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House of Scholars students create community impact with Chinese medicine
29 May 2026
What began as a simple idea to alleviate stress for students in university residential halls has rapidly grown into a significant youth-led community initiative benefiting thousands across Hong Kong.
In May 2025, Chester Chan Chin-ching, and Katrina Tsang Sze-nga, both final year students in Bachelor of Chinese Medicine and Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biomedical Science, co-founded the “Hong Kong Youth Association of Chinese Medicine”. Respectively a Fellow and a member of the House of Scholars, a flagship leadership development scheme under the Office of Student Affairs, they are dedicated to promoting Chinese medicine, inspiring greater youth participation, and bringing its benefits to the community through service, professional development, and cross-sector collaboration.
Applying hands-on experience in the community
“Initially, we had no intention of forming an association,” Chester and Katrina share. “Our first idea was simply to run a Chinese medicine night clinic in the student residential halls to help peers manage exam-related issues such as insomnia, anxiety, and muscular pain, while providing Chinese medicine students with hands-on clinical exposure under professional supervision.”
The event was a resounding success. Backed by support from the House of Scholars, Chester and Katrina received funding, connections with local NGOs, guidance on event management and organisational development, as well as mentorship from an experienced practitioner in community-based Chinese medicine. Encouraged by this support, they scaled their vision rapidly.
Within its first year, the association organised over 40 outreach activities, including Chinese medicine fun fairs, free consultations, health education workshops and long-term community clinics. These initiatives have benefited more than 2,600 people, including the elderly, ethnic minorities, children, and grassroot families.
In addition, the association has brought together more than 200 members, comprising one-third Chinese medicine practitioners and two-thirds students from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, while forging partnerships with over 30 organisations, demonstrating the power of youth-led collaboration grounded in professional knowledge.
Growing through service
The journey was not without its hurdles. While undertaking final-year clinical placements in Guangzhou and preparing for licensing examinations, they also managed all aspects of running the association themselves. “In the beginning, everything was challenging,” they note. “While working alone may be faster, working as a team allows us to go further.” They built a committee of over 40 dedicated members, shared responsibilities according to individual strengths, and built sustainable systems gradually. “The House of Scholars’ goal-setting approach and supportive environment gave us the confidence to execute at scale,” they add.
Chester and Katrina have always been passionate about helping others. Through their studies, they realised Chinese medicine offers a highly practical way for students and young practitioners to apply their knowledge to improve people’s health and wellbeing. They hope to continue working with like-minded peers to contribute in meaningful ways.
Expanding impact
Their future vision includes expanding collaborations with more NGOs, reaching additional districts, and even extending their impact internationally. They also plan to strengthen professional training and development programmes to ensure quality and sustainability.
To inspire fellow students contemplating their own initiatives, they advise, “Things often feel harder when you overthink them. With a supportive community around you, take the first step, and you will be amazed by how far you can go within a year.”
