News

New publication by RS

New publication by RS We are happy to announce that our new publication, Notes of Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists (in Chinese), was released in March 2021. Prepared and written by the Department’s PT and OT experts under the supervision of Prof. Hector Tsang, Head of Department, the book’s contributors include professors at various levels, clinical associates, frontline physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The stories compiled in this amazing collection are all based on real clinical cases, vividly, intuitively related by the above-mentioned rehabilitation professionals in the form of therapy notes. With the ageing population and growing life and work pressures, chronic diseases such as degeneration of knee joint, frozen shoulder, osteoporosis, stroke, dementia, depression, and occupational musculoskeletal disorder are increasingly common. This book aims to demonstrate, through interesting cases of common medical problems, how physiotherapists and occupational therapists apply professional techniques, equipment and technology to assist patients. Although their treatment methods differ from those adopted in conventional healthcare (e.g. injection, medication, surgery, etc), they are equally effective in relieving patients’ suffering. Moreover, their treatments help to minimise the inconvenience that the diseases bring to the patients and their families, thereby enabling the patients to take a more positive attitude towards illness and life. In addition to introducing the work of physiotherapists and occupational therapists, the book discusses some common diseases and shares practical medical knowledge. We believe that students and general readers who are interested in the two professions will benefit greatly by reading this book.   Notes of Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists (in Chinese) is now available in major bookstores. If you want to purchase the electronic version of this book, please scan the QR Code below:

Deputy President & Provost shared tips on study-life balance with RS high-flyer students

Prof. Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, met with Prof. Hector Tsang (Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Psychosocial Health, Chair Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences and Head of RS), RS faculty members and year-one high-flyer students on 26 March 2021. During the meeting, the students explained why they determined to study physiotherapy (PT) or occupational therapy (OT) programmes at PolyU as well as their fruitful university life. Also, Prof. Wong and the attendees engaged in a dialogue on various topics, such as online teaching, teaching and learning support, and university life. The meeting ended with Prof. Wong’s sharing of the tips on study-life balance. The purpose of the High Flyer Mentorship Programme is to offer student mentees invaluable opportunities to gather, interact and connect with RS distinguished alumni in the rehabilitation sector. The alumni mentors will share their thoughts on learning, pursuit of further studies, personal and career development with the year-one high-flyers. The programme helps to strengthen students’ sense of belonging to RS and PolyU. It also encourages them to take pride in studying PT and OT, and contribute to society with their expertise upon graduation.  

President Teng met with RS high-flyer students

President Teng met with RS high-flyer students Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, met with RS staff and year-one high-flyer students on 16 March 2021. During the meeting, the high-flyer students shared the reasons why they chose to study physiotherapy (PT) or occupational therapy (OT) at PolyU as well as their vision for learning. Moreover, Prof. Teng and the attendees exchanged views on different topics, especially on how they consider online teaching. The High Flyer Mentorship Programme aims to provide a platform for year-one high-flyer students to meet with RS elite alumni from the rehabilitation sector. The students will receive advice on learning, pursuit of further studies, personal and career development from elite alumni who have excelled themselves in the PT or OT fields. The programme helps to strengthen students’ sense of belonging to RS and PolyU. It also encourages them to take pride in studying PT and OT, and contribute to society with their expertise upon graduation.

Visit to School of Dance of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) on 11 Mar 2021

Visit to School of Dance of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) on 11 Mar 2021 Prof. Hector Tsang (Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Psychosocial Health, Chair Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences and Head of RS) and Prof. Amy Fu (Professor and Associate Head of RS) visited the School of Dance of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) on 11 Mar 2021. Professor Anna CY Chan (Professor and Dean of School of Dance of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts) led a tour around the teaching facilities of the school with Prof. Hector Tsang and Prof. Amy Fu. They also explored  collaboration of RS and the School of Dance of HKAPA in the future.    

RS OT student Erina Chow was awarded For Our Future Scholarship

RS OT student Erina Chow was awarded For Our Future Scholarship RS is pleased to announce that Chow Tsz-ching Erina, a year-3 student from the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Occupational Therapy programme, was selected as an awardee under the For Our Future Scholarship 2020-2021 scheme offered by the Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation. Erina is among the 15 awardees selected by the Scholarship Selection Committee with distinguished members of the community. Each awardee will receive a scholarship of HK$50,000. Erina stood out from the 300 applicants with her brilliant academic performance, achievements in personal development and contributions to society. Prof. Hector Tsang (Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Psychosocial Health, Chair Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences and Head of RS) and Prof. Kenneth Fong (Professor and Programme Leader of BSc [Hons] in Occupational Therapy) said they were proud that Erina was awarded this highly competitive and prestigious scholarship. The For Our Future Scholarship is granted to local university students in recognition of their outstanding academic studies, personal development and contributions to the community. The awardees and 200 other applicants of the scholarship will be invited to join GBA exchange activities to explore opportunities in the area.

Eight RS colleagues received Long Service Award

Eight RS colleagues received Long Service Award  We are delighted to announce that eight staff members from our academic team, General Office, and technical support team, were honoured for their loyal service over the years. In the presentation ceremony, the awardees were presented with the Long Service Award individually in acknowledgement of their loyal service to RS for 15, 20, or 25 years. They each received a certificate and a prestigious souvenir as a token of appreciation from PolyU.  The PolyU Long Service Award scheme has been introduced since 1990 to foster a sense of belonging among PolyU staff members and to recognise their dedication and devotion to the University.     

6th Elite Alumni Seminar Online

RS held the 6th Elite Alumni Seminar online The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS) held the 6th Elite Alumni Seminar on 26 February 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the seminar had been changed to online mode. Still it attracted nearly 100 participants. We were very pleased to have Dr Miranda Lou (Executive Vice President of PolyU) deliver her welcome speech and Mr K.K. Ling’s (Director of the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation, PolyU) presence in the event. Two elite alumni, Dr Julie Chow and Mr Schwinger Wong, were invited to be our guest speakers. Dr Julie Chow graduated from the physiotherapy (PT) programme of RS and is now Director, Medical of Union Medical Healthcare Limited (UMH). Having served in senior managerial roles for over 30 years, she is a seasoned and passionate leader with extensive management experience and professional network in the hospital and healthcare industry in Hong Kong and China. During her presentation, she shared her success stories and encouraged the use of advanced technology in the healthcare sector in order to enhance the healthcare ecosystem. Mr Schwinger Wong graduated from the occupational therapy (OT) programme of RS. He is currently Assistant Chief Executive of Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service - Hong Kong. Having over 23 years of experience in different social welfare organisations, he has contributed to the expansion of various service areas and the establishment of many innovative systems including the Dementia Care Mapping. He shared his experience in developing different career paths and hoped that his sharing would attract more young talents to dedicate themselves to rehabilitation services in the community. After the two presentations, the participants raised questions and had active interactions with the guest speakers. At the end of the seminar, Prof. Hector Tsang (Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Psychosocial Health, Chair Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences and Head of RS) delivered a vote of thanks. He expressed his warmest appreciation for the presence of Dr Miranda Lou and Mr K.K. Ling as well as the sharing of the two speakers. He also mentioned that it was good to have such a meaningful event which connected alumni with students of RS and hoped to hold similar seminars regularly in the near future.  

People’s Republic of China Ten Thousand People’s Scheme 2021 (萬人計劃)

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Sun Yat-Sen University have maintained a continuous mutual affiliative partnership in acupuncture teaching and evidence-based research practice.  Freshly, Dr Billy So (Assistant Professor, RS) has succeeded in acquiring a collaborative project under People’s Republic of China Ten Thousand People’s Scheme 2021 (萬人計劃) from Ministry of Education to promote and advance the interconnection in East meets West rehabilitation education between the two universities. With this scheme, thirty-two students from BSc (Hon) in Physiotherapy programme will be funded to participate in the acupuncture clinical internship program at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University. The internship exchange program will last for 20 days starting from July 17, 2021 to August 14, 2021. We aim at providing students a variety of exposures in hands-on clinical application of acupuncture after program completion and we act as a pioneer in empowering RS students to broaden horizons in east meets west rehabilitation. 

RS physiotherapy student is selected as World Physiotherapy Future Asia Western Pacific region network facilitator

RS physiotherapy student is selected as World Physiotherapy Future Asia Western Pacific region network facilitator The World Physiotherapy Future Network aims to engage physiotherapist students and early career professionals with World Physiotherapy and their member organisations, and to encourage, promote and facilitate the interchange of ideas and activities of common interest. Mr Henry Guo, a year-3 student of our BSc (Hon) in Physiotherapy Programme is selected as one of the network facilitators and the only ONE representative serving the network’s Asia Western Pacific region. He would like to share his happiness below: I am Henry Guo, a year-3 physiotherapy student. Having been engaged in global physiotherapy networks like the Asia Physical Therapy Student Association (APTSA) and the World Physiotherapy Future as the representative of Hong Kong for years, I am delighted to be appointed a network facilitator of the World Physiotherapy Future Asia Western Pacific region in February 2021. World Physiotherapy is a global organisation representing physiotherapists from 125 countries, while World Physiotherapy Future Network is a network for global physiotherapy students and early career physiotherapists. We aim to encourage, promote and facilitate the interchange of ideas and activities of common interests. We hold different career webinars and strengthen the bonding between different countries and regions. As a regional coordinator, I am representing the Asia Western Pacific region on the world stage. I am responsible for supporting the network by contacting and engaging with student physiotherapists and early career professionals from different countries within the AWP region, and helping to amplify their voice during discussions within the profession. I am very excited about this challenge. It is truly a valuable chance for me to contribute to the global physiotherapy community and provide help for PT students and early career professionals within the region, in the hope of preparing them better for the challenges in their future career. This is also a good opportunity for me to widen my horizons and build a more extensive network by collaborating with physiotherapists all around the world. I believe the physiotherapy industry in different countries have their unique features and their own strengths which are worth learning. I hope I can join hands with my fellow students and early professionals, and facilitate knowledge exchange within the region during my two-year appointment. Looking forward to serving you all!

A research team led by Dr Andy Cheng from RS and Department of Computing at PolyU has established the “Smart Work Injury Management System” (SWIM)

A research team of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Department of Computing at PolyU has established the “Smart Work Injury Management System” (SWIM) to accurately predict with AI and big data the length of sick leaves and return-to-work trajectory in the cases of injuries at work. Dr Andy Cheng, Associate Professor of RS, said they fed the system with around 90,000 cases collected from 68 insurance companies for building up analytic models through machine-learning.  With the basic information such as age, job nature, salary, injured area and cause of injury, SWIM is able to predict the severity of a case, what treatment should be taken, the possibility of resumption of work, and the amount of insurance claim costs etc.  SWIM’s prediction reaches 70% and 60% in accuracy to assess disability level and number of days of sick leave respectively, both outperforming estimations conducted by humans. Dr Cheng said they hope SWIM’s prediction can be used as a reference for stakeholders like employers, injured workers and insurance companies to acquire a more comprehensive information so as to develop better rehabilitation plans and reduce the chances of work-related injuries. Six insurance companies have already expressed their interest in SWIM. Dr Cheng said they expect to launch a 6-month trial run for these companies earliest by March, and put SWIM to use by the insurance and healthcare industries next year.