- Event
- Expressions Winter 2024
Students Commit to Clinical Excellence
Third-year students make professional pledge before clinical training
Students receive silver name badges as a reminder of their pledge.
The new Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) Year 3 cohort marked the commencement of the clinical phase of their training at the HKU Faculty of Dentistry by taking a professional oath at a Clinical Pledging Ceremony on 9 October 2024.
The 91 BDS 3 students pledged to offer the best possible standard of oral health care and to uphold the honour and integrity of the dental profession, as they advanced from simulation training in the first two years of the course to clinical skills training. From now on, they will study alongside experienced clinical practitioners and participate in providing dental care and treatment to actual patients at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital.
Dr Spencer Chiu-yee Chan, President of Hong Kong Dental Association, who was the guest of honour at the ceremony, witnessed the oath-taking. He delivered a speech encouraging the students to constantly strive for clinical excellence with compassion to improve the lives of the patients they encounter, prioritising patient well-being and ethical standards in their practice.
Dr Spencer Chiu-yee Chan encourages students at the clinical pledging ceremony.
Dr Chan then witnessed the students sign a hard copy of the pledge and presented them each with a silver name badge to officially mark their transition from preclinical dental students to dentists-in-training. The presentation of the badges was a significant moment, emphasising the importance of the students’ commitment to the dental profession and the responsibilities that come with it. When worn in the hospital clinic and kept as a memento after graduation, the badges will serve as a lasting reminder of the clinical pledge the students took at the ceremony and will inspire them to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, diligence, and patient care throughout their training and career.
The Faculty wishes the students success as they begin their clinical training. We sincerely hope they gain valuable experience, build both competence and confidence, and deepen their understanding of the challenges, complexities, and rewards of delivering quality dental services to the community.
“The BDS year 3 and beyond offers a unique opportunity for students to apply their theoretical and practical knowledge in real-life healthcare settings,” said Professor Michael Burrow, Clinical Professor in Prosthodontics and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education. “The Faculty wishes the students success as they begin their clinical training. We sincerely hope they gain valuable experience, build both competence and confidence, and deepen their understanding of the challenges, complexities, and rewards of delivering quality dental services to the community.”
Students take professional oath to provide the best care for their patients.
A BDS 3 student and her parents mark the memorable event after the ceremony.