The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) will launch “CU Medicine Plus”, a new learning model, in the 2026/27 academic year. The model will employ a systematic, three-tier structure, exposing its students to diverse learning activities. Over the six-year course of study, medical students will not only acquire advanced medical knowledge and skills (scholar) but also embrace state-of-the-art technology, including AI (innovator), develop leadership capabilities (leader) and involve themselves in humanitarian works (humanitarian). This will better equip them to meet the challenges of the future healthcare system and become a new generation of competent and compassionate physicians.

CU Medicine will launch CU Medicine Plus in the 2026/27 academic year to nurture the next generation physicians who would also be scholars, innovators, leaders and humanitarians. Featured are (left) Professor Samuel Wong Yeung-shan, Associate Dean (Education); Professor Simon Ng Siu-man, Associate Dean (Student Affairs); Professor Philip Chiu Wai-yan, Dean; Professor Winnie Chu Chiu-wing, Assistant Dean (Admissions); and Brian Ng, amedical student representativefrom CU Medicine.

Transforming medical education to keep in step with the needs of our time

To address the challenges faced by global healthcare systems, including ageing populations, chronic diseases and the integration of artificial intelligence, medical education must advance with the times. CU Medicine recognises the need to equip the next generation of doctors not only with essential medical knowledge and skills but also with the ability to have a full grasp of interdisciplinary development and apply cutting-edge medical technologies in practice.

Professor Philip Chiu Wai-yan, Dean of CU Medicine, said: “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China is committed to positioning Hong Kong as an international hub for life and health innovation and technology. As outlined in the Policy Address 2025, the Chief Executive has proposed the idea of nurturing top innovation and technology talent, the policy direction of strengthening professional education, and the goal of broadening international horizons and cultivating a holistic outlook among young people. CU Medicine is fully aligned with this vision and committed to advancing medical education. We emphasise going beyond traditional classroom learning by integrating innovative technologies with medical knowledge. Through earlier exposure to clinical practice, research innovation and humanitarian services, students are equipped to become future leaders in medicine. We are confident that the doctors we nurture will contribute to a more sustainable healthcare system in Hong Kong and the broader region, and will play a pivotal role in enhancing Hong Kong’s global leadership in medical research in the long term.”

Nurturing doctors and so much more

Professor Simon Ng Siu-man, Associate Dean (Student Affairs) of CU Medicine, added: “CU Medicine has pioneered the Global Physician-Leadership Stream (GPS) – the first programme of its kind in Asia for more than a decade. Designed to nurture future leaders in healthcare and research upon graduation, GPS has more than 300 graduates to date. By reviewing and summarising the learning experience of GPS students, we aim to restructure the current medical study framework to incorporate the successful elements of GPS, enhancing the learning outcomes for all medical students. We are committed to equipping CUHK medical students to go ‘‘Beyond a Doctor’’ to become the next generation of physicians who would also be scholars, innovators, leaders and humanitarians.”

The “CU Medicine Plus” curriculum is designed not only to train students as competent medical professionals but also to broaden their horizons for diverse development. To this end, CU Medicine introduces this course to help students integrate medicine with technology and address evolving healthcare challenges, demonstrate leadership and innovation, and apply ethical reasoning and humanitarian values. This will allow them to deliver compassionate, patient-centred care and explore individual career pathways through experiential learning.

Prof Philip Chiu shares that learning to become a good doctor is also about learning to be a good human being. A cross-disciplinary approach will enable students to better prepare themselves for emerging challenges of the 21^st century. Unlike traditional medical education, CU Medicine Plus’s spiral medical education framework progressively integrates inter-disciplinary expertise, leadership, innovation and humanitarian values throughout the course of study, nurturing new generation physicians that are both competent and compassionate.

Prof Simon Ng adds that Global Physician-Leadership Stream (GPS) has over ten years of successful experience. Drawing on its successful elements, CU Medicine develops CU Medicine Plus with the aim of encouraging more students to make good use of their time beyond classroom learning to develop various potentials and become all-rounded medical professionals.

A gradual, well-structured journey across three tiers

“CU Medicine Plus” will involve a three-tier arrangement over six years of medical study:

• MedExplore (Foundation level for Medicine Year 1 and Year 2 students): focusing on whole-person development and interdisciplinary exposure. Students are encouraged to engage in community service and humanitarian work and to select minor programmes such as Engineering, Computer Science and Public Health to broaden their perspectives.
• MedExceed (Intermediate level for Medicine Year 3 and Year 4 students): enabling students to explore various medical specialties through thematic research projects or research internships, helping them identify personal interests and career aspirations.
• MedExcel (Advanced level for Medicine Year 5 and Year 6 students): providing opportunities for specialised research and clinical attachment, empowering students with in-depth understanding of their chosen specialty within real-world healthcare settings.

A showcase of flexibility, sustainability and personal advancement

Prof Samuel Wong elaborates that the three tiers of CU Medicine Plus provide students with a systematic and flexible framework to explore diverse spectrums ranging from whole-person development to multi-dimensional professions.  

Brian Ng, the ex-president of Medical Society of CUHK, shares how he gains diverse experience and develops a broad range of expertise through organising events while engaging in scientific research projects and overseas exchange programmes, which helps equip himself to be a better doctor.

Professor Samuel Wong Yeung-shan, Associate Dean (Education), remarked: “‘CU Medicine Plus’ emphasises flexibility. Rather than mandating students’ participation in extracurricular activities within a fixed timeframe, CU Medicine allows students to flexibly develop personalised study plans that align with their personal interests and needs.We highly value sustainability in our approach to medical education, which will enable students to pursue research opportunities or clerkships without suspending their medical studies. The course is also designed to focus on the advancement of our students’ whole-person development, offering them opportunities to deepen and advance their medical knowledge, as well as enriching their learning and life experience through a tailored and self-directed learning pathway.”