A Remarkable Occasion: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences 10th Elite Alumni Seminar

On 12 April 2023, the RS 10^th Elite Alumni Seminar was held and deemed to be a great success. We had the honor of inviting two distinguished alumni, Prof. David Man and Prof. Margaret Mak, to share their personal success stories with guests, teachers, alumni, and students of RS. Their insightful talks have made for a delightful and unforgettable evening for all attendees.

It was our great honor to have Prof. Ben Young (Vice President (Student and Global Affairs), PolyU) deliver the opening speech at the seminar. Prof. Young highlighted that the purpose of the event was to celebrate the 45th anniversary milestone of the RS Department and to provide a platform for alumni to share their experiences and knowledge. He also expressed his vision that by inspiring and supporting fellow students and alumni in their learning and work, a positive contribution to the society could be made collectively.

The event was graced by esteemed guests including Prof. Philip Chan (Senior Advisor to the Deputy President and Provost, PolyU) and Prof. David Shum (Yeung Tsang Wing Yee and Tsang Wing Hing Professor in Neuropsychology, Chair Professor of Neuropsychology, and Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, PolyU). In addition, Prof. Hector Tsang (Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Psychosocial Health, Chair Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences, and Head of RS, PolyU) has delivered a lively introduction of Prof. David Man and Prof. Margaret Mak.

Throughout his career, Prof. David Man has been fulfiling his leading roles in tertiary institutions and exhibiting his professional experience in academic administration and research management. He currently serves as the Director of Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Professor in Occupational Therapy at RS Department, and has held various administrative positions at both departmental and faculty levels. Prof. Man has won numerous competitive grants from different funding bodies and is an internationally renowned scholar in rehabilitation, ranking among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists, as compiled by Stanford University. Earlier this year, he has been appointed as the Vice President (Academic) of Tung Wah College.

Prof. Margaret Mak was appointed as the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Fellow in Rehabilitation Sciences in 2017 and has been subsequently converted to Endowed Professor since 2021, and she is the first academic staff in RS Department to be converted. Prof. Mak currently serves as Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, and as Professor in Physiotherapy at RS Department. Her research focuses on neurological rehabilitation, with a special emphasis on Parkinson’s disease. Prof. Mak is not only an outstanding teacher and researcher, but also holds important positions in Physiotherapists Board of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.

After the fascinating sharing by Prof. Man and Prof. Mak, as the seminar drew to a close, Prof. Hector Tsang extended a vote of thanks to the two elite alumni, guests, and attendees. With joyful farewells, every participants left the event with an eager anticipation for the next Elite Alumni Seminar and the opportunity to reunite once again.