Q: Why did you choose to study medicine?

A: Since secondary school, I have been deeply interested in issues surrounding life and death. Perhaps it is because doctors have the opportunity to confront death up close, which makes the profession feel unique and better able to engage with this topic—one of the reasons I became interested in studying medicine. In addition, I love travelling and enjoy appreciating beautiful scenery and learning about different cultures. However, being able to travel depends on having good health. Therefore, I hope to become a doctor and, by helping others maintain their physical and mental well-being, enable people—regardless of wealth— to have the opportunity to explore the world and experience its beauty.

Q: Could you share some of your overseas service experiences?

A: Most of my service experience comes from Medical Outreacher, a student-led organisation founded in 2009 by medical students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong. It provides medical and health education services locally, in mainland China, and overseas. At the time, I was part of the mainland service team and travelled three times between 2024 and 2025 to Baise City in Guangxi, where I participated in services with the Red Cross Society of China, supporting children with thalassemia and their families.

I also took part in the organisation’s overseas services. My first trip was in January 2024, when I conducted home visits in mountainous regions of Nepal, promoting basic hygiene practices such as handwashing and proper tooth brushing. In August of the same year, I went to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, where we provided health check-ups for returning migrant domestic workers and other local residents, and delivered first-aid training to primary school teachers.

In addition to Medical Outreacher, I have participated in projects organised by the Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC). This center is a collaboration between CUHK and the University of Oxford, focusing on disaster and humanitarian response, as well as climate change and health. My first project with them was in June last year, when I travelled to Vanuatu to distribute relief supplies. As one of the countries most severely affected by climate change and natural disasters, disaster response is an urgent concern for the local population.

Venus has been served in Guangxi, Indonesia, Nepal and Vanuatu, gaining valuable experience in overseas medical support and health services.

Q: What have you learned from these overseas service experiences?

A : First and foremost, I gained a clearer understanding of the realities of healthcare and hygiene in different regions. For example, in the mountainous areas of Nepal, basic personal hygiene knowledge and public health practices are not widespread. I needed to teach residents how to use cleaning products to wash their hands and brush their teeth, while also encouraging improvements in public hygiene, such as using proper sanitation facilities and separating living spaces for humans and livestock. In Indonesia, I also observed that people in the same occupation often suffer from specific, work-related health issues.

Through these accumulated experiences, I gradually learned not to make assumptions or rely solely on my own perspective to determine the needs of patients and residents. For instance, when serving families of children with thalassemia in Guangxi, I initially planned to share more knowledge about the disease. However, I soon realized that, after years of living with it, they already had a deep understanding; what they truly lacked was financial support and access to suitable blood supplies. Similarly, in Vanuatu, a young girl frequently asked me about the distribution of relief packages. When I asked why, I discovered that she hoped to use one as a school bag so she would not have to carry her belongings in a plastic bag.

These experiences made me realise that, as a medical student, my role in overseas service is limited. I am neither a licensed doctor nor do I have financial resources. Beyond offering basic health knowledge, what I can contribute most is companionship — something especially important for children. I have come to understand that I do not need to impose a predefined role on myself or assume what I ought to provide. Instead, I can learn from those I serve, such as understanding the real challenges patients face and the broader social contexts behind them—for example, the blood donation system and its operations in mainland China are far more complex than in Hong Kong.

Venus will take part in a ten-day visit organised by Chung Chi College in Cambodia this June, to learn about and support AIDS orphans there.

Q: Could you share some of your thoughts about the future?

A: I do not yet have a definite answer regarding my future medical practice, but I am inclined to work on the front lines, engaging directly with patients. By understanding their stories, I hope to truly grasp their needs and help them in a practical, grounded way. If I were to set an ultimate goal, I would hope to join Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). After further developing myself, I aspire to assist those with the most urgent needs, such as the injured and sick in war zones. What I seek is not merely an understanding of the pathology of different diseases, but also a deeper perspective on life gained through helping others. This is also why I frequently leave Hong Kong to take part in overseas service.