our goals and vision.
They also enjoyed team-building activities in the form
of a mini-Olympic Games, which further enhanced their team
spirit. They were proud and happy, meeting the challenges of
body flexibility and coordination as well as sportsmanship.
T
had a positive impact on my approach to patients. I also met
hanks to the Staff Development Program, I was given the
physiotherapists from all around the world, including
opportunity to join the Certificate of Manual Therapy course
Australia, New Zealand, Britain, the
organized by Manual Concepts at Curtin
United States, Canada and Brazil. I felt
University in Perth. During this four-week
so excited to have these young,
intensive program (21 January to 15 February
enthusiastic professionals in the same
2008), I learnt many innovative and practical
class, and I broadened my cultural
approaches. The program refreshed my
experience after staying with them. We
concepts of anatomy and pain physiology. It
also explored the beauty of nature in
also taught different approaches such as
West Australia together during the
cognitive behavioural management,
weekend, such as the beautiful
instability and muscle function treatment for
beaches, Swan Valley, Margaret River
chronic low back pain. There were also great
and Rottnest Island. I also had my first
teachers such as Kim Robinson, Toby Hall,
surfing lesson in the fascinating ocean.
Jenny McConnell, Michael Monaghan and
I am so grateful to the Department of
Dr. Peter O'Sullivan. I was so impressed that
Rehabilitation Sciences for giving me
although some of them had different views,
such generous support and such an
we were able to have an open discussion. The
enjoyable and memorable experience
learning atmosphere was so encouraging. It
Practising my manual skills on the lecin my career life.
definitely refined my clinical skills and has
turer, Mr. Kim Robinson
RS Olympic Games: Challenges of body flexibility and coordination
Photos with my classmates from all around the world
Team Atlanta, the gold medal winner of the RS Olympic Games
6
7
SUMMER / 2008
RS Activities
Visit by Prof. Morris Bell
(25 February 2008)
Visit by Guangdong Study Mission
(27 March 2008)
Visit by Chinese Olympic Committee
(28 January 2008)
Visit by Prof. Shi Kan (1 February 2008)
Farewell Visiting Professor, Prof. Birgitta Lindquist (10 March 2008)
Nanyang Polytechnic tours HONG KONG
Stephen Barker
Clinical Instructor
Occupational Therapy Programme
T
wenty-six students from nursing, physiotherapy and
occupational therapy at Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore,
jet-setted into Hong Kong and the PolyU for three days in
March. Hosted by the faculty of Health Sciences and a
programme organized by the Department of Rehabilitation
Sciences, they toured the PolyU campus, visited the research
and teaching laboratories of the Physiotherapy and OT
Department and were entertained with campus cuisine.
They also attended some lectures and socialized with PolyU
students. We were also able to show them the diversity of
health care in Hong Kong, and they visited hospitals in
Shatin and NGOs in Wan Chai.
This was a timely and valuable visit where friends
were able to meet and new relationships begun.
8
We look forward to
the ongoing partnership
with Nanyang health
disciplines as we
learn together.
A special
thanks to all those at
the PolyU, the clinical
settings and the
Nanyang students and
staff for making this a
successful visit.
g Polytechnic
from Nanyan
the delegates
ith
w
o
ot
ph
Group
lyU
Clinic at Po
habilitation
Re
e
th
g
in
Visit
9
SUMMER / 2008
Student's Activities
My MOTTO in Tertiary Education
Agnes Ku
Year Three Physiotherapy Student
The Outstanding Student, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, 2007
I
sound judgements,
t is my honour to receive
and be passionate.
the Outstanding Student
Knowledge is essential,
Award by the Faculty of
but at the same time I
Health and Social Sciences.
know it isn't everything.
It took a lot of courage for
For physiotherapists, it
me to pursue my second
is even more important
bachelor's degree. A few
to give out your heart to
years ago while working
your patients and to
as an exercise therapist,
understand others.
I thought I knew how to
I feel grateful
help clients recover from
to have had different
their injuries. In fact, I
clinical exposures.
encountered numerous
Whether it has been a
occasions where I got stuck.
small- or large-scale,
I have always
in-patient or out-patient
wanted to study
setting, I have learned
physiotherapy due to a fond
to adapt to the
childhood experience with a
environment. I like
very helpful physiotherapist.
working with and
However, timing and other
Photo with Professor Poon, President of PolyU
following up on the
factors prevented me from
same individual patient over a period of time. It has been an
achieving this. My desire was finally reignited after chatting
awe-inspiring experience to go through the recovery stages of the
with a friend. I decided to pursue physiotherapy, as I was hoping
patient. Looking through the eyes of bedridden patients, I can
the program would further enhance my clinical therapy skills,
see their appreciation of my everyday treatments.
which I was interested in doing. Just after my first year studying
Reading through chapters has never been meant to
the program, I knew I had made the right choice, and I have
replace seeing my clinical educators work their magic hands on
never looked back.
patients. Their works of art will likely be imprinted on the screen
in the back of my brain. I will never forget all the critical clinical
reasoning or the crucial basic steps towards having a good
relationship with your patients. These will stay with me for the
rest of my practicing career.
I was once an inexperienced and unfocused
undergraduate. But through my experience over these past few
years, I have concluded that it is only through hard work that one
can be successful. Being hardworking does not mean reading
books and memorizing facts, but making an effort to understand
what you have read from the books and applying it to real-life
situations. Be sure to ask your teachers lots of questions and try
to answer them yourself. The answers your professors/clinical
educators give will forever stick in your brain. You will never
forget what you have been told or scolded or praised for.
To wrap up my three years at PolyU, I would sincerely
like to thank all my professors, clinical educators and friends for
Sharing the happiness with Dean Wong and Professor Chan
their great encouragement of my studies. I hope to utilize all the
skills and knowledge I have acquired practicing on patients. And
Through my last three years, I have learned that to be a
when I receive the appreciation of my patients, I will remember
successful physiotherapist, I must be armed with ample
those who have helped me become a successful physiotherapist.
knowledge, be ready to take on challenges, be able to make
10
An Exciting Program :
OT MSc
Lin Guohui
MSc in Occupational Therapy Student
A
fter finishing a BSc in the Occupational Therapy
programme last year, I was fortunate to receive the
Occupational Therapy Scholarship for Specialization
2007/2008 from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
for my MSc study in Occupational Therapy. In this MSc
programme, I have been learning advanced occupational
therapy practices and research methodology as well as
complementary and alternative therapies. I have also been
learning a lot from my fellow classmates, who are
experienced occupational therapists from different countries
around the world, including Singapore, Japan, New Zealand,
Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Canada, China mainland and Taiwan.
They have opened my mind and helped me better understand
the practice of occupational therapy in their home countries.
We share our experiences, knowledge and cultures, and this
process is developing my ability to view things from different
perspectives. I am enjoying my studies.
Overseas Placement in Adelaide, South Australia
Wincy Ng
Year Three Occupational Therapy Student
In our last placement (January to March 2008), my
classmate Cheri Yuen and I made our way to Adelaide in
South Australia. We worked in a nursing home called the
Lutheran Homes Incorporation (LHI) Retirement Services,
which accommodates elderly people with multiple medical
conditions and cognitive deficits.
During our placement, we took part in the activities
and bus trips for the residents and were involved as well in
Chinese New Year celebration
some individual sessions,
such as hand massages
and multi-sensory
treatment. Through the
activities we learnt a lot
of Australian songs and
slang. We also conducted
some activities for the
residents to
develop their
understanding
of Chinese culture; for instance, we celebrated
Chinese New Year together and made Chinese
calligraphy posters ("Fai Chuen"). This
placement let us learn more about not only the
medical system and occupational therapy
services in Australia, but also the lifestyle and
culture of Australians.
Besides working hard for our placement,
we played hard in Australia too! When we were
staying in Adelaide, our colleagues were so
friendly that they show us around the city and
invited us to their homes. When we finished our
placement, we travelled to different parts of
Australia and felt the uniqueness of the different
states. We had such a valuable and unforgettable
time in Australia.
11
SUMMER / 2008
Overseas Working Experience A Chance to Broaden Your Horizons
Quentin Yau
2004 Physiotherapy Graduate
T
makes you sweat all
he academic year will soon
over when working in a
end, and I guess Year 3
non-air-con ward.
students are hurrying looking
The other challenge
for a job. While choosing
during work is
among working in hospital,
communication, though we
old-age homes or private
have been trained in English
clinics in Hong Kong, have you
since we were kids. We
ever thought of working
should feel competent in
overseas to broaden your
communicating in both
horizons? Take the
English and Mandarin. But
opportunity to build your
when you need to use both
career pathway as well as
languages to assess a patient,
experience the culture of other
explain pathology and
countries. I have been working
prescribe exercise, you will
in Singapore for more than a
find it really hard to deliver
year, and this overseas
efficiently. What makes it
working experience has taught
Group picture of physiotherapy section after weekend workshop in
worse is when you meet a
me more about myself, the
Changi Hospital
Malaysian or Indian who does
profession and the world.
not know English at all; you must then use your creativity and
When I graduated, I decided to explore the world
vivid body language to let them know what you want them to do.
and try to continue practicing my profession. First, I searched
Sit, stand, walk or rest, or you can find nurses to translate for
Internet advertisements and sources from physiotherapists
you. It is definitely not an easy task. The comedy ends when you
currently working overseas. I then sent applications to
gradually pick up some simple phases and understand more
hospitals around the world, and finally I heard back from
about their language - this really streamlines the process of your
Changi General Hospital in Singapore.
assessment and treatment, making everything short and sweet.
Details about the visa are available at:
Points to note when choosing an overseas job:
Working holiday visa
http://whs.esdlife.com
Registration system. Some countries require registration
before you can practice as a therapist.
Contract details. Be aware of the terms and conditions,
especially if you want to break the contract earlier than it states.
Benefits, subsidies, insurance. This is important because it is
your only financial security, especially medical insurance or
benefits. If you are hospitalised, as a foreigner your bill will
be heavy.
Your interests. Choose a country depending on your interests
because you will be spending a long time there.
Australia NSW physiotherapy board
http://www.physioreg.health.nsw.gov.au/hprb/physio_web/how_
apply.html#3
Your profession can be your reason to travel.
Plan your career again — it's worth trying everything when you
are young.
You can contact me to learn more about working overseas.
Cultural differences
Working and living in Singapore is so different
from Hong Kong. The major difference is that Singapore is a
cosmopolitan city. It has four different races of people:
Chinese, Malaysian, Westerner and Indian. You may not
experience a great culture shock here, because Chinese make
up more than half of the city's population, and you are able
to communicate with most people in English and Mandarin.
Besides, Cantonese is also popular in the older
Chinese generation.
Other than the different faces, the other major
problem is adapting to life here. Food, people and the
environment are all different from what you have known.
Among all of them, I found food to be the most difficult to
cope with. I can say Hong Kong really has a great variety of
good food.
Difficulties in work
The clinical setting and work pace is very similar to
what we have in Hong Kong, the only difference being the
weather. Here it is hot and humid throughout the year, which
12
Fun & learning
On the other hand, working overseas has provided me the
privilege to travel. I have been to different places like Indonesia,
Malaysia and Thailand to spend my holidays. During holidays and
my free time, I try to develop my interests in sports. I have learnt
sailing, scuba diving and rugby. The freedom you enjoy here lets
you grow and sharpen yourself in exactly the way you want. You can
always do whatever you like according to your desires.
Exploring the world by working overseas is really a
great experience: you will have a consistent income, make friends
from other places and raise your level of vision because you have
seen more, known more and experienced more, all of which helps
your self-development and your career.
If you would like to experience working in a foreign
culture, you can try applying for an overseas job. Or if you would
like to try it for few months, you could apply for a "working
holiday visa" in New Zealand or Australia. However, you can work
only as a clinical assistant rather than a therapist or temporary
therapist over there, as we do not register under their board. I am
sure you will enjoy it.
Dinner with Dr. Grace Szeto and Dr. Gabriel Ng and with Singapore physiotherapists from Hong Kong
13
SUMMER / 2008
An Extraordinary Placement in BEIJING
News
CONGRATULATIONS
Fung Man Lok, Ernest and Mo Sung Yu, Chloe
Year Three Occupational Therapy Students
Australian Endeavour Awards 2008
Right after the Lunar New Year holiday, five of us headed off for
Dr. Marco Pang was selected as one of six researchers from
Hong Kong to receive the award and support from the scholarship to undertake his research in Australia.
our final placement at the China Rehabilitation Research Centre
(CRRC) on 15 February 2008. After a three-hour flight, we landed
and started off on our five-week journey, which was exciting,
rewarding and unforgettable.
At the CRRC, the Occupational Therapy Department
serves mainly clients with cerebral vascular accidents, spinal cord
injuries and cerebral palsy. During our four-week placement,
(From left to right) Mr. Murray Cobban, Consul-General,
Australian Consulate-General Hong Kong; Mr. H L Kam, Group
Managing Director, Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.;
Dr. Marco Pang, Assistant Professor of RS; Mr. Quentin StevensonPerks, Counsellor (Education), Australian Embassy Beijing;
Prof. Chetwyn Chan, Chair Professor and Head of RS
From left to right: Ernest, Sharon, Mr. Gary Gwo (CE in Beijing), Chloe,
Cheuk and Patrick
From left to right: Ernest, Mr. Gary Gwo (CE in Beijing), Cheuk, Chloe,
Sharon and Patrick
besides practicing our clinical skills we also learnt to provide
occupational therapy intervention using the Beijing
treatment style. Through this valuable
experience, we shared our knowledge
and skills with our colleagues in Beijing.
In addition, it was really nice
that it was arranged for us to visit and
attach to other allied health services in
the CRRC, including Physiotherapy,
Hydrotherapy and the P&O Department.
Besides attaching to the allied health
team, we also had a great visit with the
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Department. We were glad to be invited
to receive a free trial of acupuncture
and "Ba Guan"
. Although
the experience seemed a bit scary, it
was unforgettable.
We also had plenty of
opportunity to explore and experience
the culture and heritage of Beijing. The
most memorable tour in Beijing was our
trip to the Great Wall, which was
organized by the CRRC. With effort and
courage, we all managed to reach the
top of Ba Da Ling.
14
To sum up our five-week trip in Beijing, we developed
a better understanding of the occupational therapy services in
China and how Chinese culture influences the implementation
of rehabilitation services. In addition, we brushed up our
Mandarin speaking skills in an environment where no one
speaks Cantonese. Lastly, we would like to thank the CRRC for
looking after us and the RS Department for providing us with
such a valuable opportunity to experience rehabilitation
services in China.
PolyU Long Service Award
Dr. Stephanie Au Yeung
Ms Christina Ho
Dr. Anna Lau
Dr. Eria Li
Dr. William Tsang
Dr. Simon Yeung
evaluating handwriting performance of
primary school children in Hong Kong.
Cecilia Lam
(Year 3, Physiotherapy)
has been awarded the Sonca
Products Gold Medal.
Keung Tsz Ying
(Year 3, Physiotherapy) has been
awarded the Stephen Kam Chuen
Cheong Memorial Scholarship
(Non-academic Achievement)
Li Cheuk Hin, Ken
(Year 1, Physiotherapy) and
Chung Suk Fan
(Year 1, Physiotherapy) received
the Local Academic Scholarship
from PolyU.
Wong Hock Wing, Winnie
(Year 3, Physiotherapy) has been
awarded the AIA Foundation
Scholarship 2007/08
New Chair Professor of
Rehabilitation Sciences
Prof. Chetwyn Chan, Head of RS,
has been promoted to Chair Professor
of the Department.
Quality Education Fund
Prof. Cecilia Li (HK$2,478,500)
Research Project:
A Chinese Handwriting Assessment
Tool (CHAT) for assessing and
WELCOME
to Our New Colleague
Dr. Jack Lai, Instructor of
Physiotherapy Programme
Editors’ Corner
Editors: Ms Sharon M H Tsang &
Ms Wood P S Lee
Department of
Rehabilitaion Sciences
The Hong Kong
Polytechnic University
Tel:
2766 4332
Fax:
2330 8656
Email:
[email protected]
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