• People
• Expressions Winter 2021

A Keen Dentist Embraces His Vocation

A dentist not only serves the public but coheres the community of dental profession in Hong Kong

Dr Century Tsang, Immediate Past President of the Hong Kong Dental Association (HKDA), shared his journey of being a dentist, his vision and his advocacy in the association.

Dentistry and His Life

When we talked about the reason to study dentistry, Dr Tsang mentioned his hobbies forthwith. He enjoys a variety of hobbies such as painting, photography, playing guitar and calligraphy, which are associated with his hands’ dexterity. “I think my hands are nimble and bring me a great facility in practicing the dental skills,” Dr Tsang explained. He recalled his life and studies in HKU were fruitful yet challenging. “I found the programme of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) was easy to handle in the early years. But after I failed in oral surgery exam in the third year, I realized that I had to pull my socks up and work harder,” he revealed. His hard work paid off eventually. He mastered oral surgery and became the Junior Hospital Dental Office in that specialty.

One of his favourite hobbies is playing band music. “I enjoy band music and the team spirit a lot. Group performance and playing music with dedicated people bring me a strong sense of accomplishment,” he said. Besides, he is passionate about helping people through music. He participated in a joint professional fund raising band show for the Great Sichuan earthquake and a charity show for Doctors Without Borders.

Beginning of the Journey

Graduated in 2003, Dr Tsang faced challenges in his career amid the outbreak of SARS. “This experience and the ever-changing environment made me believe that cohesion and peer support are important to uphold our dental profession, especially when it comes to the tough time,” he said. In this spirit, Dr Tsang started to be an active affiliate of HKDA in 2010. He formed the Young Dentists Group with other members aimed to connect and nurture the younger generation of dental professions. “I noticed that there are young groups in many professions, and I wished to start a young branch in dentistry. I am glad that my dedicated colleagues shared the same spirit. The young dentist programme has been well-received,” he said.

Accomplishment as HKDA President

His enthusiasm and success motivated him to take a step further and became the president of HKDA. “Leading the association wasn’t easy in these two years during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr Tsang expressed. The pandemic sweeps over the world and bars us from physical meetings. It brings a tremendous amount of influence to education, the medical industry and beyond. Under the new normal, Dr Tsang not only continued to provide online CPD/CME courses for dentists but also held the 34th Hong Kong International Dental Expo and Symposium (HKIDEAS) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. “I am grateful for the support from the council members which allowed me to run the programmes successfully,” he said. Dr Tsang is also the pioneer of organizing a big-scale event at an exhibition center in the middle of the pandemic. His success was appreciated by the exhibition industry, and they invited him to share his insights and precaution management about arranging an event in the new era. “It was all about the perseverance and hardwork of my team. I am happy to share my experience with other industries,” he highlighted.

A Vocation with a Philanthropic Heart

Being the Convenor of Healthy Smile Cambodia Service Trip, Dr Tsang endeavours to organise the voluntary programme and serve those in need. “Volunteerism is meaningful. I have a vocation to help patients with dental health problems in Hong Kong and beyond,” he said. Due to international travels on pause, the voluntary service campaign to Cambodia has been disrupted in these two years. However, the situation of COVID-19 did not hinder Dr Tsang’s passion. He organised the volunteer symposium and gathered different dental voluntary service groups in Hong Kong to share their projects and experiences. The symposium introduced a variety of outreach projects. It encouraged the attendees to participate in local outreach services to sustain the spirit to serve.

The ever-changing environment made me believe that cohesion and peer support are important to uphold our dental profession, especially when it comes to the tough time.

In addition, Dr Tsang wishes to expand the scale of the overseas volunteer service programme and engage more dentists and dental students in the service team. “The Healthy Smile Cambodia Service Trip was well-acclaimed and gained recognition from overseas institutions. It prompted me to extend the programme to Pan-Pacific regions like Myanmar and Laos, and some remote cities in China,” he explained. He further elaborated his vision to build the networks for the volunteer programme and become the Dental Doctors Without Borders.

“I believe volunteerism in dentistry not only can help the people in need but enhance the professional image and mentality of dentists. Having outreach activities in the community, dentists can meet more people outside the clinic or gain exposure to a new environment. It can help to relax and share their love and care with many other patients. I hope to promote this spirit and positivity to dentists and my colleagues,” Dr Tsang shared. He regards his profession as a vocation, not just a job.

Fostering the Connections

Being a BDS graduate from HKU Dentistry, he eagers to strengthen the connection between HKDA and the Faculty. With the lead of Dr Tsang, HKDA offered free entry for BDS Year 5 and 6 students to attend HKIDEAS that allowing students to know more about the latest research and innovation in the dental profession. Moreover, HKDA fully supported the Jockey Club Children Oral Health Project of the Faculty and co-organised a webinar to help to recruit volunteer dentists for this project in May 2021.

Apart from enhancing the relationship with the Faculty, Dr Tsang also established the Women Dentists Committee (WDC), which is under Dr Flora Chan’s charismatic and visionary leadership, to foster friendship and provide career support to women dentists as well as advocate excellence in dental care by creating professional and personal growth opportunities. The WDC also serves as a platform for women dentists to exchange their ideas and views on issues that are of interest to them. “As a dental profession, we always wish to give back to our community by making use of our knowledge and taking part in oral health promotion activities.” he further elaborated.

Volunteerism is meaningful. I have a vocation to help patients with dental health problems in Hong Kong and beyond.

Dr Tsang also wishes to advance the connection between HKDA, the government departments and different dental specialist associations. “I hope we could do our best to develop a strong community of dental professions and provide sufficient support to the young generation of dentists,” he said.

Stepping down from the position of the presidency, Dr Tsang continues serving HKDA and dental profession without hesitation. He commits himself to promote dental volunteerism around Hong Kong and Asia, nurturing the next generations of dentists and making every endeavor to serve the general public.