The Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) successfully held a public engagement event titled “Small Bites, Big Threats: Mosquitoes, Ticks and the Diseases They Carry” on October 17, 2025 (Friday) at Block R, MUST.
The event opened with a simple ceremony hosted by Year 2 MBBS students Iris Fung and Wong Ion Him (Jim). Guests in attendance included Dr. Mário Évora (President of the Macau Association of Cardiology), Dr. Monica Pon (Vice President of the Portuguese Speaking Physicians Association of Macau) and Dr. Au Chi Yeung (Director of Medical Services of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions).
Year 2 MBBS students Iris Fung (right) and Wong Ion Him (Jim, left) led the opening of the event.
The event was also attended by Dean Prof. Manson Fok and Vice Dean Prof. Niv Patil, as well as other Faculty colleagues, who actively engaged with students and guests. Dean Fok and Vice Dean Patil commended the initiative as an excellent demonstration of how communication and community engagement form a vital part of medical education and professional development.
Dean Professor Manson Fok interacted with students.
Vice Dean Professor Niv Patil interacted with students.
This event was organized as part of the Language and Communications (L&C) module, a longitudinal component of the MBBS curriculum that runs throughout all six years of study. The module aims to systematically strengthen the communication skills of future doctors, from foundational clinical interactions to complex, community-facing engagements. The Faculty believes that strong communication skills are not merely complementary but crucial attributes for the next generation of medical professionals, enabling them to connect, educate and empathize with patients and the wider public. The L&C module is led by Assistant Professor Olivia Monteiro, Associate Professor Daniel Baptista-Hon and Professor Brian Tomlinson.
During the event, Year 2 MBBS students presented educational posters and interactive displays on Dengue, Zika, Japanese Encephalitis, Chikungunya, Lyme disease, and Scrub Typhus, explaining how these diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks, their symptoms, and practical prevention measures. The students also produced short Instagram reels to further extend public health awareness through digital media.
Guests Dr Mário Évora and Dr Monica Pon quizzed our students.
The event highlighted not only the students’ scientific understanding but also their ability to translate medical knowledge into accessible information for the public. Through live discussions, students showcased clarity, confidence and compassion, which are key traits in effective medical communication.
Dr Au Chi Yeung gave advice to our students.
Guests and participants praised the students’ professionalism and enthusiasm, noting how the activity fostered genuine engagement between medical students and the community. The Faculty of Medicine remains committed to nurturing doctors who embody both scientific excellence and humanistic communication, bridging the gap between medicine and society.
