Core

Seminar 1

Speaker

Professor Paul W.C. Wong

Speaker

Dr Camille Chan

Topic

The Cost of Caring — Understanding Occupational Stress, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Compassion Fatigue Among Dental Professionals

Abstract

Dentistry's occupational health conversation has predominantly centred on physical hazards, leaving the psychological consequences unexamined. Studies indicated a substantial portion of Hong Kong dentists reported high emotional exhaustion, with patient-related fears identified as the profession's dominant stressors. This seminar introduces participants to the distinct but overlapping constructs of burnout and secondary traumatic stress, and explores how cultural preference for self-reliance among Hong Kong professionals’ constructs obstacles to help-seeking. This seminar will also focus on helping participants understanding their distress and building protective habits, including the less-discussed benefit of compassion satisfaction.

Biography

Professor Paul W.C. Wong is an accredited registered clinical psychologist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at The University of Hong Kong. He has a background as a registered clinical psychologist specializing in suicide prevention research and mental health promotion and practice since 2003. His recent research projects encompass various areas, including youth social withdrawal behavior, the utilization of animals in educational and psychological interventions, positive youth development among local and non-Chinese young individuals, and family caregiving for individuals with psychological issues and people incarceration. His primary research objective is to foster social inclusion within our society and has published over 130 academic articles and book chapters. Additionally, Professor Wong is currently the General Secretary of the Asia Pacific Psychological Alliance, National Member Delegate of The International Union of Psychological Science, Council members and Fellows of the Hong Kong Psychological Society and the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association. He serves as the Programme Director of the Master of Social Science (Counselling) and has received the Faculty of Social Science's Research Output and Knowledge Exchange Awards in 2015 and 2020 and 2024, respectively and have been awarded with several TDGs. Moreover, he serves as advisors and consultants of government bodies, i.e., the Education Bureau, and non-governmental organizations, e.g., MindHK, Zubin Foundation, and Youth Outreach.

Dr Camille Chan is a mental health researcher whose work focuses on the well-being of helping professionals and caregivers in Hong Kong, including veterinarians, social workers, and families of autistic children. Her doctoral research examined stressors, suicide risk, and mental health outcomes among Hong Kong veterinarians, informing education and prevention initiatives. She has designed and evaluated wellness programmes such as animal-assisted mental health education for veterinary students and mindful coaching to reduce burnout in social workers. She also engages in suicide bereavement research and the veterinary social work community. In addition to research, she teaches animal welfare at the University of Hong Kong and provides guest lectures on wellness for veterinary students at the City University of Hong Kong.

Seminar 2

Speaker

Dr Bonnie Chin

Topic

Furcation Involvement: Assessment and Treatment

Abstract

Multi-rooted teeth affected by periodontitis present unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to complex furcation anatomy. As it has been well documented that furcation involvement significantly increases the risk of tooth loss, accurate evaluation and timely intervention are critical. This session will provide a brief review on the assessment of furcation involvement including current diagnostic methods, available treatment modalities and the underlying clinical decision-making to optimize long-term tooth retention.

Biography

Dr Bonnie Chin graduated in 2018 from the University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree in dentistry. She further pursued her studies in the Master of Dental Surgery in Periodontology in the University of Hong Kong and graduated with distinction in 2022. In the same year, she obtained the Certificate of Completion of Specialized Training in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry from the European Federation of Periodontology and the Membership in Periodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Since 2023, she has been admitted to the College of Dental Surgeons of Hong Kong as a member in periodontology and has passed the exit examination in Periodontology in 2026.