The Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists

My sincere thanks to the support of all fellows and members of the college, as well as all council members, for me to have this opportunity to be President of the Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists. The “mission” of the college, written in the college webpage, is to ensure the quality of our specialists through training, examination, certification, continuing medical education, accreditation and other related activities. Since founded in 1989, the college has been a leader in patient safety, quality improvement and medical education. We should all be deservedly proud of those achievements. However, we are facing major changes in our society especially in the last few years. Those changes are imposing major challenges to our systems. On the other hand, insecurity could bring about a sense of urgency which may drive changes and improvements. “It was the best of time, it was the worst of time,….it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” I think we should reflect on those words of Charles Dickens in The Tales of Two Cities and see how we can make this the best of our time and our spring of hope.

Dr Hing-yu SO
President
2021

Opening and Welcome

Good evening, distinguished guests, colleagues, friends, and new graduates. It is my great honour to welcome you all to the 37th congregation of the Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists. This is a momentous occasion as we gather to celebrate the dedication and achievements of those who will soon be admitted as fellows of our College.

Congratulating Graduates

Tonight, we honor the achievements of our new fellows. To all of you who are about to be admitted, congratulations! You have demonstrated excellence, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to your training, and we are incredibly proud of you. But none of us reach success alone. Behind every accomplishment stand those who have supported, mentored, and encouraged us. I now invite all of our new graduates to stand and wave to those here today—your family, friends, mentors, and colleagues—as a gesture of your gratitude.

Inspirational Quote and Lifelong Learning

As Winston Churchill once said, ‘This is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.’ Graduation marks the completion of one phase, but it is by no means the end of your learning. It signifies the beginning of a lifelong commitment to growth, reflection, and mastery, which are essential in the medical profession. As specialists, you will continue to grow, adapt, and innovate in the ever-evolving fields of anaesthesiology, intensive care medicine and pain medicine.

Reflecting on the College’s 35th Anniversary and My Presidential Term

This year is especially significant as it marks the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists. It is a perfect opportunity to reflect on how far we have come and where we are headed. For me, this is also a poignant moment, as it nears the conclusion of my four-year term as president. I want to take a moment to reflect on what we have achieved together since the strategic planning retreat at the beginning of my term.

Advancing Education and Training

Education is at the core of our College’s mission, ensuring our trainees are well-equipped to meet the challenges of modern anaesthesia practice. Over the past four years, we have made significant progress by introducing structured training and accreditation of examiners, while also reintroducing multiple-choice questions into the final anaesthesia examination. To optimize the use of workplace-based assessments (WBA), we have increased the frequency of trainer workshops and prioritized the development of both trainers and trainees. Recognizing the active role of feedback in learning, we have placed a strong emphasis on feedback literacy, launching WBA workshops tailored for doctors in training across anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine. I will provide further insights into this essential topic in my talk tomorrow.

We have also expanded the use of e-learning; in intensive care medicine, all tutorials have successfully transitioned online, with a similar shift underway for anaesthesiology. Starting next year, we plan to introduce research training to equip our trainees with the skills necessary to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field.

The Board of Intensive Care Medicine has collaborated with the Board of Critical Care Medicine under the Hong Kong College of Physicians to establish a joint curriculum. We have now a joint syllabus, WBA and tutorial program. With the support of the Hong Kong Society of Critical Care Medicine, we have implemented an e-portfolio to facilitate this joint curriculum. Our next step involves progressing towards a joint examination, utilizing modern examination methods. Meanwhile, the Board of Pain Medicine is actively advancing towards the adoption of Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME).

Building a Healthy Clinical Learning Environment

Most of our training takes place in the clinical learning environment. An unhealthy clinical workplace not only hinders learning but also contributes to burnout. The College has implemented complaint management procedures, and in our recent accreditation exercise, we assessed whether training units have established mechanisms to address bullying, harassment, and discrimination. While these measures are essential, they are inherently reactive. Therefore, we have been promoting positive psychology and well-being initiatives within our community. Additionally, we will launch a training program for supervisors of training early next year, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to foster supportive and respectful clinical learning environments.

Nurturing Leadership

Continued improvement in our system relies on effective leadership, and we are facing growing challenges and an even greater need for progress. Overcoming these hurdles will require strong, visionary leadership—not just today, but for generations to come. That is why one of our key priorities has been nurturing leadership within our profession. We have established the Young Fellows Committee and launched the Outstanding Young Fellows Program to cultivate future leaders who are prepared to face these challenges. Looking ahead, we plan to organize an event inspired by the Emerging Leaders Conference of ANZCA next year, aimed at equipping our emerging leaders to meet the demands of the future. I will share more insights on leadership development tomorrow during the Future Leader Forum.

Building International Partnerships

Finally, partnerships are crucial to the continued success of our College. International collaborations with organizations such as ANZCA, the International Academy of Clinical Anaesthesiologists (IACA), and the British Journal of Anaesthesia (BJA) enable us to advance our goals in education, training, research, and leadership. Closer to home, we have established a specialist training program with our colleagues in Shenzhen, fostering mutual support in postgraduate medical education. Locally, many of the initiatives mentioned earlier are in collaboration with the Jockey Club Institute of Medical Education and Development. Our partnerships with sister colleges are equally significant—for example, the Team-Based Trauma Management Course, co-organized by six colleges and inaugurated last month. These partnerships are critical in realizing our vision for the future.

Acknowledgments

None of our achievements would have been possible without the dedication of our council members, committee chairs, and the previous leaders of our College, upon whose shoulders we stand. I extend my heartfelt thanks to:

Dr. Eot Chee and Dr. Steven Wong, our Vice Presidents, and Dr. Simon Chan, our Honorary Secretary, for their unwavering support.  Dr. Benny Cheng, Chairman of the Board of Examination, for his instrumental role in maintaining the integrity and quality of our exams.  Dr. Albert Chan, Chairman of the Board of Education, for his leadership in shaping our educational programs.  Dr. Timmy Chan, Chairman of the Board of Pain Medicine, for steering the board towards CBME reforms.  Dr. Anne Leung and Dr. Kenny Chan, for their contributions to the Board of Intensive Care Medicine, which I had the honour to chair.  Dr. Leo Wat, Chairman of the Board of Censors, for his invaluable work in maintaining our standards.  Dr. Cheng Hung Kai, Chairman of the Board of Accreditation, for ensuring the high standards of our training units.  Dr. Stanley Wong, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, for advancing our research and scientific endeavours.

Lastly, I would like to extend special thanks to our CEO, Ms. Kristy Cheung, and her dedicated staff. Their hard work behind the scenes ensures everything runs smoothly, and they play an essential role in supporting the College’s mission and initiatives.

Closing and Encouragement for the Future

As I reflect on these achievements and approach the end of my term as president, I am filled with pride for what we together have accomplished together. To our new fellows, this is not the end of your learning journey, but the beginning of a new chapter in which you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the College and our profession. You are part of a community that strives for excellence, supports one another, and leads with integrity. I look forward to seeing all of you continue to grow and contribute to the College and our profession in the years ahead.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this special evening.

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