Prof. Rosie Young: Trailblazing Medicine in Hong Kong | The Ethos Podcast #6

The guest for this episode is Professor Rosie Tse Tse Young, an Emeritus Professor and Honorary Clinical Professor for the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). She was the first female dean of HKUMed, as well as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the university. She is a prominent figure in the development of Hong Kong's healthcare system and clinical research scene, publishing over 100 papers throughout her career, especially on hypoglycaemic attacks in hepatic carcinoma patients and periodic paralysis in patients with thyrotoxicosis. She has chaired numerous pivotal bodies, including the Medical Council of Hong Kong, the Working Party on Primary Health Care, and the Education Commission. Her contributions have been recognised with honours including Justice of the Peace, OBE, CBE, GBS, and GBM. In this episode, she reflects on her upbringing in a scholarly family, her leadership at HKUMed, and her role in shaping Hong Kong’s healthcare system. She provides insights on medicine, life lessons, and invaluable advice for future healthcare professionals. The host for this episode is Victoria Chu, an Editor at Ethos. This interview also draws on the book "Rosie Young: A Lifetime of Selfless Service" by Moira M. W. Chan-Yeung, published by Hong Kong University Press (2024). Special thanks to the author and publisher for their remarkable work. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:01 Biography 02:26 Upbringing and family history 07:02 Experience as Medical Dean 12:48 Past research focuses 17:14 Awards and accolades 20:49 Motivations and mantras in life 24:19 Reflections on teaching 26:06 Nature vs Nurture debate 27:58 Advice for future medical professionals 29:16 Past, present, and future of healthcare 33:28 Personal life 35:33 Closing remarks Introduction animation by Veda Lee (@sakuraopalart) and sound composition by Brian Ma. ABOUT ETHOS Ethos is an award-winning publication platform built by students in collaboration with the Medical Ethics and Humanities Unit (MEHU) at HKUMed. The podcast hosts conversations with people within medicine and beyond, diving into their expertise and insights on recent news events. We also explore their personal stories—their upbringing, motivations, struggles, and philosophies that shape who they are. WEBSITE & SOCIALS Website (Publications, Essay Competitions, and more): https://www.ethos.hku.hk Instagram:   / hkuethos   Linkedin:   / hkuethos   Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/iG2Uvs AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0fClXGv... Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/217... YouTube -    / @hkuethos   Email: [email protected]