In memoriam of Prof. Joseph Wan-yee Lau—our distinguished senior editorial board member
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Professor Joseph Wan-yee Lau (Figure 1), an esteemed Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a distinguished expert in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, more importantly to us a senior editorial board of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nutrition on February 7, 2024. Professor Lau left us in Hong Kong due to illness at the age of 76, just before the Chinese New Year.
Professor Lau has been a giant figure in the field, whose contributions were unparalleled. His leadership in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery earned him a revered place both in China as well as around the globe. He was the founder of the Liver Transplant Center and the Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research Group at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Internationally, he was the first to propose the liver segment-based liver resection, a groundbreaking approach that has significantly influenced the radical resection of liver cancer, hilar cholangiocarcinoma, and split liver transplantation. His efforts unified the nomenclature for liver anatomy and resection surgery worldwide. He was the first to introduce yttrium-90 microspheres [selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)] in the treatment of primary and secondary liver cancer. He was also among the first to perform living donor liver transplants, establishing himself as a foundational figure in liver transplantation within Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Professor Lau’s scholarly output includes over 600 papers, contributions to over 140 books, and numerous lectures at esteemed international medical conferences.
His legacy is adorned with accolades that reflect his dedication and contributions to medicine: the Chair of the Hong Kong College of Surgeons from 1996 to 1999, President of the International Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Association (IHBPA) from 2002 to 2004, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2003, Honorary Academician of the Royal College of Surgeons of Australia in the same year, Overseas Gold Medal by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2006, President of the Asia-Pacific Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Association from 2009 to 2011, Honorary Academician of the Hong Kong College of Surgeons in 2011, Wu Jieping Medical Award and Gold Medal from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2012, Silver Bauhinia Star of Hong Kong in 2013, Outstanding Contribution Award from the IHBPA in 2017, Chairman of the Hong Kong Medical Council from 2012 to 2021 periodically. He also served as an honorary or visiting professor at 18 renowned universities or hospitals internationally, including China, Sweden, South Africa, Singapore, Philippines, India, Nepal, Australia, the United States, Denmark and the United Kingdom.
Professor Lau not only achieved great success in clinical medicine and research but also made significant contributions to medical education, especially in the field of surgery. He developed the surgical education and training steps for the Hong Kong College of Surgeons and contributed to designing examination questions for the Royal College of Surgeons of Australia. His students, spread across the world, are a testament to his dedication, with many surgical colleges in places like the Philippines, India, and Europe inviting him to train their surgeons and organize surgical training stations.
Professor Lau saw the future of medicine in the hands of young surgeons and encouraged them to uphold traditions and strive for innovation. His lectures invariably concluded with insightful reflections on the qualities of an exceptional surgeon, sharing his wisdom in renowned surgical journals. As a former President of the IHBPA, the first Asian to hold the position, he aimed to bridge China’s medical development with the global community to enhance international influence, inviting mainland Chinese medical experts to join international academic organizations and hold influential positions.
We fondly remember Professor Lau’s connection with Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). In July 2010, he delivered a lecture titled “The Ladder to Success” to over 200 faculty and students. In February 2017, he led a delegation from the Hong Kong College of Surgeons and the Hong Kong Orthopedic College to PUMCH to examine the training programs for general surgery, orthopedics, and different specialties, marking a significant step towards aligning our training programs with international standards. In 2019, he was appointed as a member of the Academic Department of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, offering invaluable insights into surgical education at PUMCH.
Today, we reflect on Professor Lau’s enduring spirit, his unwavering commitment to medical education, and his warm heart. His legacy is immortalized in the countless lives he touched and the standards of excellence he set. Professor Lau’s memory will forever be a beacon of inspiration, guiding us toward a brighter future in the field of medicine.
Professor Joseph Wan-yee Lau will be missed by all.
Acknowledgments
Funding: None.
Footnote
Provenance and Peer Review: This article was commissioned by the editorial office, Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nutrition. The article did not undergo external peer review.
Conflicts of Interest: The author has completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://hbsn.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/hbsn-24-137/coif). Y.M. serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nutrition. Y.M. declares no conflicts of interest on behalf all authors.
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