On the morning of August 17^th, the ceremony for the establishment of School of Medicine and the Appointment for the founding dean was officially held at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. Prof. Davy Cheng was appointed as the founding dean of CUHK-Shenzhen School of Medicine. 

Prof. Cheng, born in Hong Kong, has nearly 40 years of overseas working experience in medicine. “I always have a wish to bring everything I learned from the international society back to China and build an international medical school rooted in the country,” he said.

Prof. Cheng’s pioneered work in fast-track cardiac anesthesia and recovery has become the standard of cardiac anesthesia and recovery practice in cardiac surgery in the world.

Prof. Yangsheng Xu, president of CUHK-Shenzhen, expressed that the establishment of the School of Medicine is a milestone in the university’s history, which marked the vision of both Shenzhen and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to implement innovative medical education and to deliver international standard of medical care.

Through a video speech, Professor Rocky S. Tuan, president of CUHK and the chair of the Governing Board of CUHK-Shenzhen, noted that the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK is ranked 40th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021. CUHK is willing sharing its successful experience with Shenzhen in the development of the medical school.

The CUHK-Shenzhen School of Medicine is jointly established by the Shenzhen Municipal Government, CUHK and CUHK-Shenzhen in a tripartite agreement in 2019. Under the guidance of the 2030 Healthy China Initiative and the national strategy of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, this School of Medicine is expected to be a global education and healthcare leader to nurture life-long health through innovative learning, discovery, care and leadership. Its mission is to become a destination of choice as a global medical school training new generation of medical professionals, advancing innovative research, providing comprehensive high-quality clinical services, and promoting life-long health with the network of academic health science centers and its affiliated hospitals.

The school will build an international medical education and academic health system by collaborating closely with medical schools and institutions around the world. In addition, the School of Medicine will strengthen cooperation with CUHK-Shenzhen’s three Nobel Laureate Institutes and Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data to implement innovative medical education, research and clinical care.

By far, a total of 24 representatives from medical schools and global institutions including US National Academy of Medicine, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Peking University Health Science Center, World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists St Joseph’s Healthcare London, and others have sent sincere wishes and expressed intentions to collaborate with the school.

The School will welcome its inaugural class of 2021 undergraduates majoring in clinical medicine this September. Under the cultivation of new medicine curriculums and an international academic system, the students will become 21st century medical experts with the attributes as a professional, scholar, health advocate, leader, collaborator, and communicator.

Introduction of Prof. Davy Cheng

Professor Davy Cheng is the Founding Dean of Medicine and Presidential Chair Professor, School of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China beginning in July 1st, 2021. Prior, he was a Distinguished University Professor and Acting Dean in Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University at London, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Cheng received an Ontario Scholar Award into University and completed his BSc (Hon) in Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa in 1977 (Dean’s Honor List). He was awarded Medical Research Council Studentship entering graduate school and completed MSc (Biochemistry) at Western University in 1979. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine (with an Honor Award from the Medical Society), University of Toronto in 1983 and completed his internal medicine internship and anesthesia residency in 1987. He was the Chair/Chief of the Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph Health Care London, Western University (2001-2017); and Chair of the Committee of Clinical Chairs (2012-2016). In 2013, Prof. Cheng was designated as CCPE (Canadian Certified Physician Executive) by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the Canadian Society of Physician Executives (CSPE), and in 2014 was honored with the CSPE Excellence in Medical Leadership Award.

Awards/Honors: Prof. Cheng was inducted as the Centennial President (2018-19) of the (William) Harvey Medicine Club at Western University, London (the oldest medicine club established in 1919 in Canada). In 2019, Prof Cheng was inaugurated the Distinguished Service Award at the Society of Perioperative Research and. In 2015, Prof. Cheng was awarded the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Gold Medal (the highest award for his outstanding contributions in leadership and professional and clinical excellence in anesthesia).