115 MBBS students from cohorts 2-4 attended the ceremony under the witness of distinguished guests and members of the Faculty of Medicine

Group photo with the second cohort, Year 3 MBBS students

Group photo with the third cohort, Year 2 MBBS students

Group photo with the fourth cohort, Year 1 MBBS students

On 28 September 2022, the Faculty of Medicine of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) held an oath and declaration ceremony for 115 medical students of the 2nd to 4th cohorts at 3:00 p.m. in Block D Auditorium at MUST under the witness of distinguished guests, Faculty of Medicine staff and fellow medical students.

The main guests attending the ceremony were: Chair Professor Paul Tam, Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology;  Mr. Kwong Ying Wa, Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology; Chair Professor Zhu Yi Zhun, Associate Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology; Professor Aliana Leong Man Wai, Associate Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology; Associate Professor Zhang Wei, Assistant Director of the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine of Macau University of Science and Technology; Professor Manson Fok, Dean of Faculty of Medicine of Macau University of Science and Technology; Chair Professor Zhang Kang, Vice Dean of Faculty of Medicine of Macau University of Science and Technology; Professor Nivritti Patil, Vice Dean of Faculty of Medicine of Macau University of Science and Technology; Dr. Valencia Chang, Assistant Dean of Faculty of Medicine of Macau University of Science and Technology; Professor Xiao Ying, Program Director of Food and Nutritional Sciences Program of Faculty of Medicine of Macau University of Science and Technology; Professor Lawrence Lam, Program Director of postgraduate programs of Faculty of Medicine of Macau University of Science and Technology; and all Faculty of Medicine staff.

Prof Manson Fok, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, delivered a welcome speech

The oath and declaration ceremony began with an opening speech from Professor Manson Fok, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. Professor Fok hopes that the solemn medical oath will remind students of the medical ethics and integrity they should establish and the responsibilities they will undertake for through the provision of medical and healthcare. Professor Fok encouraged the students that as a local pioneer of medicine in Macao, the white coat has profound significance.  It represents the professionalism, seriousness, purity and perfection of the medical community, and it also represents the patients’ trust in their doctors. Professor Fok said: "The oath is our commitment to the road of practicing medicine in the future, and we would like to thank our parents for their nurturing grace, humbly learn from our teachers, learn for life with a humble attitude, treat patients with compassion, and make greater contributions to the medical cause of Macao."   Four scholarship student representatives were invited to share their thoughts and experience.  Year 4 student Yan Wa Li, Year 3 student Tomson Ngan Pou Cheang, Year 2 student Millie Ion Cheng Un, and Year 1 student Toby Wai Tong Iao shared their values, experiences and aspirations at medical school. Amongst the student messages, we heard one student express his believe that medical education has convinced him that all people, regardless of color, nationality, religion and political opinion, should have the same right to receive medical care.  He believes that medical education has enabled him to dedicate his love for mankind and to personally promote the principle of equality.  Another student shared her experience of how she was inspired by her teachers at the Faculty of Medicine to face up to any challenges she may face in medical school.  With the help of family and friends she makes along the way, she aspires to be a good doctor in the future who helps people in need.

Under the witness of guests, teachers and families online, students don their white coats and recited the medical oath led by Professor Fok. The Hippocratic Oath, is an oath that medical students around the world formally take before they embark in a career of medicine.  The Oath lists specific ethical principles for medical professionals and the respect they should have for patient autonomy.  Students swear to do no harm, to practice with conscience and dignity, to always honour their profession by always giving the utmost respect to people around them, and to use their medical knowledge fairly. Students also promised to do everything in his or her power to heal the sick, to have good medical ethics, to contribute to society, and to abide by the highest professional conduct in the practice of medicine.

Chair Prof Paul Tam, Vice-Presidence of the Macau University of Science and Technology, closed the ceremony

Chair Professor Paul Tam closed the ceremony. He once again encouraged the students and remarked on the rigor of medical practice. The oath read by medical students is the professional foundation of the physician and has far-reaching significance. Medical work is a respected profession that requires lifelong learning. With the rapid growth of medical technology, Chair Professor Tam hopes that medical students will seize the opportunity to learn about new medical developments.  It has been nearly four years since the establishment of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery program at the Faculty of Medicine. The first opening ceremony was held in 2019, since then the oath and declaration ceremony has been suspended under epidemic safety measures. As the epidemic gradually stabilizes, the Faculty of Medicine is happy that the oath and declaration ceremony can be resumed this year.