The BUddy Post – HKBU Alumni Affairs Office

As the inaugural female Dean of the School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) at HKBU, Professor Li Min brings to her new role a profound sense of both pride and responsibility. Now at the helm, she is committed to guiding the School into a dynamic new chapter—one defined by innovation, global partnerships, and a deep commitment to community wellbeing. “My mission,” Professor Li affirms, “is to strengthen SCM along three pillars: teaching, research, and clinical service.” Under her visionary leadership, the School is poised to further establish Hong Kong as a premier global centre for excellence in Chinese medicine.

Internationalisation: Preparing Students for the Global Stage

Hong Kong has set its sights on becoming a global hub for Chinese medicine. Professor Li envisions establishing SCM as Hong Kong’s premier talent pool for traditional Chinese medicine with deep integration of clinical training and international exchange. “Global vision is now essential. By optimising our curriculum and expanding international ties, we empower students with world-class perspectives.”

“Our future strategies involve deepening partnerships with overseas universities and scholars,” Professor Li says. “We’re actively exploring exchange programmes with leading American institutions to integrate and broaden academic exchange and clinical experiences. Each year, our scholars and research teams join international conferences, understanding the latest developments and sharing our own advances.”

To boost internationalisation, the School is exploring English teaching modules for Chinese medicine courses and preparing master’s programmes combining artificial intelligence (AI), clinical applications, nutrition management, and integrative Chinese-Western medicine. “Our newly formed AI teaching work group is integrating AI and digital tools to elevate the quality of both teaching and learning,” Professor Li notes, “By fostering industry connection and scholarships through donation, we hope more students can widen their horizons and broaden their development through overseas learning.”

Research and Innovation: Integration of Traditional Clinical Wisdom and Modern Precision Medicine

“In terms of scientific research, the goal of the School is to let the wisdom of Chinese medicine drives innovation and translation in modern medicine,” says Professor Li. The School focuses on areas such as biomedical science, disease prevention and treatment, Chinese medicine development, and quality assurance. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, it combines traditional Chinese medicine wisdom with modern innovative technologies to strengthen the synergistic effects of medicine, and applies in both research and clinical practices.

The School collaborates with academic institutions and leading scholars in Chinese medicine and biomedicine, both locally and internationally, to launch projects aimed at developing more innovative drugs and Chinese medicine formulas. “Recently, we have partnered with international academic data institutions to analyse Chinese medicine, with the goal of establishing an internationally integrated hub for Chinese medicine research that combines industry, academia, and research,” Professor Li adds.

At the same time, the School strategically applies for research and development funding, actively negotiates with investors, and accelerates progress through the establishment of research centers, in order to facilitate the commercialisation of new drugs and innovative technologies. The School also regularly organises international academic conferences and summits to bring together industry leaders, scholars, and investors, showcasing local innovations and deepening global exchange.

Deepening Clinical and Community Impact: A New Era with the Chinese Medicine Hospital

Professor Li emphasises that SCM’s clinical and community influence is rooted in its robust partnerships with leading companies and philanthropic foundations. “By expanding community networks progressively, we are promoting integrative collaboration between “traditional clinical wisdom” and “modern precision medicine” to address the evolving healthcare needs of Hong Kong,” she explains. Initiatives include “Celebrating the National Day – Wofoo and HKBU Chinese Medicine Free Consultation Day”, the “Tan Siu Lin Foundation Perpetual Fund for Free Chinese Medicine Consultation Day,” the “Community Care Chinese Medicine Service” in partnership with Sino Group and the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust’s Jockey Club Integrating TCM into Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Project—all exemplify the School’s commitment to public wellbeing.

The opening of The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong in December 2025 with a close teaching partnership with HKBU marks a milestone for SCM. Professor Li believes this will elevate the School’s clinical and community outreach to new heights. “The Hospital will provide our students with a systematic, real-world platform, pioneering a holistic education pathway—from undergraduate, to on-the-job, to lifelong learning.”

With the Hospital’s anticipated high patient volume and diverse, complex cases, students and researchers will gain access to invaluable clinical learning opportunity and a broader spectrum of research data. This will help ensure that both curriculum and clinical practice remain relevant, evidence-based, and innovative. “Our collaboration within the hospital environment, where Western-Chinese integrative collaboration intersect, will further refine our students’ clinical skills and research capabilities—empowering a new generation of practitioners to serve the community with excellence,” Professor Li asserts.

Alumni Leadership Driving Chinese Medicine Forward

Professor Li highlights the vital role alumni play in the growth of the School. “Our alumni are our greatest asset. By sharing their clinical expertise and life experience, they help us nurture talent that meets societal needs,” says Professor Li. Alumni actively serve as clinical mentors and participate in mentorship programmes, while also fostering collaboration across government, industry, and academia. Their involvement in policy advocacy and public events, such as Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Culture Festival, strengthens public trust in Chinese medicine. Professor Li believes that as alumni and the School join forces, they will propel Chinese medicine development in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

Navigating Challenges: The Power of Resilience

Reflecting on more than two decades of service at HKBU, Professor Li describes the SARS outbreak in 2003, social unrest in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic as the most difficult periods. “Under such critical moments, ensuring high-quality education, caring for students’ wellbeing, and sustaining clinical services were extremely challenging,” she admits. “But with unity, we overcame these difficulties and learned to rethink and innovate our approaches to education and practice.”

In addition, she vividly remembers her first encounter with a Parkinson’s disease patient over twenty years ago. Faced with a patient whose life was hanging by a thread, Professor Li overcame her initial unease due to lack of experience, thanks to the trust placed in her by the patient’s family. The patient eventually improved as a result of her prescription. This experience not only changed her research direction, but also strengthened her confidence in utilising Chinese medicine to treat complex and chronic diseases.

Balance and Self-Cultivation: Insights from a Female Dean

As a notable physician and the first female Dean, Professor Li draws inspiration from the wisdom of “yin-yang balance” emphasised in Chinese medicine. “Only by balancing teaching, research, time management, and emotions can we achieve harmony both internally and externally. Success comes from countless experience accumulation and relentless perseverance.”

She encourages everyone to develop personal interests outside of their busy work. “You need to reserve some space for yourself so that your body and mind can remain balanced and joyful.” For her, weekly morning runs by the sea are the perfect way for self-cultivation. She also runs marathons with students, which allows her to experience the importance of perseverance and companionship. Professor Li is passionate about literature; aside from reading, she enjoys writing essays about daily life, which she regularly publishes in newspaper columns to nourish the soul.

Inspiring the Next Generation

“Science may seem cold, but the human heart is warm. As professionals in Chinese medicine during this era of rapid technological development, it is important for us to embrace the belief of ‘uphold the integrity while pioneering innovation, always keeping humanity at the core.’ This has always been the core value of our School,” Professor Li encourages. She believes that by keeping this belief in mind, and with unity among alumni and the School, HKBU’s SCM can become a major center for the global development of Chinese medicine and contribute to the wellbeing of Hong Kong and beyond.