A high-level delegation from Tufts University (TU), a prestigious medical school in the United States, is now visiting the University of Macau (UM) to explore meaningful and sustainable collaborations with the university and also to familiarise themselves with the healthcare infrastructure in Macao.

The delegation is led by Dr Harris Berman, dean of TU’s School of Medicine. In addition to UM’s new campus, the delegation also visited one of Macao’s leading hospitals, Kiang Wu Hospital. Other members of the delegation include Rebecca Scott, senior director of development and alumni relations; Erik Halvorsen, senior executive director of technology transfer and industry collaborations; and Olivia Ho Cheng, board member of Tufts Medical Centre and School of Medicine.

“With totally modernised facilities, a redesigned curriculum that introduces early clinical experiences, new academic partnerships and global initiatives, TU has always been a leader in cutting edge educational initiatives, pioneering in problem-based learning and online multimedia curricular management system known as TUSK,” said Dr Berman. “This comprehensive tool has been exported to many medical schools and healthcare institutions in different countries all over the world.”

UM Rector Wei Zhao said: “The visit cannot come at a more opportune time. First, under the leadership of Prof Chuxia Deng whom we have recruited from the National Institutes of Health, UM has just inaugurated a Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS). The FHS will aggressively develop health scientific, clinical and entrepreneurial activities. Second, with the FHS, UM is exploring ways to develop sustainable collaborations with hospitals in Macao. Therefore, establishing an exciting and lasting dialogue with the leadership of Tufts University could create a win-win-win situation, not only for Macao, but also for the Pearl River Delta region.”

“The School of Medicine and the Tufts Medical Centre makes TU an outstanding medical school in Boston,” said Prof Da-Hsuan Feng, director of the Global Affairs Office and special assistant to the rector. “Also TU is the only large-scale medical facility in the United States that is situated in the vicinity of the Chinatown. This unusual proximity makes them aware of the fundamental importance of Asians’ health care needs, both in North America and of course, by extension, in Asia. It is for this reason that TU is looking forward to seeking partners in Asia to expand its already global operations. Unquestionably, UM as an institution and Macao as a vital city embedded with East-West culture in the Pearl River Delta of China could indeed be one such possibility.”


Source: Global Affairs Office


Media Contact Information:

Communications Office, University of Macau

Albee Lei  Tel：(853) 88228004

Kristy Fok  Tel：(853) 88228006

Email：prs.media@um.edu.mo

UM Website：www.umac.mo