In Memory of Professor Wah Kit Lam (1947-2022)

Professor Lam Wah-Kit will always be remembered with special fondness and admiration by the Department of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong and the wider medical community of Hong Kong.

His distinguished career as a leading pulmonologist and teacher spanned over four decades of dedicated service to the university, the medical community of Hong Kong and beyond.

He joined his alma mater, the University of Hong Kong, as lecturer in 1975 and from that day onwards embarked on a trail blazing career which left an indelible mark on the lives of those fortunate to have been touched by him - his patients, students and colleagues. Professor Lam was a forerunner in the field of lung cancer in Hong Kong; pioneering research of lung cancer in non-smoking Chinese women. He published well over 200 articles in leading international peer-reviewed journals and made numerous diagnostic and therapeutic advances throughout his career. Professor Lam was a key player in the development and implementation of the university’s new medical curriculum in 1997. He led as Head of the Department of Medicine from 2001 to 2004. He retired in 2008 but continued to serve as Honorary Clinical Professor of the Department of Medicine until recently. He was actively teaching medical students till late 2020, just before his health state prevented him from doing so.

Professor Lam was instrumental in the establishment of local respiratory societies. He was one of the core team of pulmonologists in Hong Kong who founded the Hong Kong Thoracic Society in 1987; the Specialty Board in Respiratory Medicine in 1993; and the Hong Kong Lung Foundation in 1996. These societies were pioneers of continuing medical education in pulmonology in Hong Kong, and important places of knowledge sharing, which provided continuing professional development for aspiring respiratory specialists in Hong Kong. Professor Lam was also one of the core members in the early foundation years of the Asia Pacific Society of Respirology and served as President in 2002-2004, and was awarded the APSR Medal in 2018 for his advocacy of respiratory health in the Asia Pacific region.

As Vice President to the Hong Kong College of Physicians and Chairman of the Education Committee for many years, he contributed significantly in the formulation of guidelines for postgraduate training and assessment in respiratory medicine in Hong Kong. Professor Lam’s renown meant he was able to forge important connections with sister colleges in the mainland and overseas. He represented Hong Kong in the Asia Pacific Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and was appointed the International Advisor for Hong Kong for the Royal College of Physicians of London, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In 2008, he was conferred the title of Honorary Fellow (Fellow Honaris Causa) by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Due to his exemplary service, he was conferred the title of Emeritus Professor by The University of Hong Kong in 2016.

“Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower; we will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind” [William Wordsworth]

In remembering Professor Lam, we must honour the legacy he left behind and carry the torch to continue his life’s work - to further the frontiers of medicine for the betterment of mankind.