Effective '4Cs' techniques to train doctor-to-be

Dr Law Man-fai
Associate Consultant (Medicine and Therapeutics)
Prince of Wales Hospital

“One has finite capacity in treating patients. If I spend my effort in nurturing doctors-to-be as the future of HA, they will bring long term and profound benefits in patient care,” says Dr Law Man-fai, who shows his extraordinary passion in teaching.

With over 10 years of teaching experience, Dr Law used a ‘4Cs’ teaching approach, that is to enhance students’ competence based on their potentials; to encourage two-way communication with patients; to stimulate their curiosity in each case, and; to remind the students of the importance of compassion to heal patients physically and spiritually. Dr Law’s teaching approach is broadly welcomed by students. He used to teach four clinical tutorial classes per year. However, on students’ request, he teaches over a hundred episodes of bedside teaching in his spare time per year, with each class lasting for three hours, or five hours during weekends.

As a haematologist, he takes up the role of ‘Ward Call’ at the frontline during peak hours (6pm to 9pm) for more than ten days a month to handle all urgent consultation on General Medicine and take care of more severe patients at cardiac intensive care unit and general medical wards. This allows other younger doctors-on-duty to get proper rest and stay energetic throughout the hectic night while boosting their morale and sense of belonging.

Some students regard Dr Law as a great teacher, while some as a ‘father’. They praise his passion for teaching, that he would share with them interesting cases to facilitate their understanding through clinical practice. A doctor also referred Dr Law as her role model for his unsparing dedication to HA and students, as well as his exceptional care for patients. Dr Law is a living proof that example is better than precept. His selfless devotion to the education of our younger generations has set an excellent example for the medical profession.