Humanitarian Service Awardee 2024

Dr. LEUNG Chi-hung, Czarina (MBChB 2006) is the awardee in Humanitarian Service 2024 of the Distinguished Medical Alumni Award

To Dr Czarina Leung (MBChB 2006), Awardee of the CUHK Distinguished Medical Alumni Award 2024 (Humanitarian Service), sowing the seeds of hope through health education is as crucial as healing the sick and the critically ill. As a well-respected Critical Care Medicine specialist and the founder of “Be Priceless”, a non-profit organisation delivering free health education named SEED (Self-value, Empower, Educate, and Protect from Dangers) for the children from a disadvantaged background. In the past three years, she empowered more than 2500 children, youth, and caregivers, majority from low-income families, ethnic minority groups and refugee communities, improving their personal growth, well-being and safety.

Working in the Intensive Care Unit of a public hospital in Hong Kong, she is also known for deeply caring for the psychological as well as the physical well-being of her patients. She actively shares her compassion and expertise with the medical community at every encounter, whether she is addressing the communication needs of mechanically ventilated patients in her research,  nurturing the next-generation of doctors at CU Medicine or providing acute care training to healthcare workers in Nepal, India, and Thailand’s refugee camp.

In 2018, she joined the World Health Organisation as a consultant journal editor. She later contributed to building the disaster risk management capacities of member states for protecting vulnerable populations by developing frameworks and technical guidance, including revising Cambodia’s pandemic preparedness and response plan.

She became Johns Hopkins University's Delta Omega Honorary Society Inductee in 2023 and was presented THE ONE Hong Kong 2023 Award for her outstanding contributions to advancing at-risk communities’ public health.

With 22 years of dedication to humanitarian work, she is awarded for her priceless service, reminding us that health care should foster equity, sense of safety, and long-term holistic health.