Pulmonary Health: Interdisciplinary Management

Dr. Shirley Ngai is an Associate Professor of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her basic training is in Physiotherapy with later focus on Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy. Her teaching specialty is the area of Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy, Exercise Science, Research Methods & Statistics. Her research interests include management of airway obstructive disease, cardiopulmonary physiotherapy, exercise physiology and medical simulation. Shirley has led several teaching and learning projects to develop teaching innovation such as Mobile Apps, online resources, Flipped Classroom, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) to address students’ learning needs and to enhance their learning experience. She was the recipient of 2013/14 RS Outstanding teaching award, 2013/14 Faculty award for outstanding performance in teaching (FHSS), 2016 UGC Teaching Award (Early Career Faculty Member) and Second Prize of 2018 National Teaching Achievement Award (Higher Education).

Benjamin Yee read psychology at University College London and completed his doctoral study in the Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford. His early research utilized brain lesions in rats to dissect the contribution of the hippocampus and adjoining entorhinal cortex in memory and a form of learned inattention relevant to the attentional deficit in schizophrenia. After postdoctoral training in Oxford and Zürich (ETH), he assumed the post of research fellow in Hong Kong University, where he continued preclinical research and collaborated in psychological experiments with schizophrenia patients. Subsequently, he returned to the ETH Zürich and worked for over a decade as a senior scientist and a group leader. During this period, his expanded his research in neuropsychopharmacology with the advent of novel molecular manipulations targeting the GABA-A receptor and the glycine reuptake system at NMDA receptors. In the same period, the maternal immune activation model of schizophrenia was established as a means to study relevant early etiological processes. Next, he established a behavioural laboratory at Legacy Research Institute in Portland, Oregon, before joining the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences in PolyU four years ago. Since, he has been exploring opportunities to integrate neuroscience and psychology into the teaching and research of rehabilitation.

Dr. Benson Lau, an Associate Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, has dedicated over two decades to anatomical studies and education. His transformative journey in anatomy education began during his collaboration with Prof. Peter W Lucas in the early 21st century, where he developed his innovative multi-modal approach to teaching anatomy. Drawing from his seven years of teaching experience, he advocates for diverse learning methods including visual, auditory, tactile, and cognitive approaches to enhance student engagement and knowledge retention. Currently, his research focuses on investigating the impact of environmental factors on neuroplasticity and behavior, aiming to develop effective rehabilitation strategies. His commitment to education extends to developing Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) designed to spark and sustain student interest in anatomical studies, while his research continues to explore the intricate relationships between environmental influences and neural adaptation in rehabilitation contexts.

Dr. Alex Cheung is a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His academic journey spans multiple prestigious institutions, including a BSc in Applied Biology from Hong Kong Baptist University, an MPhil in Basic Medical Sciences from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a PhD in Neuroscience from University College London. Dr. Cheung's research expertise encompasses cancer biology, developmental neuroscience, and skeletal muscle stem cell renewal. His postdoctoral work at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney and the Chinese University of Hong Kong further honed his skills in developmental neuroscience and myogenesis. Currently, Dr. Cheung's research focuses on dynamic gene expression patterns during cell differentiation and maturation, tissue injury pathophysiology, and regeneration mechanisms in cell and animal models. Beyond his research endeavors, Dr. Cheung contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate education, particularly in cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology, and nervous system development. His diverse background and interdisciplinary approach make him a valuable asset in advancing regenerative medicine and tissue engineering research.

Bobby Shiu is a Clinical Associate at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Department of Health Technology & Informatics, bringing over two decades of healthcare management experience to academia. Before joining PolyU in 2014, he served as Department Manager at Hong Kong Central Hospital and held senior positions at Evangel Hospital. His academic credentials include a Professional Diploma in Diagnostic Radiography from Hong Kong Polytechnic, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Medical Imaging from Charles Sturt University, and an MSc in Marketing from the National University of Ireland. Shiu has made significant contributions to radiography education through innovative teaching approaches, including leading student teams to success in international competitions and establishing cross-cultural learning initiatives. His achievements include developing a Moldable N95 Respirator project that reached the finals of the Hong Kong Innovation Day, and securing multiple grants for educational development, including HK$1M for MOOC projects on interdisciplinary healthcare management. As coordinator of the Faculty's Freshman Seminar and a key participant in the PolyU-HKU Inter-professional Team-Based Learning project, Shiu focuses on cross-disciplinary collaboration and advancing radiography image interpretation education across health disciplines. His professional service includes roles as Committee Member of the Hong Kong Radiographers' Association and President of the Radiography Alumni Association at PolyU.