David Todd was born 61 years ago, in the year of the dragon (1928), in Canton, nowadays Guangzhou. His adopted parents were missionaries from United States and his father, Dr. Paul J. Todd, started the Kung Yee Hospital, one of the first medical schools in Canton, which later became the Chung Shan University Medical School. Subsequently, the Todd Clinic and Hospital was built and served the region until this was taken over in 1949 by the Chinese Government and renamed the Second People’s Children Hospital. In 1980, when we were both invited to lecture at Chung Shan Medical School, he...

The cardiac division is an active unit offering increasing services to our local community. It has kept up with advances in various aspects of cardiology, thus maintaining its leading role amongst the government and subvented hospitals in Hong Kong. Since 1974, the cardiac division has been served by the following physicians: Dr. Victor Yan, Dr. T.F. Tse, Dr. Rebecca Wang, Dr. Walter Chen, Dr. P.K. Lee, Dr. Philip Wong, Dr. Joseph Chow, Dr. K.K. Hui, Dr. Y.T. Tai, Dr. C.P. Lau and myself.

In the span of 15 years (1974–1989), the division can view with pride the progressively better...

Clinical Pharmacology, a discipline complementary to yet distinct from basic pharmacology, was introduced into the medical faculty of HKU in 1982 and currently forms part of the Department of Medicine. Its continuing achievements and long-term overall objectives include the following:

Heightening awareness of Clinical Pharmacology and the importance of what it can offer clinicians: First and foremost, this is because treatment with drugs is frequently the final common pathway of medical practice, and deserves at least as much forethought, effort and attention as do diagnostic (clinical and investigative) skills. Secondly, technological advances have generally made the diagnostic aspects of clinical...

In 1974, endocrinology was already an established discipline in the Department of Medicine. A metabolic ward and a hormone laboratory established in the early 1960s provided facilities for patient management, opportunities for training and stimulus for research. However, research efforts were mainly focused on carbohydrate metabolism and thyroid disorders. From 1974 to 1989, endocrinology in the Department of Medicine underwent considerable expansion and diversification. Research directions now include: carbohydrate metabolism, thyroid disorders, neuroendocrinology, metabolic bone diseases and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Our role in patient care expanded from the original two clinics (diabetes and thyroid) in 1974 to the present...

A combined gastrointestinal unit has been set up between the University Departments of Medicine and Surgery since the years of Prof. McFadzean, including a combined ward and a combined gastrointestinal clinic. The combined approach has provided a strong basis for intense basic and clinical research programmes, good-quality under- and post-graduate training, and consequently high-standard, peer-reviewed patient-care. The medical and surgical team has since each subspecialized into solid organ and the lumen, namely hepatology and gastroenterology, following international trends. The Department of Medicine has pioneered the development and training of gastrointestinal endoscopy in Hong Kong. For example, diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP...

Professor David Todd’s inaugural lecture ‘Genes, Beans & Marco Polo’ depicts two of the main areas of research in Haematology. This centres on the two most common genetic disorders in this part of the world, namely, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and thalassemia.

G6PD deficiency is an X-linked inherited condition which affects 4.66% of the Chinese adult males in Hong Kong. Of the three common variants found here, G6PD Hong Kong-Pokfulam and G6PD B (–) Chinese are two novel variants isolated and characterized by Chan & Todd (1). In the steady state, G6PD deficient subjects were not anaemic and autologous red cell...

Immunology and Rheumatology is a relatively new discipline within the Department of Medicine. This was initially founded by Drs. A.K.Y. Lee and L.W. Mak and later joined by Drs. R.W.S. Wong (Rheumatology), K.L. Wong (Immunology/Rheumatology) and K.H. Chan (Rheumatology).

Between 1975–1978, Dr. Mak had set up techniques in complement component analysis and the application of this technology to study the complement profile in various clinical situation. Dr. A. Lee established the facilities for lymphocyte cultures for studies of cell-mediated immunity. Further studies in the immunological aspect of HBsAg in different clinical conditions was continued.

Unfortunately, both Drs. Lee and...

Neurology is a relatively young subspecialty in the Department of Medicine. Prior to 1981, Dr. M. Lee, an honorary member of the staff, undertook the responsibility of neurology teaching and clinical service on a limited scale. Since its inception in 1981, the Neurology Service has been staffed by Dr. C.Y. Huang (1981 to 1986), Dr. Y.L. Yu (1983 to date), Dr. D. Chin (1984), Dr. E. Woo (1985 to 1988), Dr. Y.W. Chan (1985) and Dr. C.M. Chang (1989 to date). The main activities are clinical service, teaching and research of neurological diseases.

The Neurology Service is based at Queen...

A unit specializing in the care of patients with end stage renal failure was first formally established in Tung Wah Hospital in January 1980. Initially only haemodialysis service was provided. To cope with increasing patient load, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was introduced in March, 1983. In the same month, in collaboration with the Government and University Surgical Units, renal transplantation was started in Queen Mary Hospital. In August, 1983, a satellite dialysis centre was opened in Aberdeen. It initially provided haemodialysis service alone but in August, 1986, CAPD training was also started.

Up to September, 1989, our unit has...

Since 1974, the respiratory division has been served by the following physicians: Dr. Donald Y.C. Yu, Dr. S.Y. So, Dr. W.K. Lam, and Dr. Mary S.M. Ip. In addition, Dr. Jane C.K. Chan is completing her 2-year clinical training at Stanford, and Dr. George C.Y. Chan is now respiratory physician-trainee and will be furthering his training abroad next year. Over these years, the lung function laboratory has continuously evolved and modernized: e.g. from the water displacement spirometer (Godart Pulmotest) and Collins respirometer to the Gould 5000IV Computerized Pulmonary Function Tests System (plus the Computerized Pulmonary Exercise Testing System), and from...

It is always difficult to be the last speaker on an occasion such as this. Those who have spoken before have covered all the ground and there is little wisdom left to proclaim. T.K. Chan in his eloquent prologue, has given a comprehensive account of the outstanding achievements of David Todd, the man we honour today, during his long and fruitful career spanning over three and a half decades. The scientific seminar given by his colleagues this afternoon bears witness to the development and accomplishment of the department during his tenure as head from 1974–1989. The rebel that I...