- Acting Dean’s Message
- Expressions Winter 2024
Tomorrow’s Dentistry Starts Today
Professional and community engagement to meet evolving needs
As a world-leading centre of dental education and research, the HKU Faculty of Dentistry continuously adapts to the changing landscape of dental care to provide exceptional training and advance the field globally. Our forward-thinking strategy of collaborative innovation enables our Faculty to meet the health needs of diverse populations in Hong Kong and beyond, through clinical and community service and by contributing to impactful science and technological development.
An integral part of our strategy is professional and community engagement, ensuring that our dental graduates and researchers are well equipped with the relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to tackle the oral health challenges of both today and tomorrow. Importantly, the Faculty is represented in various committees and societies involved in the development of dental education, research, and clinical care to stimulate cooperation and share best practices in enhancing quality, effectiveness, and alignment with forecast trends. Indeed, in the local context, a coordinated effort is paramount to taking action in response to the findings of the Oral Health Survey 2021 conducted by the HKSAR Government’s Department of Health. The survey shows that common oral diseases such as dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal (gum) diseases continue to be a crucial public health burden, with considerable socio-economic and personal impacts.
Recently, the Faculty has been involved in the Working Group on Oral Health and Dental Care, which was set up by the HKSAR Government Health Bureau to advise on the development of oral health and dental care in Hong Kong, including long-term strategy and priority areas for enhancement. In its concluding report of December 2024, the group highlighted the World Health Organization’s strategy and action plan of promoting preventive primary care services and raising public awareness of the tight link between oral health and general health. The group recommended healthcare service improvements for all age groups, emphasising community-wide preventive primary oral healthcare and essential services targeting underprivileged groups.
Through dedicated initiatives, strategic partnerships, a strong focus on two-way community engagement, and continuous efforts in developing the future generations of dental professionals, our Faculty strives to make a lasting impact on oral health and overall well-being.
As reported in this issue of Expressions, the Faculty has been proactively working towards the same goals by fostering strong relationships with community partners to respond to health concerns, educate on oral hygiene and prevention, and provide accessible dental care to at-risk populations. With charity support, our Faculty has launched Phase Two of the Jockey Club Children Oral Health Project to deliver preventive care and education to local kindergartens, as well as initiated a dedicated clinic service for preschool-age children from low-income families. Meanwhile, helped by non-governmental organisations, our staff and students organised a specially designed clinic day for children with additional needs and outreach services for foreign domestic helpers.
Collaboration with key stakeholder groups including patients, practitioners, public and private sectors, and international research partners of multiple disciplines ensures complex health issues can be researched and addressed effectively and thoroughly. The influential outputs of this approach are evidenced by the global recognition of 17 Faculty members from multidisciplinary fields who were named in the latest world list of Top 2% Scientists. To further strengthen national, regional, and international collaboration, our Faculty has engaged in various networking events including academic exchanges and the signing of collaborative agreements, as well as participation in the annual Hong Kong International Dental Expo and Symposium. Additionally, three deans and one dean’s representative from four Southeast Asian countries met together in a Deans’ Forum for the first time during the Faculty’s Annual Scientific Meeting, to discuss future collaborations and teamwork.
Finally, community participation also features in our academic calendar to cultivate public understanding, nurture meaningful connections, and reinforce the value of community support for the Faculty’s activities. Parents and families joined the Faculty to celebrate and send off our newest graduates at the 2024 graduation ceremony and proudly witnessed undergraduates make their clinical pledge before serving Hong Kong’s patient population. School pupils eagerly took part in the HKU Dentistry Academy for the Talented, and prospective students and their families interacted with staff and current students during the University’s Information Day. Both events offered an inspiring platform for young talents to explore and develop a keen interest in the dental profession.
Through dedicated initiatives, strategic partnerships, a strong focus on two-way community engagement, and continuous efforts in developing the future generations of dental professionals, our Faculty strives to make a lasting impact on oral health and overall well-being. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for oral healthcare professionals.
Professor Lijian Jin
Acting Dean
Modern Dental Laboratory Professor in Clinical Dental Science
Clinical Professor of Periodontology
HKU Faculty of Dentistry